By James Slater: Former world bantamweight, super-bantamweight and featherweight champion Jeff Fenech of Australia is apparently dead set on making a return to the ring. A June date with Samark Payakuroon is in the works, which would mark “The Thunder From Down Under’s” first fight in over ten years – or since his 2nd round TKO loss to Philip Holiday in May of 1996 to be precise.
But the shocking news doesn’t stop there. Not by a long shot! In an interview with The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Fenech told of how another former rival of his in the great African warrior Azumah Nelson, upon hearing of Fenech’s plans to box again, has offered the Australian a third fight – having boxed a controversial draw with Fenech in 1991, and then stopped him in eight rounds of a return back in 1992. According to the 44 year old Fenech, Nelson, who is now 49 years of age, called him out and wants to fight for a third time.
“Azumah said he’d love to do it again,” said Jeff. “The fight could be very big, too. I’ll take one step at a time, but I would love to fight him again. Hopefully I can KO Payakuroon again (the two first met back in 1987, with Fenech winning inside 4 rounds) and then do the same thing to Nelson. Forget our first fight (the draw) I was ripped off [by the judges] but that wasn’t the real Jeff Fenech in the second fight. My hunger wasn’t there and I had asthma,” Fenech added.
This is amazing news. It’s not known how the majority of boxing fans would look at a Nelson-Fenech III, assuming, of course that Jeff gets past Payakuroon in June, but the curiosity value alone would surely get some people interested.
Nelson, 39-5-2(28), an all-time great who captured world titles at featherweight and super-featherweight, has not fought since his unanimous decision loss to Jesse James Leija in 1998. With ten years of ring inactivity, who knows what kind of shape the 49 year old is in. Also not known, is whether or not “The professor” will box a tune-up before tackling Fenech, 28-3-1(21) for a third time.
It seems nothing is out of the question in boxing today, as even the suggestion of a Nelson Vs. Fenech fight three goes to prove!