Another Aussie Set For IBF Title Fight: Rick Thornberry Confident of Upsetting Sven Ottke

By Tony Nobbs

29.01 - After knocking out Australian Anthony Mundine in ten rounds on December 1, unbeaten Sven Ottke (25-0, 5 ko's) will be out to make the 13the defence of his IBF Super Middleweight Crown he captured from Philadelphian Charles Brewer in 1998 when he meets another challenger from Down Under, former IBO Champion Ricky Thornberry in front of a sell out crowd in Magdeburg,
Germany on March 16.

The bout was set up on the recommendation of hard working IBF Vice President Ray Wheatley, and the rugged 33 year old # 15 contender known as the "Gatton Tiger", who has compiled a record of 25-3, 12 knockouts since turning professional in 1985 is "confident of pulling off an upset and bringing home the World Title" according to his brother Noel who also serves as his trainer - manager and sometime promoter. "Ray recommended Rick because he is a winning fighter who has proven himself against the best Super Middleweight in the World" said the elder Thornberry brother, referring to Ricky's twelve round points loss to Joe Calzaghe for the WBO Title in 1999.

"Ricky suffered a burst ear drum very early in the Calzaghe fight but still went the distance. Ricky is older and wiser this time and we don't feel Ottke is as good as Calzaghe."

The well liked fighter who lives by the old notion of "I'll let my manager do the talking" has just began his hard work and will begin boxing Australia's best Lt.Heavyweight Paul Briggs later this week. "Rick has sparred Paul before and it is always a quality workout. We need to be one hundred percent for this one because we fel it is a big chance. Anthony Mundine showed us that Ottke can be beaten and Ricky will go in with a game plan to follow. We have to respect the guy but we do not fel he has the power to trouble Rick. In saying that, his power can not be underestimated as he put Vincenzo Nardiello in hospital and had Anthony out for ten minutes. He is capable of pulling something out of the bag if Rick gets careless. Ottke has a lot of hidden strengths, his major asset being that he is a very good basic boxer who doesn't make many mistakes."

News of the Title fight caused some controversy with many saying that Thornberry is not a worthy challenger, having only two bouts since Calzaghe, both easy ko's over often beat New Zealander's Jason Rarere (a former PABA 154 lb Champion) and Norm Graham last year. "Anyone who has got a complaint, I have got the IBF ratings in front of me now and Omar Sheika is number three. Sheika could not go five rounds with Calzaghe but Rick went twelve and is number 15. Former WBC Champion Richie Woodhall got stopped in ten, Mario Vielt in one.The list goes on. If we did not feel we could beat Ottke we wouldn't take the fight"

The Thornberry family know all to well about the dangers of boxing. Their father Trevor, known as "The Iceman" was a hard punching Lt. Heavyweight who suffered serious head injuries resulting in partial paralysis and memory loss after he was knocked out by Jackson McQuade. "May 28 1971." Said Noel remembering the date without thought. "Dad actually suffered the injuries in his previous fight against Johnny Gorkom for the Australian Title. He suffered severe dehydration in that fight and had constant headaches before the fight with Jackson McQuade. He should never have fought. Mum had to nurse him back and yes, me and Rick grew up knowing about the dangers. Dad has recovered a lot and supports us. It will make winning the World Title even more special"

Thornberry Sr also challenged Eddie Avoth for the Commnwealth Title "We met Eddie when we were in Wales for the Calzaghe fight and he was a real nice bloke" finished Noel who held the Queensland State Middleweight Title in the 1980's.

Other Australian´s feature in IBF bouts
Glenn Kelly, the IBF # 1 at Lt. Heavyweight meets the World's pound for pound best boxer Roy Jones Jr on Saturday night in Miami. Kelly may be inspired by Vernon Forrest's win over Shane Mosley but the upset could also be a wake up call for Jones who seems to be more interested in his music career of late. With Middleweight King Bernard Hopkins also being showcased against Carl Daniels on HBO in a double header from Pennsylvania, Roy might be out to prove a point and make it an early night.

US based Robbie "Bomber" Peden faces Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in an IBF Featherweight eliminater on March 2, underneath Barrera - Morales in Las Vegas. Peden, the 1994 Commonwealth Games Bantamweight Gold Medallist has been in this position before, losing on points to John Brown in an elimination bout for the IBF 130 lb Title (held by Australian's Lester Ellis and Barry Micheal in the 80's). Brown went on to lose to the improving Stevie Forbes. If Peden, who moved to the US following the Atlanta Olymics can get past Marquez, once a hot prospect, he must be given a big chance of dethroning Manuel Medina.

And Kostya Tszyu will defend his Unified Superlightweight Titles in May against the IBF Mandatory, Ghanas's Ben Tackie who stopped Jamacian Tedie Reid in five heats last Friday night.