Philip Holiday In Great Shap For Jawad Kaliq!

By Tony Nobbs

13.07 - Former IBF Lightweight Champion Philip "No Deal" Holiday (36-5-1,21 ko's) journeys to England next week to challenge Jawad "Too Seek" Kaliq (18-1-1, 12 ko's) for the IBO Welterweight Championship in Kaliq's hometown of Nottingham on July 27. For Holiday, 32, it is his first bout since June last year, a points loss over six rounds to Anders Stye in Copenhagen and he hopes a return to the winners list will open more doors. He has been based in Brisbane, Australia for six months and trainer Bernie Mc Fadden, who also trained former WBC Super Welterweight Champion John Mugabi for a few fights in 1996 and '97, says that they "took this fight as we could not get Philip a fight in Australia, people remember his knockout of Jeff Fenech. This will get him going again. This fellow (Kaliq) has beaten some good boxers like Willie Wise, the Russian (Maxim Nesterenko) and Luther Smith who knocked out Oba Carr and they are talking the winner of Forrest-Mosley for him in the near future.They have huge wraps on him but Philip does not want to be a stepping stone".

Speaking before a workout in Mc Fadden's gymnasium in Cleveland, a suburb of Brisbane yesterday afternoon, the South African born fighter said he realised also that 31 year old Kaliq was a "worthy opponent" and that he was only focusing on this bout.

"I am in great shape and will throw plenty of punches.I am not sure how well he takes a punch. If it ends early that is a bonus but I train for twelve rounds. He is a nice boxer, very tall, has beaten some decent opponents but my experience should tell. I am only concentrating on this fight at the moment. Obviously if I win I will defend the Title but I'm not going to start discussing making three or four defences at this time. I respect all my opponents. Going over to fight in his hometown will not bother me, I have fought all over the World. I am a Christian and I pray every day and before all my fights. I t is in God's hands and whatever the outcome, I give Glory to the Lord".

Holiday can best be described out of the ring as a humble and no thrills man who has had an exceptional career. He reigned as Champion for almost 2 years, and made six successful defences of the Crown he won by stopping Miguel Julio in ten rounds, August 19 1995 before losing it by decision to Shane Mosley, August 2 '97 in Uncasville, Ct. One of those defences was an impressive points victory over a then hot Ivan Robinson but is his fights with Mosley and Fenech that stand out. Regarding his two round blow out that ended the career of the Hall of Famer Fenech in Melbourne on May 18 1996, Holiday said "The early result was a gain. Praise God. I trained hard for that fight, harder than ever. I respected Jeff for what he achieved in the ring. People say it was an easy fight, but they do not realise the work I put in to it in camp.I do my homework on opponents and we knew Jeff could be hit with the right hands".

Regarding the Mosley fight, "Shane was a tough fight.I didn't fight my best but taking no credit from Shane. He was the better man on the night and he later showed to the World what he could accomplish in the ring. I was coming off a hard fight (Pete Taliafero). I got married before-hand and my preperation was thrown out. I was originally supposed to have fought before I got married which would have made more sence". Mc Fadden finished by adding that "Philip is a true professional and gentleman. He is a big help with all of my younger boxers and has been sparring with Ty Allen (an undefeated and rangy Welterweight prospect trained by McFadden) as well as Roland Francis and Ernie Artango. We have not yet received our plane tickets but have been advised by the promoters that we will be leaving on the 18th. That gives us over a week to get ready and Philip knows how to peak".