By Tony Nobbs: As he inconspicuosly walks amongst the crowd at an amateur fight night on any other Saturday, Philip Holiday does not carry like a man who once knocked out Australia’s most famous fighter. No frills. No gold. No attitude. As he warms up his young charges for their bouts, he goes almost un noticed. He’s like any other ex fighter putting back into the sport.
After losing his IBF lightweight world championship to the still mercurial Shane Mosley in 1997, Philip continued to box, eventually settling in Brisbane, Queensland and defeated Ernie Artango and Fred Kinuthia in 2002.. He last fought on the Tszyu-Leija bill at the Telstra Dome on January 19, 2003, losing inside the distance for the first time – in round five against then 10-0 Mohommad Abdullaev , who beat Miguel Cotto at the Sydney Olympics. He ended with a professional tally of 38 wins (22 KO’s) – 6 losses – 1 draw.
These days, Philip, who was born on May 23, 1970 in Benoni (a 30 minute drive out of Johannesburg, South Africa) trains boxers at the No Deal Gym at the Redlands Softball Grounds in Orminston and works at the YMCA at Victoria Point, teaching boxing as well as being a Cycling and Swimming Instructor. He took the time to talk to Eastside recently and here’s what this gentleman of boxing had to say.
Eastside Boxing: Philip, when did you start and what were your amateur details?
Phil Holiday: I began boxing at 16. My record was one hundred fights exactly for 96 wins. I won three South African titles and many Inter – State gold medals. There was speculation South Africa were going to be allowed back to the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and I was expected to represent but it did not happen so I turned professional (in 1991). Oscar De La Hoya won the Gold Medal that year in my division (lightweight, 60 kg). It would have been great to come up against him.
ESB: Tell us how it felt when you realised you had won the world title (vacant belt against Columbia’s Miguel Julio, 29-1-1, KO 10, at Sun City, SA, August 19, 1995)
PH: Hard to explain all of the emotions. The release – knowing that I had fulfilled my dream. That all the years of sacrifice had paid off. I remember the noise and the feeling around the stadium – there was so much joy. Any boxer who enters the ring must have an ambition to be world champion, otherwise I don’t know why they do it to be honest.
ESB: You made six successful defenses. Everybody remembers Jeff Fenech (KO 2 – 3rd defence at the Glasshouse, Melbourne, May 18, 1996) but you also were the first to defeat Ivan Robinson (W 12 – 5th defence at Mohegan Sun, CT, Dec 21, 1996) in 24 fights. Robinson went on to beat Arturo Gatti twice and draw with Vivian Harris. Tell us about that fight.
PH: I hold the compubox record for punches landed in that fight. 550. It was a very hard fight. I give my opponent the credit for making it such a great fight and allowing me to hold that record because he came in in excellent condition and he really wanted to take my title. I remember there was a lot of hype around him being from Philadelphia and being a great amateur with an unbeaten record.
ESB: Would you say that was your toughest fight?
PH: It’s very difficult. I don’t really like rating. I remember JeffFenech as a tough fight. People say ‘you knocked him out in two rounds, how can that be tough?’ but the preparation was tough. I trained extremely hard for that fight. I had to be at my best. Jeff had won all those titles, he had a great record (28-2-1) and a great reputation. He was known as a strong physical fighter, very fit.
ESB: Tell us about that fight
PH: As I said I trained extremely hard. Our game plan was to box early, set him up for the overhand right in the middle rounds. All through training camp that is what my trainer (former WBA welterweight title challenger Harold Volbretch)and I worked on. But in the change rooms we had a monitior watching the undercard fights and it turned on to Jeff’s room. He had not warm up enough it looked. In the ring, my trainer saw him and immediately told me ‘forget the game plan, he has no sweat, go after him early with the overhand right’.
ESB: You lost to Mosley (23-0) by decision in 1997 (at Mohegan Sun,CT). What do you take from that fight?
PH: It was disappointing. Not just to lose my title but it was also my first loss (after 31 straight wins). But also it was a satisfying performance because everyone thought he was going to knock me out. He ended up becoming one of the greats and is still aworld champion so that gives me a lot of pleasure knowing I fought a fighter like him.
ESB: What is it you like about Australia?
PH: I love the people. When I fought Jeff, I stayed here and found that the people were so helpful and kind. Even before the fight,people went out of their way to help. The country is beautiful, the people are beautiful. I was basically kicked out of South Africa – forced out of my country because of the violence and crime. I decided to come to Australia and it was the best thing I could have done. My wife Bree (a school teacher) and children Kayla and Joshua have settled in and love it. I would recomend it to anyone who wants to move here. I’m South African but I am very thankful for the opportunities Australia has given my family. I want to give back as much as posssible and boxing is the way I can do it.
ESB: You had three fights here. Tell us about them
PH: To be honest with you it was tough, after fighting in world title fights, to get motivated. One of those guys (Kinuthia) was Australian champion and I was unable to get any footage of them before the fights.I went in not knowing what to expect. It was hard to get up for them.
ESB: Growing up, who was your ring idol?
PH: Marvellous Marvin Hagler. He was a strong fighter, a true professional, he fought anybody and everybody, he ducked no one. He trained very hard, cut no corners, and always came in great condition. Watching him made me want to work hard. We have the same birthday – I don’t know if that is why I followed him or if it’s a coincidence.
ESB: How is your gym going now?
PH: I’m very busy. I am here every night from four. I usually leave at seven or seven thirty. I train
one professional fighter and about twenty amateurs. I also do general fitness classes.
ESB: When you prepared for your world title fights how much sparring and roadwork would you do?
PH: Sparring – every night, five times a week. A minimum six rounds, usually eight or ten. Fresh guys. Roadwork – a minimum one hour.
ESB: How do the fighters you see today, compare with those of your era?
PH: It’s tough to answer. I don’t really think about it. Society is softer today, there are all these computer games and other things for kids to do. When I was fighting my trainers would say that the fighters if my day would not match the fighters of their day. A lot of fighters don’t want to put in, they get it easy. When you win a world title, you can make money and have a good life but you have to work hard to get there. A lot of kids they come to training and it’s too hard. They complain. They don’t want to do certain things. They don’t realise what is required to make it.
ESB: Thanks Philip.
PH: My pleasure.