STING-ARMOUR SATURDAY NIGHT!

By Tony Nobbs

30.06 - Three time Australian Champion Nathan Sting gets the biggest chance of his career when he challenges England's Johnny Armour for the WBU Bantamweight Title at Brentwood Leisure Centre on Saturday night, July 5. The pair were originally scheduled to met on April 12 in Bethnal Green before Armour withdrew due to an injury and the new date was in limbo until Saturday nights original headliner, Junior Middleweight Richard Williams was moved into the Manchester card on June 21.

Sting, who turned 30 on Sunday departed Australia with trainer Les Wilson on Thursday with both being confident of returning home to their Gold Coast base with the Title, aware of the opportunities a win will bring.

With a record of 22-6-1, 12 KO, Sting has had a solid career challenging for three Commonwealth Titles, (twice in Britain) as well as a PABA Title shot in Indonesia but feels he has never been given the exposure in Australia his skills deserve. Beating the current WBA number seven 122 pounder Armour (29-1-1, 17 KO) on the Matchroom Promotions Sky TV main bout will go along way to changing this.

"I give Johnny Armour a lot of respect. He is a good, seasoned fighter. But I've done the work in the gym and am ready to go. I was disappointed with the postponement as I was really on fire but those things happen but it only delayed the inevitable and after waiting so long three months isn't a big deal. Plus Johnny has been a good fighter and he has had a bit longer as Champion".

A Sting victory will not just be good for Australian boxing, it will be a first for the Pacific Nation of Fiji. Sting's father, Michael Singh is Fijian - Indian and no boxer from there has claimed any kind of World Title. Fiji's great, Middleweight Sakaria Ve lost in nine rounds to Michael Olajide in 1985 for the WAA Title.

"It'll be great to be the first boxer of Fijian - Indian heritage to be a World Champ and I know there are plenty of well wishers from there but I consider myself a true blue Aussie and fight under the Australian flag. This is the country I was born in, my mum is Australian and I've been Australian Champion three times".

Sting's journeyman sparring partner and cornerman, Johnny Green a Tasmanian Aboriginal who won the Queensland State Junior Welter Title in 1999 and also trained under Wilson is due to arrive in England on Monday and Sting knows the importance of true mateship.

"When I return home with the Title I'll be on cloud nine. But you won't have to stick a pin in me to bring me down to earth. It is something I wanted since I was a kid and it'll be great to repay the people who have supported me, like yourself, over the years. And Johnny has always been in the gym with Les. I grew up in Tasmania and Johnny is a fair dinkum bloke and having another Tasmanian there when I win will make it even more sweet".

Sting expects a strong and vocal Armour crowd but he said he wil also have some fans

" I'm going to link up with (female fighter) Shanee Martin when I'm over there. I stayed with Shanee and Sam (Soliman) when I was in England last time (in 2001). And being around two good people like Shane and Sam made it a lot easier over there. Shanee is fighting the next night and her supporters are driving up early to give me some support. I know Armour is very popular,a big ticket seller, so it'd be great to have people yelling for me as well".

Wilson added that if he conquers Armour, Sting will never fight in Australia again.