Interview with Shannan Taylor

04.03.04 – By Tony Nobbs: IBF number nine lt. Middleweight Shannan Taylor defends his Pan Pacific title against Argentina’s Paulo Sanchez on the Paul Briggs-Jesus Ruiz under card this weekend at the Penrith Panthers. In what could be billed as ‘Super Sunday’ three other world rated Australians are to be featured in the PPV event put together by Glenn Wheatley and Tony Carradonna. Lovemore Ndou and Sam Soliman defend their IBF Pan Pac belts in twelve rounders while Nedal Hussein boxes over eight heats. Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Paul Miller fights the first bout of the day. For the 31 year old Bulli Blaster, Shannan Taylor it is an exciting time as he looks forward to getting “back in with the big boys” in 2004. Eastside caught up with Taylor who has a record of 36-3-2, with 24 via the short route on Wednesday night. He told of the possibility of a clash with former welterweight champion Vernon Forrest and the pride he gets from his daughter Nathalia born on January 3.

Taylor fought six times last year and in January was also offered a fight against two time WBC middleweight titlist Keith Holmes. Sanchez, also 31, a WBO welterweight title challenger in 1998 has a record of 31-18 with 15 ko’s and is coming off a ten round decision over Walter Crucce on January 24. Taylor last fought on December 5 at the Panthers winning the IBF Pan Pac 154 lb belt from Ian Mcleod.

Eastside: Shannan, what have you heard of Sanchez and how has your preparation been?

Shannan Taylor: I was told by Ray Wheatley, IBF vice president that he is a tough opponent. He is no slouch, he had a good win in his last fight. Ray said if I do things right, I can knock anyone out but this could be a twelve round fight. That has made me more determined to knock him out but doing it right. I’ve had very intense sparing. I’ve done fourty to fifty rounds
with Lawrence Tuasa and finished off with five rounds with Briggsy on Friday.

ESB: You’ve been in good form lately and people have been talking about Shannan Taylor again…

ST: I’m showing people what I can do now. I’m not just racing in to knock guys out but I’m boxing them. When I’m relaxed and fit I can box with anyone. I box in the gym with the best fighters in Australia who are ten kilo heavier than me and I go all day. It’s always hard for me because I’m so small. You know, I think sometimes still about fighting at super middle. There are some big money fights in that division in Australia but my weight is 154 pounds. In the late 90’s I was Australia’s best home grown fighter but people never got to se me at my best. I’ve got a great team of people around me now. My promoter and friend, Tony Carradonna, I can’t thank enough. My trainer Frankie John Gatt has revived me. The sky is the limit for Shannan Taylor. God is going to do something really good in my life,that is why I have come back. Some fighters only get to the top once but I’m doing it a second time. I got to number one before and I’m going to get there again. I’m very confident I can get a shot through the IBF.

ESB: I understand there was an offer today for you to fight in the U.S.

ST: Yes. Jeff Fenech got an offer today from America about me fighting Vernon Forrest. They thought Jeff was still looking after me. Jeff told them he wasn’t but would pass it on. We will put it on hold until after this fight. It’s great that the offer is there and it’s good to be back in with the big boys, where I belong. But to be honest, it’s Shane Mosley I want and I won’t get distracted by the ten second warning this time!

ESB: Tell us about your fight with Mosley on March 10 2001.

ST: I fought Mosley because I wanted to fight the best champion. I could have fought for the another title and walk around calling myself a world champion. I’d been chasing Dela Hoya and I’d been number one for a long time but Mosley beat Oscar first. I got frustrated waiting for my shot. That fight could have gone twelve rounds and anything could have happened. It was who got he first big shot in. If I didn’t get caught it was a completely different fight. People always tell me they can’t believe I got up and went another four rounds after that punch. I hurt him with a right hand later on but was fighting out of heart. I got up because I’m a typical Aussie fighter with big balls. I didn’t even remember getting knocked down. When they contacted Jeff about me and Forest, they asked Jeff if he thought I would fight Forrest. Jeff said to them ‘Shannan will fight anyone in the world. He is afraid of no man’.

ESB: You are also now a proud dad.

ST: My partner Rebecca and I have a beautiful baby girl named Nathalia. She is so cute and gorgeous. It’s the best thing to happen to me and I now have another reason to be world champion.

ESB: Lately you fought at the Panthers almost exclusively, six out of seven times.

ST: This is a great venue and this card on Sunday is MAD! It will put us on the map. People will get to see the quality of our shows and it is great for boxing.

ESB: What can we expect from you on Sunday?

ST: I’m entering the ring with no robe, just black shorts and my cornermen around me. I’m going straight to work. This is my first fight on television for a long time and I want to impress. With all the talent on show I will have to fight well.

THIS MUST BE MENTIONED! At the end of our interview, I was asked by Shannan what time I would be arriving for the promotion. I replied that I’d get to Penrith around mid-night on Saturday night as I was catching the train ( a 30 hr round trip) from my home near the Queensland-NSW border. Ten minutes later Shannan phoned me back. “Nobbsy, ring Tony Carradonna-you are flying down brother. We are paying for your ticket”.

All I can say is “It’s good to know good people”.