Fenech To Make Come Back???

ThePunisher · Post by **ThePunisher** » 11 Mar 2008, 08:15

I read on fightnews that fenech could/will be fighting a fella he fought in the 80's this mid year.

Apparently could be worth millions.

I say good luck to him.

Would be funny if he had a few fights and won them.... next thing you know Mundine will wanna defend his belt against him lol.

ryan711 · Post by **ryan711** » 11 Mar 2008, 13:08

dam just saw it on ninemsn,what a joke but for a 1 million why not.

Three-time world boxing champion Jeff Fenech is believed to be preparing for a comeback.

Fenech, who last fought 12 years ago, was finalising a deal with Thai Samart Payakarun with the Australian hoping to earn $1 million for the bout.

News Limited reported the 43-year-old would fight in Bangkok in a bout pencilled in for mid-June.

Fenech beat Payakarun in Sydney 20 years ago.

Fenech, who won titles in three weight divisions, would not confirm the fight but Channel Nine's A Current Affair program had been trumpeting an exclusive story about a sporting comeback to be aired on Wednesday.

The boxer, known as Marrickville Mauler, compiled a record of 28 wins, three losses and one draw during a stellar career.

Marlin · Post by **Marlin** » 11 Mar 2008, 17:15

IF it happens surely it will be an exhibition fight...

The Telegraph is calling it The Crock in Bangkok :)

Brute · Post by **Brute** » 11 Mar 2008, 18:35

The Telegraph would know all about crocks. It is one, full of crap.

Fenech beat Samart Payakarun in 1987 for the WBC super bantamweight title Payakarun had won from Lupe Pintor in 1986. At the time Payakarun, having taken the title from a great champion, had been expected to reign for years. After the Fenech fight Payakarun's people made out he had hardly trained (funny that, he made the weight easily). Whether this was true or he was making excuses after having his arse kicked we will never know. Fenech KOed him in four after being knocked down in the first. Payakarun later moved up to featherweight, being stopped by Eloy Rojas in a WBC title shot in 1994. In a short career of 23 fights, Payakarun lost only to Fenech and Rojas. He was more than "some guy Fenech fought in the 80s".

Beltane · Post by **Beltane** » 11 Mar 2008, 20:02

A Thai friend told me that Samart Payakarun was so shattered by being ko'd by our Jeff all those years ago, that to save face, he retreated for many months into a Buddist temple.

Jeff must be hard up for cash to even think of putting on the gloves again and no trainer in their right mind should take him on.

ThePunisher · Post by **ThePunisher** » 11 Mar 2008, 20:56

Bute, i wasnt calling the Thai a goose or anything, i just couldnt be bothered reading the article again to see what his name was.

Marlin · Post by **Marlin** » 11 Mar 2008, 21:05

Beltane wrote:A Thai friend told me that Samart Payakarun was so shattered by being ko'd by our Jeff all those years ago, that to save face, he retreated for many months into a Buddist temple.

Jeff must be hard up for cash to even think of putting on the gloves again and no trainer in their right mind should take him on.

Johnny Lewis...

Beltane · Post by **Beltane** » 11 Mar 2008, 23:09

If Johnny has put up his hand to train his old fighter, he need look no further than his action in stopping Kostya in coming out for round 12 against Hatton.

JSA · Post by **JSA** » 12 Mar 2008, 02:58

another farce.Whats happening lads?This is just getting ridiculous.Next well have Barry Michael or Lester calling Jeff out.The Geriatric Gloves we will have to call it.Jeff must need the money(or attention?!?!?).

If i remember right that fight was in the good old days and was on free to air telly.Cant remember Fenech being dropped(but my memory may be biased)but SP sure got his arse kicked.A typical and vicious Fenech mauling.BIG TIME.

Funny how if SP didnt train and was so ashamed that he didnt,to my knowledge,go for a quick rematch.Fenech went up divs pretty quick i seem to recall????

