By Tony Nobbs
03.02 - Recent Australian Bantamweight Nathan Sting (23-6-1, 11 KO) returns to the ring for the first time in seventh months when he faces Fijian Binnu Singh over ten rounds on a Jamie Myer Foxsports promotion at the Southport RSL, Queensland on Friday night. Inactive since outpointing Indonesian Dozer Tobing on July 19, 29 year old Sting admits knowing little about Singh except that he lost a points decision to Junior Farzan Ali for his National 118 lb Title, on July 20 and that he may be fighting a "long lost brother".
Sting's surname is also Singh and he is of Fijian Indian heritage as well. His original professional trainer, Melbourne's colorful and highly successful Keith Ellis changed his fighting name when he turned to the punch for pay ranks in 1991 after claiming several national amateur titles while
based in Tasmania.
"Keith reckoned Sting was more suitable to my style. I don't know much about Binnu only that he has gone the distance for the Fijian Title. My dad (Michael) is joking that he may be my brother. It will be nice to meet him and talk to him, but on Friday night there won't be any brotherly love. I haven't fought in seventh months and I had the same break before my first fight last year against Sande Kizito. In that fight I was short of a run, and all of us Indians have a go, so I can't take him lightly" said the 5'7 southpaw.
Sting pitched an impressive shutout over OPBF rated Farzan Ali (11-0, 8 KO at the time) in April last year and followed that with another clean sweep against Tobing on promoter Myer's previous TV date.
"That was a good win also, that guy was a good puncher and after my fights against Sande and Farzan I was in stride and was really able to box well. It is important for me to get fights often, something I've had a hard time doing lately".
Trained by Les Wilson with Joe Bugner offering support and occasional advice, Sting works out daily at the Gold Coast PCYC and is hopeful of fighting again in three weeks at that club. He relinquished the Australian Title in December.
