26.07.07 – By Tony Nobbs: Shannon Taylor has already sparred 140 rounds as he prepares for his September 14 clash with “Jungle Boy” Sonni Michael Angelo for the WBF middleweight title at Cronulla Leagues Club in Sydney, promoted by the Grange Old School Boxing Gym. WBF President Mick Croucher confirmed today that the twelve round bout has been “signed, sealed and sanctioned”..
Taylor, 34, first fights Thailand’s Terdkiat Sitheppitak on July 26 in Darwin before facing Angelo, who is coming off a win over veteran Sean Connell. Taylor won the WBF’s super middleweight strap in 2004, says he will be prepared for anything the unpredictable Bolivian born, Congolese raised globe trotter comes up with.
“I’m back with (trainer) Frankie John Gatt. I’ve already done 140 rounds for this fight with the Thai, which was already set. I’ll fight, fly home and get straight back into training. I want to really be at my best on September 14” said the “Bulli Blaster,” once the wild child of Australian boxing and one of our better fighters of the 1990’s.
Taylor said that he has sparred with Anton Solopov, Leroy Brown, Anthony McCracken, Iggy McGowan, Junior Talipau and Ryan Waters in the lead up to the Darwin bout.
“I like Sonni, but I hope he respects the sport, gives me the respect I deserve and doesn’t come into the ring kicking a soccer ball around” he said in reference to Angelo’s “odd” entrance prior to the Connell fight.
“If he does-he will pay. I hope he trains hard, because I want a tough fight. The harder he trains, the quicker he gets knocked out.”
“I’m far from finished. A great Aussie never gives in!”
Sonni, 22, previously trained with this writer, winning five from five and >collecting the WBF Asia Pacific middleweight and Queensland super middleweight straps in that time. He has since unsuccessfully challenged for Australian titles twice, against Adam Vella (160) and Les Sherrington (168). Records: Taylor 44-6-2, 30 KO’s / Angelo, 14-5, 5 KO’s. The eccentric Angelo is now trained by former IBF 122 lb title challenger Arnel Baratillo.
Shannan also told us he plans to move back to junior middleweight and become a 3 time WBF champion after the September 14 bout. He won the IBF Australasian title at 154 lb last start, stopping Thai Denchapol Suwannalird in four frames in March. He has also challenged for WBC, IBF and IBO world belts previously.