07.12.03 – By Tony Nobbs: Australia’s WBA number eight Cruiserweight Daniel ‘Cowboy’ Rowsell (26-2-1, 15 KO) meets Russian Valery Brudov (25-0, 18 KO)- the number seven contender-at Levallois, France on December 16 with the winner guaranted the number one rating and a shot at the winner of next months Jean Marc Mormeck-Virgil Hill title fight.
Thirty year old Rowsell, the PABA champion who was last in action of October 29, scoring a seven round stoppage of Argentine journeyman Sergio Baez, flies out to France on Monday with brothers Justin and Tyson (TJ) but without legendary trainer Johnny Lewis, who reunited with Daniel this year. Lewis cannot make the trip due to commitments with world super lightweight champion Kostya Tszyu. The Brudov fight is also important in the fact it’s the first unification of the PABA/EBA titles and officials will be nuetral. Contracts were signed on November 23.
Eastside briefly caught up with the engaging Rowsell at the Penrith Panthers fight promotion in Sydney on Friday night.
Eastside: Daniel, tell us what this fight means to you.
Daniel Rowsell: Everything! This fight is why I have been in boxing for eighteen years. It’s the defining fight of my career. Every other fight I’ve had, all the good wins, all the mistakes I’ve made mean nothing. This is the fight I’ve needed to really get motivated.
ESB: What do you know of Brudov and how has your preparation been?
DR: All I know is his record. We are going to get some tapes tonight from Stuart Duncan who negotiated the deal for us. He has a nice record but he hasn’t fought anybody with my ability. My preparation has been good. If I win this fight, then good. If I don’t well I will know that I have given it my best shot. I don’t want it to be an easy fight. I really want to earn it. I hope he gets in there and is tough. I’ve been sparring Paul Briggs and Danny Green as well as Shannan Taylor early in the piece. I had good workouts with Briggsy this week, good fast work. I’m sparring Danny again tomorrow. Also going to camp with Kostya was invaluable. It really helped my conditioning and he showed me a few little tricks that I’ve used in sparring and they’ve worked.
ESB: How has your boxing developed this year with Johnny Lewis?
DR: It’s gone to a new level. I’m fitter , my punches are sharper and my body punches have been putting guys away. I’ve had to put the work in with Johnny and I’m hungry.
ESB: How will the fact Johnny wont be in France affect you?
DR: It’s sad not having Johnny there but I have every confidence in Justin and TJ. In many ways, Justin is like Johnny, very calm and he can read a fight. Justin has been in big fights himself. I don’t want a big crew there, I just want to go over and win the fight.
ESB: How did this fight eventuate?
DR: They (A-B Stars) contacted my brother TJ. It was originally TJ who got the ball rolling. He started the negotiating before Stuart (Duncan) eventually came in and finalised everything.
ESB: The winner of this fight will be the new number one as soon as Hill challenges Mormeck. You sparred Virgil when he was based in Australia in the early 90’s. Tell us about that experience?
DR: Sparring Virgil was an awesome experience. He is such a professional in everything he does and a lovely guy. I don’t know what will happen in the Mormeck fight and I have no favourite about who I fight for the title. All I know is, whoever is in the other corner, I will give it everything.
ESB: Thanks Daniel and all the best.
DR: Anytime.