Lewis plots Kickett downfall

[Marlin]

AUSTRALIA'S greatest boxing trainer Johnny Lewis is in awe of hot prospect Willie Kickett but has set about to derail the young Perth prodigy's career.

Lewis, who has trained five world champions, will match one of them - former IBF super-featherweight king Gairy St Clair - with Kickett on the undercard to the comeback of another of his champ's, Jeff Fenech, against Azumah Nelson in Melbourne on June 24.

"Willie Kickett is undoubtedly the stand-out prospect in Australia,'' Lewis said, "the best young Aboriginal fighter I've seen since Lionel Rose more than 40 years ago.

"He is just brilliant. Speed, timing, reflexes, all class. But I think he may have bitten off more than he can chew in Gairy. Opponents look at Gairy and know that he's not a puncher and they get confident.

"But Gairy is a proven stayer - one of the most brilliant defensive boxers in the world.''

Kickett is undefeated in 10 fights with five KOs. He holds a points win over Campbelltown's two-time world title challenger Tommy Browne and scored a first-round stoppage of Filipino slugger Jun Paderna, who pushed St Clair to a close decision.

St Clair has 40 wins against six losses, with 17 of the wins inside the distance. All of his defeats have been against much bigger fighters, five of them world champs and the sixth against Amir Khan, who is destined to be one of the biggest names in boxing for the next decade.

Lewis said the fight featuring the 21-year-old sensation from Perth and the 33-year-old veteran from Sydney via Guyana and Brooklyn was just the kind of fight Australian boxing needed.

"For years in this country we've seen promotions where blue corner can fight, red corner can't,'' Lewis said. "This is a very enticing match-up between the hot young kid and the cool old pro. I think Gairy will win.

"I think he is too experienced against top-class guys around the world.''

[calmac66]

Godamn I can't wait for this..it is EXACTLY what Australian boxing needs, but I don't know who to cheer for, I love both of them!

[toppity]

easy....Kickett. Can't wait myself.

[Marlin]

Gairy will make easy work of Kickett. Can't wait myself.

Fixed

[toppity]

Gairy will make easy work of Kickett. Can't wait myself.

Fixed

You still haven't committed to the bet. :P

[Marlin]

Gairy will make easy work of Kickett. Can't wait myself.

Fixed

You still haven't committed to the bet. :P

[Bentley23]

yes i cant wait either id have to say i havent looked foward to an australian fight since mundine v green and i hope cool willie can become the first man to stop gairy

[Marlin]

How can anyone actually want Gairy to get stopped!?!

[Bentley23]

How can anyone actually want Gairy to get stopped!?!

nothing against Gairy at all hes probly a top bloke but i just want willy to be the first person to stop him not because i dont like Gairy

[Beltane]

Willy will learn so much from this fight with Gairy whose ducking and weaving skills are second to none downunder.

The question is whether Willy's counter punching attributes can dismantle Gairy's defensive skills?

[JSA]

Looking forward to this one.Hats off to Kickett for stepping up.Good to see Johnny Lewis having a crack at the nature of fights we are too often made to endure in this country.

[Sweet P]

I cant wait for this fight, Kickett is a star in the making and fighting StClair is a big step up. I predict Kickett will win by wide UD and prove to every one he is world class and ready to go overseas and get some big fights.

[KateMossTurdStain]

Good to see a young auusie with talent stepping upto the plate. unlike another aboriginal i know of.
For that matter the fight card the othernight was a joke. the main event was a joke. i could of gone down to the local and seen a better fight. the commentaters were correct in saying you would want either one of them beside you at a bar. that's about it. not to watch in a fornicating main event. i dont care that they have a grudge and have had 2 previous slug fest's. bloody joke's. the stand out's of that night was young Mike Hatwell and Kickett. Both proving is that australia has some young talent emerging. Kickett should of head lined....

[Brute]

I would like to see young Kickett get on. Gairy has been great for the sport, but maybe it is time for a fighter of the future.

[Brute]

What weight are they fighting at? St Clair is rated as a lightweight now and Kickett's weight seems to be up and down like an Anthony Horderns lift, anything from 128 to 138.

[Marlin]

St Clair is not and was never a lightweight he only fought there to get a fight with Khan, who couldn't knock him out mind you. I assume the fight will be super feather...

[AntonS]

I think the plan was to fight for Commonwealth lightweight title, thinking that it would be vacant due to Khan winning WBO Intercontinental, but that's not so as he's defending CBC on June 21. Maybe he relinquished WBO Crap?