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 12 Mar 2008, 04:43

A farce of a fight. If there's a million in it for Fenech then in one way you can't blame him. On the other hand he's helping drag the sport down. I stopped following boxing to a large degree and one main reasons was these sorts of nothing and meaningless fights

Fenech was on a mission that night against Pakakarun. Besides the off balance flash knockdown he dominated easily. The ending was pretty brutal. Depending on what you believe he either stayed in a monastery for months afterwards because of shame, or probably more likely, because his fellow Thais had bet huge sums on him to beat Fenech and something rather nasty may have happened to him if they'd gotten their hands on him

From memory Fenech defended the 122lb title against Carlos Zarate and Greg Richardson (who weighed about flyweight on the night) before going to 126 lbs

Anyway, I already have a lasting memory of Fenech being KO'd by Calvin Grove (the same Grove that years earlier when asked if he wanted a Fenech fight said "are you serious? you wanna see me killed?"). Oh yeah, and the Holiday fight

Sweet P · Post by **Sweet P** » 12 Mar 2008, 05:38

Id rather watch Fenech Vs Pacaryun than Mundine against Soliman again. Id like to see some of our former greats fight each other for good money. As long as there not fighting young guys who will beat them up badly let the old fellas fight.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » 12 Mar 2008, 06:05

At the risk of sounding to negative and getting punched out by fellow bloggers I have always had a critisism of Jeff. He could have been Featherweight champion for 10 years IMO but he never truely dominated any division he was in. He moved from division to division seeking titles and when the greats are discussed in any class I don't think he will be considerd a great anywhere but here. Sorry

Thats just my opinion

ThePunisher · Post by **ThePunisher** » 12 Mar 2008, 09:30

I agree that he didnt "dominate" any one division. He did however, do something that not many fighters can do, and thats win a world title in 3 different weight divisions. Thats a remarkable feat. Let alone the fact that he was robbed of a fourth weight division and then fought for a fifth division.

He didnt dominate a division. He swept through several divisions. Something not many fighters can do.

I think its great that he gets back in the ring. He has the desire to do so. Good on him.

I also think that its exciting that he is fighting at super middleweight. I would love to see him fight Mundine for the title. I know he wouldnt fair much of a chance. But it would be a nice swan song for him and a good pay packet. Plus could be the biggest fight Australia will ever see.

Gotta get past the Thai 1st.

Good luck Jeff.

ryan711 · Post by **ryan711** » 12 Mar 2008, 11:35

Here is a video with jeff talkin with A Current Affair
http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-au&brand=n ... nd:1:ff:8A

JCS · Post by **JCS** » 12 Mar 2008, 12:18

JSA wrote:another farce.Whats happening lads?This is just getting ridiculous.Next well have Barry Michael or Lester calling Jeff out.The Geriatric Gloves we will have to call it.Jeff must need the money(or attention?!?!?).

http://www.BS.com/?m=show&id=13057

Barry Michael, another Australian boxing great, says that he will come out of retirement at age 53 to fight Fenech.

"I've waited 20 years for you to come out of retirement," Michael said. "Mate, as soon as I heard Jeff was back I hit the streets for my first training run. My mobile phone hasn't stopped ringing, either. Friends asking 'Can you fight him too? Can you fight him too? Because, mate, I've been waiting 20 years for this. Lester challenged him. I've challenged him. Maybe now Jeff can give me that crack."

Michael was a holder of the IBF super featherweight title. He retired in 1987.

Brute · Post by **Brute** » 12 Mar 2008, 17:35

With Saoul Mamby announcing he is serious about making a comeback at sixty, anything is possible.

By the way, Mamby was a New York taxi driver who became a World Champion.

Marlin · Post by **Marlin** » 12 Mar 2008, 20:01

JCS wrote:
JSA wrote:another farce.Whats happening lads?This is just getting ridiculous.Next well have Barry Michael or Lester calling Jeff out.The Geriatric Gloves we will have to call it.Jeff must need the money(or attention?!?!?).
http://www.BS.com/?m=show&id=13057

Barry Michael, another Australian boxing great, says that he will come out of retirement at age 53 to fight Fenech.

"I've waited 20 years for you to come out of retirement," Michael said. "Mate, as soon as I heard Jeff was back I hit the streets for my first training run. My mobile phone hasn't stopped ringing, either. Friends asking 'Can you fight him too? Can you fight him too? Because, mate, I've been waiting 20 years for this. Lester challenged him. I've challenged him. Maybe now Jeff can give me that crack."

Michael was a holder of the IBF super featherweight title. He retired in 1987.

Beat me to it.

I actually hope Fenech smashes him as payback for his woeful commentary...

Brute · Post by **Brute** » 12 Mar 2008, 21:41

I think Barry is having a joke. He had enough sense to stop fighting after he lost his IBF title to Rocky Lockridge, I doubt that he would be silly enough to start again at 53.

