Boxing
Vanderpool Deemed "Too Good" For World Championship Fight


14.05 - Syd 'The Jewel' Vanderpool takes to the world stage again come June - unfortunately it's not the world title fight he richly deserves, but the undercard. To add insult to injury, he's been specially requested as the sparring partner of the man who will be front and centre: Byron "Gator" Mitchell from Ozark, Alabama. Mitchell will be taking on Welshman Joe 'The Terminator" Calzaghe - who currently holds the WBO Super Middleweight title.

However, what makes this title fight especially interesting is what took place 'behind the scenes'. Vanderpool is obviously the more appropriate choice for this WBO title fight as The Jewel holds down WBO's number-5 position. Mitchell lags behind at number-9.

Word has it that Calzaghe was originally supposed to take on the current WBA middleweight champ, William Joppy (JAW' pee) - but that fell through. So Don King put Vanderpool's name forward as a possible contender. After 2 weeks of waffling, Calzaghe's people came back apparently requesting someone 'easier', and Byron Mitchell was slotted in. Says Vanderpool, "No wonder Calzaghe holds down a 35-0 record!"

Vanderpool, as always, puts a positive spin on the situation. "My planned bout in April never came through, and I'd rather be in the ring than on the sidelines watching, title fight or not."

As for being chosen as Mitchell's sparring partner, 'The Jewel'' says it makes good sense in more ways than one, "Calzaghe is a slick southpaw - so am I. So for Mitchell, I'm the best sparring partner he could have coming up to this fight. As for me, I get world class sparring practice for my own bout."

When asked about being the undercard, Vanderpool kept on smiling. "It's a world stage after all, and it'll showcase the fact that I'm more than worthy of a world title fight. It's not a case of comparing apples to oranges, but apples to apples. They can't help but see which shines the brightest!"

Vanderpool met Mitchell last June at the Don King training camp in Ohio (Don King promotes both Vanderpool and Mitchell), and says he looks forward to stepping into the ring with him, even though it's only to spar. " I know he doesn't want to fight in me an actual contest cause I'm so good. This way I get a shot at him."

Vanderpool's opponent for the undercard is yet to be decided, but he's got this advice for him, "Train hard and get ready to lose!" Given a choice Vanderpool would like to see Detroit's Thomas Tate or Montrealer Eric Lucas in the ring with him. "Tate hasn't fought in over a year. If he can't defend his top 10 position, then he should make way for younger blood. Lucas? Seems he's got the same disease Calzaghe has - Vanderpool-itis! I've got just the shot for that!"

Vanderpool heads down to Florida on Sunday, May 18th to spar with Mitchell, and is expected to return to Kitchener May 25th. He leaves for Wales on Monday, June 9th. The fights take place Saturday, June 14th.

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