21.06.05 – By Tony Nobbs: Bob Mirovic arrives in the Gold Coast ahead of Friday nights WBF heavyweight title clash with skilled American Rob Calloway at the Royal Pines Resort. When Eastside last spoke to Bob seven weeks ago he indicated he wanted to scale 115 kg for this fight. Back from sparring Mike Tyson, Mirovic is on target with the scales, knocking of around 8 kg in the U.S and believes he is in the best shape of his life.
“The sparing was tough at first” said Mirovic, 39. “ The first few sessions I was intimidated because of who he is but then I really lifted because if I didn’t I’d get hurt.”
“My weight is good I feel so fast and my power is better.”
With Calloway on the Coast since last Tuesday, making himself many new fans and building the fight up with his out going personality, Mirovic will be ready to jump on him from the start to keep the crowd on side. With an impressive reading record Calloway has been placed favorite on local betting agencies. Mirovic, though, says he will have a few surprises and is confident of being the third Australian heavyweight to hold this belt.
“There is no better feeling than knowing you have trained so hard and you are confident in yourself” he continued to Coast reporters yesterday.
“I wish the fight was today. He will feel my power from the first round.”
“I’m not focusing on what his record is. I have no doubt in my mind that I will beat Rob Calloway by knockout.”
Meanwhile, on Monday, Calloway and his team met up with some of Australia’s national treasures when they visited the Currumbin Wild life sanctuary with promoter Jamie Myer feeding and playing around with some of the nature reserve’s kangaroos and then marvelling at the Tasmanian devil, best known to American’s from the Cartoons.
As the ‘Roos began jumping up and “punching” at him, the 35 year old from Missouri jokingly admitted to being “more scared of the kangaroos than Bob Mirovic.”
He later met another Coast icon, Joe Bugner, who claimed the WBF title in 1998 against Bonecrusher Smith after beating Mirovic on points. Bugner was impressed saying “Rob Calloway has an aura about him, a good feeling. He is obviously very confident young fellow who has done the work.” Joe then stressed to me that it would be wonderful for Australian boxing if Bob can win after recent world title defeats “but it is going to be tough.”
With sight seeing over, Calloway will now bunker down with the official press conference and weigh – in tomorrow at the venue.