Philip Holiday Ready For Olympic Champ Muhammed Abdullaev!
By Tony Nobbs
13.01 - In the Chief support to Tszyu-Leija on Sunday afternoon (Australian time) former IBF Lightweight Champion Philip "No Deal" Holiday (38-5-1, 22 KO) meets Uzbekistan's U.S based 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist Muhammad Abdullaev (10-0, 8 KO) for the WBO Intercontinental Super Lightweight Title. 32 year old Holiday, born in Benoni, South Africa is coming into the bout with two victories under his belt since basing himself in Brisbane, Australia, and will be appearing on American TV for the first time since losing a technical decision to Hector Camacho Jnr, underneath Tszyu's WBC mandatory stoppage of Julio Cesar Chavez on July 29, 2000 in Phoenix, Arizona. Best described as a credit to boxing both in and out of the ring, Holiday admitted knowing little about his 29 year old opponent who has been touted as a future superstar.
"All I know is he is a Gold Medallist and that he walks up. I have not seen him fight at all. The one thing I notice is he has not been a professional for a long time. He has a good record, but really,who has he fought?" he asked after over the phone after arriving home from training on Monday afternoon.
"I have been around, fought big punchers, experienced fighters who could box. I never underestimate anyone, I always train very hard and go in there expecting the worse. That way there will be no surprises. My preparation has been good, plenty of running and sparring, the two fights towards the end of last year were very beneficial. I have been averaging twelve rounds a day against four or five partners, in and out, fresh legs and fast punches. This is a big opportunity for me and I am confident and very thankful. I am a Christian and would not be around or achieved what I have if it was not for The Lord".
In Holiday's last appearance he won a spilt decision over previously unbeaten two division Australian Champion Fred Kinuthia on November 8. That bout was also in Melbourne, as was his May 1996 second round TKO over Jeff Fenech in the third of six succesful defense's of his world title. While Kostya Tszyu holds the WBC, WBA and IBF Belts a victory over Abdulaev would earn Holiday a ranking with the WBO behind Demarcus Corley.
"He (Corley) is southpaw. They do not worry me. When I started off my career they gave me trouble but one of my regular sparring partners was a southpaw and I learnt how to fight them. Of course I want to be World Champion again but right now I am only concerned about the fight on Sunday".
Holiday and his Brisbane trainer Bernie McFadden, who trained John Mugabi in 1996 and'97 fly to Melbourne on Thursday. McFadden expressed confidence in his charge's ability to overcome anything that Abdullaev throws his way. " We are going in with several fight plans, never go in without any. Philip has the ability and patience to adjust to a fight as it goes along. We expect it to go the long distance. Philip wins most of his fights over a long distance".
The 5'8 Abdullaev, the "house fighter" in the scheduled twelve rounder will hold a two inch height advantage over Holiday. Abdullaev, who has gone past five rounds just once, against Joel Salas (W DQ 9)in April 2002 was last in action on October 5 knocking Jose A. Lopez down three times for an automatic stoppage in the first round.
