The Local Paper Here Is Running A Poll...

[Goodnight, Irene]

On Australia's greatest fighter in recent vintage --- Kostya Tszyu or Jeff Fenech.

How would you vote if you lived here?

[BoxBuzz]

The difference is class is stupefying. I'm guessing it's going to be a route, in spite of their near equal set of skills.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Understand that your average Aussie on the street knows NOTHING about Boxing history (its never been that big in this country and is as small now as its ever been), so that may produce unpredictable results.

Answer is in fridays paper. I wonder how the 18 voters this poll is sure to attract will cast D

And your thoughts, Buzz?

[BoxBuzz]

I don't think it's any secret that I consider Kostya a class act, on the level with a Joe Louis. Perhaps not in skill, but as a person. And Kostya's and Fenech's skills are not that far apart I.M.H.O.

But Jeff was a native Aussie correct? So he may pull the nationalistic sentiment.

You've filled us in a little on Fenech's shortcomings in terms of civility.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Tszyu is pretty accepted though, I cant see the fact he shouldnt (IMO) really be eligible in the first place hurting him.

Tszyu was a class act like few others --- even more upstanding than Louis, truth told. I gotta give it to Fenech on achievements here, but Tszyu COULD be argued a better boxer.

[JDC]

But Jeff was a native Aussie correct? So he may pull the nationalistic sentiment.

This is an important point. It's hard to consider how I'd vote if I was Australian, but I'd hope I could remain unbiased. I went for Kosta

[Goodnight, Irene]

Honestly, I dont think its the factor you might think on paper.

Ive hardly ever heard a bad word amongst my countrymen on Tszyu, and he always packed out pubs across Sydney in a way not seen since (although Mundine vs. Green was a HUGE event here).

[JDC]

Who would you consider to be the more famous in Australia?

Popularity will probably be the key.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Well. Im 27 and have followed Boxing since I was 10 (1994) so my memory is of course more with Tszyu, but Fenech was a guy I would always, always hear about Fenech, who WAS well-known by Aussie standards.

If I had to guess, Id say Tszyu may benefit from being more RECENT (in a country with no great interest in the sport).

[Giancarlo]

Fenech was popular when he was boxing and had the advantage of fighting the 1st half of his career when fights were still on terrestrial TV.

However, his dickhead behaviour since he retired is what he is most known for by the man in the street now.

Personally, on what they both did as pros, I'd give the edge to Fenech.

But as human beings there is no comparison. Kostya is a valuable asset to the community whereas Jeff is just a trouble-causing attention-seeking clown.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Fenech was popular when he was boxing and had the advantage of fighting the 1st half of his career when fights were still on terrestrial TV.

However, his dickhead behaviour since he retired is what he is most known for by the man in the street now.

Personally, on what they both did as pros, I'd give the edge to Fenech.

But as human beings there is no comparison. Kostya is a valuable asset to the community whereas Jeff is just a trouble-causing attention-seeking clown.

I agree with every word.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Fenech for me, though I was more of a fan of Tszyu.

[bollox]

The newspaper poll will favour Tszyu based on him being more recent, and general popularity. Fenech being a numbskull won't help either. Fenech pre-dated the internet era which means that the older boxing fans may vote for Fenech but the casual fan of the day probably won't bother voting at all. Some older fans will obviously vote for Tszyu yet the casual fans that bother voting will have seen much more of Tszyu than Fenech inside the ring. The popularity contest should be won by...Tyszu

As for who was the better fighter.......Fenech ploughed through virtually everyone at his best (which only spanned a 3 year period, '87 to about '89 IMO) with very little trouble. Tszyu sometimes struggled against fighters he should have cut down pretty quickly (Hurtado, Leonardo Mas)

I honestly can't pick it. They both had exellent strengths and very few weaknesses at their respectiver best

[Ezzard]

I think KT gets underrated. But Fenech is clearly better IMO.

He only really started to lose once his hands had gone and he’s already moved up the divisions by then. A formidable fighter in any era.

[Crease]

I'd say Tszyu.