madjack
10-09-2002, 02:02 AM
Ricky lines up Mundine
By Grantlee Kieza
04sep02
Daily Telegraph
RICKY Thornberry will fly to Germany next Wednesday to spar with world champ Sven Ottke as he begins two months of intense preparation for his fight with Anthony Mundine.
Thornberry, who lost by decision to Ottke in March for the IBF super-middleweight title, will likely fight Mundine at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast on November 2 and says two weeks of hard work with the world champ will prime him for an assault on Australian boxing's biggest drawcard.
"I want so much to be the first Aussie to beat Mundine and I believe Ottke can give me the edge," Thornberry said.
"Mundine is obviously fast and talented but he showed when he lost to Ottke that he lacks stamina and durability. I know I can push him past his limit."
Thornberry and his brother and trainer Noel are travelling to Magdeburg where another fighter from their stable, Kiwi champ Sean Sullivan, will fight undefeated German middleweight Dirk Dzemski on September 21. Noel Thornberry said the trip was a great chance for Ricky to train with Ottke and former WBC world champ Markus Beyer.
"We'll be working on Ricky's evasive skills to make sure Mundine misses an awful lot," he said.
By Grantlee Kieza
04sep02
Daily Telegraph
RICKY Thornberry will fly to Germany next Wednesday to spar with world champ Sven Ottke as he begins two months of intense preparation for his fight with Anthony Mundine.
Thornberry, who lost by decision to Ottke in March for the IBF super-middleweight title, will likely fight Mundine at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast on November 2 and says two weeks of hard work with the world champ will prime him for an assault on Australian boxing's biggest drawcard.
"I want so much to be the first Aussie to beat Mundine and I believe Ottke can give me the edge," Thornberry said.
"Mundine is obviously fast and talented but he showed when he lost to Ottke that he lacks stamina and durability. I know I can push him past his limit."
Thornberry and his brother and trainer Noel are travelling to Magdeburg where another fighter from their stable, Kiwi champ Sean Sullivan, will fight undefeated German middleweight Dirk Dzemski on September 21. Noel Thornberry said the trip was a great chance for Ricky to train with Ottke and former WBC world champ Markus Beyer.
"We'll be working on Ricky's evasive skills to make sure Mundine misses an awful lot," he said.