Interesting article from the paper this morning:
Brad Walter
July 31, 2007
SINCE his first fight four months ago, the thing former Warriors captain Monty Betham has found hardest about the change of sports has been the lack of regular scheduling in boxing.
Trying to gain experience in the ring while building a record he hopes will eventually lead to a world title shot, Betham has been frustrated by the difficulty in trying to organise bouts against opponents closely matched to his ability.
And even when a fight has been arranged, there is no guarantee it will go ahead - as Betham discovered when he had his scheduled appearance as the main undercard of Anthony Mundine's June 27 world title defence cancelled.
After travelling from Auckland to the Gold Coast for the bout, Betham's opponent was refused a medical clearance when it was discovered he had fought the previous week, and then an 11th-hour replacement was also ruled out due to an irregularity in his blood test.
Returning to New Zealand, the 29-year-old former Kiwi international told his manager, Mick Watson, to find him a fight as soon as possible. Just 10 days later, he scored a comfortable points decision over Frank Asiata - the first of his four bouts so far not to end in a knockout.
Now Betham is stepping back into the ring, on Friday night at Auckland's Sky City Casino, to fight 25-year-old Queenslander James Chan (4-4-1), who has beaten the likes of Mundine's sparring partner Daniel "Biff" Baff and earlier this year had a draw with Clinton Johnson in their bout for the WBF Asia Pacific light-heavyweight title.
"It is very hard and we keep finding it hard getting opponents," Betham told the Herald. "Some opponents want to keep their record and don't want to take a risk - but then again, I've got to be careful, too.
"I've had four fights now but that's four fights ever, and even though my dad was a boxer, I never had a background in boxing besides in the garage at home. Because I'm so inexperienced, a lapse can cost me - and that would be a setback we don't want."
Until now, Betham has been feeling his way in the fight game, but he decided after watching Mundine account for Argentinian Pablo Daniel Zamora Nievas in a tough 12-round contest that he would continue to fight at cruiserweight and work his way up the rankings.
"I'm enjoying it, but it's a lot more frustrating than league," Betham said. "In the world of boxing, nothing is definite, nothing is concrete, and it's just heartbreaking when you go to the Gold Coast and you're in good shape, ready to go and looking forward to being on a big stage like that, and then your opponent falls through.
Monty bemoans lack of contenders
Cruiserweights tend to be orphans of the storm. Maybe if Monty could sweat down to light heavy he would find more opponents. Anthony Mundine is a lot lighter as a boxer than he was as a footballer. At twelve stone he would have been monstered by halfbacks.
( I know this means nothing to AFL fanatics, but Rugby League followers would know what I mean.)
( I know this means nothing to AFL fanatics, but Rugby League followers would know what I mean.)