madjack
04-09-2002, 02:14 AM
I'll fight Mundine for free
By Grantlee Kieza
30aug02
Daily Telegraph
QUEENSLAND boxer Ricky Thornberry yesterday agreed to fight his arch-rival Anthony Mundine for nothing - as long as he gets a contract to say the fight is on.
Mundine, who meets the slow but capable South African Soon Botes in Liverpool on Monday, says he will fight Thornberry in early November in what he hopes will be an eliminator for the WBA world super-middleweight title.
Yesterday he was doing his best to drum up interest for the fight by decrying the abilities of the rugged Queenslander who has twice gone the distance in world title fights.
"Mundine was down in Sydney saying he'll only give us $5000 for the fight and that if you hire monkeys you pay peanuts," said Thornberry's brother and trainer Noel.
"Well, we have a better offer. Send us the contract to say the fight is on and we'll fight for nothing because we have plenty of sponsors in Queensland willing to pay us to see Mundine get knocked out again.
"By Mundine saying we're only worth $5000 it shows how reluctant he is to get in the ring with Rick."
Thornberry went 12 rounds with Sven Ottke in a world title fight three months after Ottke stopped Mundine in 10 rounds last December.
Botes, 29, has lost three of his past six fights but two were against boxers who had held the WBC super-middleweight title.
By Grantlee Kieza
30aug02
Daily Telegraph
QUEENSLAND boxer Ricky Thornberry yesterday agreed to fight his arch-rival Anthony Mundine for nothing - as long as he gets a contract to say the fight is on.
Mundine, who meets the slow but capable South African Soon Botes in Liverpool on Monday, says he will fight Thornberry in early November in what he hopes will be an eliminator for the WBA world super-middleweight title.
Yesterday he was doing his best to drum up interest for the fight by decrying the abilities of the rugged Queenslander who has twice gone the distance in world title fights.
"Mundine was down in Sydney saying he'll only give us $5000 for the fight and that if you hire monkeys you pay peanuts," said Thornberry's brother and trainer Noel.
"Well, we have a better offer. Send us the contract to say the fight is on and we'll fight for nothing because we have plenty of sponsors in Queensland willing to pay us to see Mundine get knocked out again.
"By Mundine saying we're only worth $5000 it shows how reluctant he is to get in the ring with Rick."
Thornberry went 12 rounds with Sven Ottke in a world title fight three months after Ottke stopped Mundine in 10 rounds last December.
Botes, 29, has lost three of his past six fights but two were against boxers who had held the WBC super-middleweight title.