Aussie veterans chase big boxing targets

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SYDNEY, Aug 16 AAP – Boxing veterans Sam Soliman and Lovemore Ndou are aiming for big targets, with the former chasing Daniel Geale and the latter calling out Ricky Hatton.

Soliman (41-11, 17 KOs) will fight the Dominican Republic’s New York-based Giovanni Lorenzo (31-4, 23 KOs) on August 24 in Geelong in an eliminator for fellow Australian Geale’s IBF middleweight world title.

Geale fights WBA middleweight Super champion Felix Sturm in Germany in a unification bout on September 2 (AEST).

“How good would it be, two Australians fighting for the world title?,” Soliman said of a potential world title match-up with Geale.

Former IBF junior welterweight world champion Ndou (49-13-2, 31 KOs), who defeated ex-IBF junior lightweight world champion Gairy St Clair last week, will back up against Rivan Cessaire (10-3, 3 KOS) in Melbourne on September 7.

The 41-year-old Sydney-based South African-born boxer is intent on getting a crack at former WBA welterweight and IBF junior welterweight king Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs).

Englishman Hatton is reportedly considering a comeback after being knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in his last fight three years ago.

“Him (Hatton) and I have unfinished business,” said Ndou, who holds the WBF world and IBF Pan Pacific welterweight titles.

“He chose to relinquish the (IBF world) title instead of fight me.”

Ndou drew with Hatton’s brother Matthew in England in 2009 in a fight the Australian was convinced he won.

He said the victory over St Clair had opened doors for him and forced him to cancel a holiday.

Ndou said his options included a fight in the United States against top ten-rated WBC and IBF junior middleweight Demetrius Andrade, and a bout in Thailand.

Second-ranked Soliman, 38, will concede significant height and reach advantages to fifth-rated Lorenzo, who has never been stopped and lost only against world champions.

“He (Lorenzo) is a six-footer, he’s tough, loves the 12 rounds, he’s durable,” Soliman said.

Soliman added that the generosity of four sponsors had allowed him to train fulltime instead of working 12-hour shifts on the docks in Melbourne.

Publisher: AAPNewswire

16 Aug 9:27 PM