Joval & Taylor Make Weight: Eastside Chats To Stan Hoffman

25.11.05 – By Tony Nobbs: Shannan Taylor (42-3-2, 28 KO’s) is a slight underdog with Australian punters twenty four hours prior to his IBO middleweight title challenge against Dutchman Raymond Joval (34-4, 15 KO’s) at the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne, Victoria, tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon..

At today’s noon weigh-in at the Crown Casino, the challenger came in at 72.4 kg on his first attempt while Joval needed two attempts to make the 72.57 limit. He scaled 72.7 kg on his first go before coming back at 1.30 pm, weighing 72.5.

Reports from Taylor’s camp and those close to the boxing scene in Melbourne say that the 33 year old former “Wild Child” from Bulli, NSW, is in the best shape he has been in since the days he rose to the top of the WBC welterweight listings in the late ’90s. He will need to be. Taylor is unbeaten in his last 14 bouts (13-0-1) but none of his recent opposition come near to matching the credentials of the 37 year old title holder, now trained in New York by two time world champ Tracy Harris Patterson.

Eastside briefly spoke to Joval’s manager Stan Hoffman after this afternoon’s rule meeting. This is what he had to say.

Eastside: How has your stay in Australia been?

Stan Hoffman: It’s been terrific. We have been here a week last Tuesday. The accommodation has been great, the people have been very nice.

ESB: How has Ray’s preparation been?

SH: I’d have to say it’s been sensational.

ESB: What about the weight?

SH: Not a difficulty. We made the mistake of using different scales and Ray was a little over but he went and worked it off comfortably.

ESB: What do you know of Taylor?

SH: We received tapes of four or five of his fights, as he did with us, so we know how he fights. But you can’t really say a guy is going to fight the same way he did in his last fight.

ESB: Providing of course Ray gets by Shannan, what is in the future?

SH: We have no fights in the works at the moment but we would be looking at (Jermain) Taylor or Hopkins – depending on who wins. We think that is the kind of pinnacle fight Ray is up for.

ESB: Tell us about Ray’s fights with Sam Soliman, of course being a Melbourne fighter.

SH: The first one (W 12 in 2001) I wasn’t there for. The second fight (L 12 in ’04) Ray’s trainer at that time had no idea how to prepare him for that style of fight.

ESB: Tell us about Ray’s (most recent) fight against Lansano Diallo in June.

SH: It was in Belgium, the other guy’s home and Ray did beautiful in that fight. We thought Ray won more rounds than he got on the scorecards but we still got the win. (Joval won by 2, 2 & 4 points.)

ESB: Getting away from Ray, what is on the schedule with your other fighters?

SH: As soon as I get back we will begin looking at James Toney for his fight with Hasim (Rahman). We will also be looking to get Monte Barrett back in the mix.

ESB: Thanks Stan.

SH: No problem.

Tomorrow’s show, promoted by Blaster Promotions and Blue Corner, begins at mid-day with Sky Channel coverage beginning at 1 pm local time.

IBO supervisor: Phil Austin (Australia). Referee for the main event is Pat Russell (USA) Judges: Steve Marshall (NZ) Kriangsak Thongthang (Thai) Cherdai Srirat (Thai).

Other bouts on the card are:

Chad Bennett v Ariel Gerardo Aparacio (IBO Intercontinental 147 lb)
Dale Westerman v Brett Culey (OPBF 175 lb)
Daniel Geale v Garry Comer
Tim Bell v Timo Masua
Eddie Delic v Danny Boy Pierce
Adam Vella v Matt Shaw
Kim Heta v Clay Aumiatagi