Boxing

Glenn Kelly In A Must-Win Situation Against Simon Paterson On Briggs-Castro Undercard

By Tony Nobbs

06.04 - Former World Light Heavyweight Title Challenger Glenn "Kunga" Kelly (28-2-1, 15 KO) will find himself in a must-win situation when he challenges IBF Pan Pacific Cruiserweight Champion Simon Paterson (9-3, 4 KO) in the main support to the Paul Briggs-Jorge Castro WBC 175 lb Title Eliminator at the Carrara Sports Stadium on the Gold Coast, Queensland on Sunday afternoon. And Kelly, 32, in his first fight since back to back losses to Roy Jones and Paul Briggs last year, faces a tough test in fellow Sydneysider Paterson who has shown considerable improvement and desire in his two most recent outings.

While Kelly had a disappointing 2002, 30 year old Paterson finished the year off by wining the Australian Cruiserweight Title from Jamie Wallace in December and then stared 2003 by stopping warhorse Paul Smallman in the final round on February 7. Kelly has not won since scoring his third points victory over Wallace in August '01 and knows the importance of Sunday's clash, sanctioned also be for the vacant OPBF Title and a WBC rating.

"It's a very big fight" said the Dino Billinghurst trained Kelly. "If I don't win that's the end. It would definitely be the end of me in the ring. If I can't beat Simon Patterson, then I'm not going anywhere".

Kelly, a former Australian, IBF Intercontinental and Pan Pacific Lt. Heavy Titlist rose to number one in the IBF listings before losing in seven rounds to Jones in Miami, Florida in February '02. He was then knocked out by Briggs in four rounds in Sydney on September 18 and announced his retirement soon after. Following a short break, he resumed training, decided to move up to the more comfortable 190 lb limit and linked with Melbourne manager Stuart Duncan, along with stablemate, current Australian Lt. Heavyweight Champion Jason Delisle who will defend his belt against Paul Smallman on Sunday's super show. Kelly is familiar with his opponent, having sparred "Patto" on numerous occasions over the years and predicts a convincing victory.

"I'm going to knock him out. I've been sparring Paterson for years and he's never given me any trouble. You'll see a smart and aggressive Glenn Kelly in this fight. I'm not going to just run in stupidly. I'm very confident. I'm in excellent condition and ready to fight. I'm focused on the fight and only concerned with what I'm going to do in the ring".

Paterson, trained by veteran Bruce Farthing has had the benefit of eight weeks full time training without the worry of working and goes in to the contest full of confidence. "I haven't sparred with him (Kelly) for about a year, but prior to that I sparred him a lot. He was at his peak and I wasn't. Now, I'm at my peak and he's sort of pretty much getting past it I suppose". Paterson also questions Kelly's ability to overcome the self - doubts put there by Jones and Briggs.

"Glenn has been knocked out pretty badly in his last couple of fights, I thought he would have picked up a couple of easier fights before stepping up to a Title fight. I'm stoked to get the opportunity to fight him. Glenn will be definitely fit , but come the later rounds my conditioning will be there.I'm a bit younger and up and coming. Psychologically, there is no way he can be one hundred percent with the way he was knocked out. It's not like he was stopped on cuts or stopped by the referee, he was knocked cold".

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