For those who never saw Barry fight, he was no mug.

toppity · Post by **toppity** » 12 Mar 2008, 22:58

Brute wrote:I think Barry is having a joke. He had enough sense to stop fighting after he lost his IBF title to Rocky Lockridge, I doubt that he would be silly enough to start again at 53.

For those who never saw Barry fight, he was no mug.

Brute, Barry once fought an african american in melb'. I think it was a points win to Michael. I can't remember the yanks name, but it would be one of the best and toughest fights i've seen. You wouldn't remember who it is would you?

Ross · Post by **Ross** » 12 Mar 2008, 23:01

ben k wrote:Id rather watch Fenech Vs Pacaryun than Mundine against Soliman again. Id like to see some of our former greats fight each other for good money. As long as there not fighting young guys who will beat them up badly let the old fellas fight.

Yep I dont want to see Fenech back in the ring, but would rather see that than Mundine /Soliman again

Ross · Post by **Ross** » 12 Mar 2008, 23:05

Brute wrote:I think Barry is having a joke. He had enough sense to stop fighting after he lost his IBF title to Rocky Lockridge, I doubt that he would be silly enough to start again at 53.

For those who never saw Barry fight, he was no mug.

He may have been no mug, but he was never one of the top fighters in his division, and Fenech would have had a tough fight with him but Fenech would have won it in a tougher than expected match IMO

Ross

Brute · Post by **Brute** » 13 Mar 2008, 00:59

toppity wrote:
Brute wrote:I think Barry is having a joke. He had enough sense to stop fighting after he lost his IBF title to Rocky Lockridge, I doubt that he would be silly enough to start again at 53.

For those who never saw Barry fight, he was no mug.
Brute, Barry once fought an african american in melb'. I think it was a points win to Michael. I can't remember the yanks name, but it would be one of the best and toughest fights i've seen. You wouldn't remember who it is would you?

Barry Michael fought a lot of African Americans. He was a super Featherweight but fought anybody up to welterweight. Was it Artis?

Brute · Post by **Brute** » 13 Mar 2008, 01:02

Ross wrote:
Brute wrote:I think Barry is having a joke. He had enough sense to stop fighting after he lost his IBF title to Rocky Lockridge, I doubt that he would be silly enough to start again at 53.

For those who never saw Barry fight, he was no mug.

He may have been no mug, but he was never one of the top fighters in his division, and Fenech would have had a tough fight with him but Fenech would have won it in a tougher than expected match IMO

Ross

Jeff was never beaten from Super Flyweight to Featherweight. Super Featherweights and Lightweights were a problem for him. jeff claimed to be 5'7". I saw him once at the Easter Show. He walked past me with his mate Con. My wife is 5'6" and she looked taller than Jeff, and she was wearing flats.

JSA · Post by **JSA** » 13 Mar 2008, 02:15

Good point as to smashing barry for his commentary.Didnt consider that angle.But what if Barry won-be blowin Mundines as well as his own trumpet.
I was very sad when Grove dropped him.Never liked Grove much and didnt realise he had made ssuch a comment as to being killed earlier in his career.Probably a fair one.At least Kostya got some revenge on him.Bye calvin.
As a fighter always thought Fenech was brilliant.Just the way he fought,his relentless attack.Figure as he went up divs was only a matter of time before he tasted power he couldnt cope with.lets be honest-he did get hit alot but generally just waded on through.
is it not true(or is my memory just reaally biased)that he found it hard to get fights in the lower divs coz opponents of the time avoided him?
finally watching Jeff or Mundine/soliman again.I see your point.Have to agree the former would be more interesting(and entertaining).Just for boxing on the whole dont think fights like this do much for the sport.

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 13 Mar 2008, 03:23

Brute wrote:
toppity wrote:
Brute wrote:I think Barry is having a joke. He had enough sense to stop fighting after he lost his IBF title to Rocky Lockridge, I doubt that he would be silly enough to start again at 53.

For those who never saw Barry fight, he was no mug.
Brute, Barry once fought an african american in melb'. I think it was a points win to Michael. I can't remember the yanks name, but it would be one of the best and toughest fights i've seen. You wouldn't remember who it is would you?
Barry Michael fought a lot of African Americans. He was a super Featherweight but fought anybody up to welterweight. Was it Artis?

Who's Artis?

Barry was a lightweight for the last 10 years before going down to 130. Recently i saw a documentary about it and nobody thought Barry could make 130 after so many years at 135

Rocky Lockridge sure did a number on Barry in his last fight huh?