Jorge Castro arrives in Australia ready to face Paul Briggs

07.04 - Argentine boxing legend Jorge Castro 123-8-3 (85 KO's) arrived in Australia at Brisbane airport on Monday afternoon, confident of defeating hard-hitting local Paul "Hurricane" Briggs 19-1 (16 KO's) when they meet in an WBC light heavyweight title eliminator on Sunday afternoon at the Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast. Currently rated No.7 in the world by the World Boxing Council (WBC), 27 year-old Briggs will face Castro who is rated No.5 by the same sanctioning body. The winner has been guaranteed the No.2 ranking by the WBC.

"I will go anywhere to fight. I have a self-belief that I will always be able to do the job in the ring. I have come here to win," said Castro.

When asked for a prediction on the outcome of Sunday's fight Castro replied, "You pick the round and I will knock him out!"

The 35 year-old former WBA middleweight champion arrived with his own doctor who has been with him since 1994 and a new trainer of six weeks Jose Gueeara, this being Castro's first trip to Australia.

Speaking about his opponent Castro said, "He's a strong boy and I must be careful. The only possible way he will be able to beat me if he kicks me in the head," referring to Briggs' former career as a world champion kick-boxer.

"I have trained really hard for this fight and I am feeling better now than I did when I was 25," he said. "There will be no excuses. This is my opportunity to get back to being amongst the elite of boxing and win the WBC light heavyweight title."

Castro added that he doesn't like to trash talk, "I am here strictly for business," he said.

Acclaimed in Argentina as one of the countries all-time great boxers along with middleweight legend Carlos Monzon, after winning the world title in August 1994, Castro was greeted at home with a street parade in front of over 100,000 people.

Hailing from the province of Moron in Buenos Aires, Castro has fourteen children, eight boys and six girls, ranging in age from six months to nineteen years and he has had seven wives.

After a 35 hour trip from Argentina via Santiago, New Zealand and Sydney, Castro arrived in Brisbane sporting green, red, yellow and purple hair. The green is for the victory while the rest of the colours signify his ruby crown when he wins the fight and he changes the colour of his hair for every fight.

After such a phenomenal career, Castro was asked if he could nominate his hardest fight.

"My toughest opponent was David Jackson," he said. "He hit me all over the place and hit me harder than I have ever been hit before." The December 1994 battle, which Castro won by 9th round TKO, was voted by "Ring Magazine" as the Fight of the Year.

Tickets for Sunday's exciting six fight card presented by Fistic Fury Promotions in association with promoter Craig Mordey, are now on sale at Ticketek on-line www.ticketek.com.au or by telephone in Queensland (07) 3404 6700 or in NSW (02) 9266 4800, with the arena seating 4300. Ringside tickets limited to 500, will be sold for $199 each and will include entry, drinks and food at the exclusive after fight party at the Quest Lounge Bar in Broadbeach. Gold section tickets are $150, Silver section tickets are $90 and General admission tickets $55.

Castro has definitely not travelled so far to be an opponent and is expecting a great performance to get to the top of the WBC ratings and secure another world title shot.

"I don't need money, boxing has been kind to me. My motivation is to become world champion again," he said. "I am very proud that in 134 fights I have only been stopped once, a technical decision, not a real knockout. To me my record is intact."

Castro looked very strong and in good condition and from the airport travelled to the Gold Coast by car where he started training at the Burleigh Gym. He intends training twice a day up until Saturday.

The final media conference will be held on Friday at midday at the Quest Lounge Bar in Broadbeach. All fighters on the card will be in attendance and available for interviews. The official weigh-in will be held at the same venue on Saturday at midday and is open to the public.

Sunday's Full card

WBC light heavyweight eliminator - Paul Briggs vs. Jorge Castro, 10 rounds

IBF Pan Pacific & OPBF cruiserweight titles - Simon Patterson vs. Glen Kelly, 12 rounds

Australian light heavyweight title - Jason De Lisle vs. Paul Smallman, 12 rounds

middleweight - Wayne Parr vs. Mike Cope, 6 rounds

junior middleweight - Steven Ng vs. Paul Lee, 6 rounds

welterweight - Ty Allen vs. Paul Tapley, 6 rounds