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Status: IBO Cruiserweight Champion and former WBA Light Heavyweight Champion. 2000 Olympian. His record is 28-3 (25 KO’s).
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 175
DOB: March 9, 1973 In: Perth, Australia
Boxing Inspirations: “Muhammad Ali, Thomas Hearns.”
Nickname: “The Green Machine.”
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Family time, surfing. Ping-pong is a big part of my social time. We play for money or the loser gets a taser buzz. Sometimes near the end of training I put on my sweat gear, put all the heaters on and play 20 games. It’s good for hand-eye and takes my mind off the fight.”
Favorite Movies: “Big Wednesday, Mad Max, Snatch, Anchor Man, Layer Cake.”
Last Book Read: “Joe Calzaghe’s autobiography (No Ordinary Joe).”
Musical Tastes: “I like any music that gets my blood pumping or evokes emotion. I love music…David Gray, Coldplay, Chemical Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead.”
Favorite TV Show: “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
First Job: “Selling potato peelers at the royal show, spruiking them with a headset on with demonstrations included.”
First Car: “1974 Holden Gemini. That freedom machine rattled along.”
Current Car: “Ford GT (black).”
First Boxing Memory: “Getting slapped hard on my right ear by my dad’s sharp left. I was 12 and I learnt early the value of a good lead left.”
Pre-Fight Feeling: “Quite hard to describe. I feel calm yet aggressive, relaxed, yet bursting at the seams, all in one feeling. I feel very comfortable though.”
Favorite Meal: “Mum’s crumbled chicken with scooped baked potatoes filled with bacon and cheese.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Pre-fight Meal: “Spaghetti bollognaise and margerita pizza.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Being chaired around the ring on my father’s shoulders after winning the WBA Light Heavyweight world title.”
Most Painful Moment: “Being ludicrously disqualified in Germany (in 2003) after destroying the world champ (Marcus Beyer) in five rounds in only my 17th fight for the WBC Super Middleweight title. (Green floored Beyer twice and cut him and was leading on all three judge’s cards but was strangely DQ’ed for so-called intentional butt when a clash of heads re-opened the cut in round five.) It’s easy to put into perspective though, knowing my daughter was safe and healthy at home.”
Worst Injury: Two broken bones – L2 and L3 transverse process in my back due to an awkward punch. Man, that was uncomfortable.”
Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Ali, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Vic Darchinyan, Erik Morales, Diego Corrales, Mike Tyson.”
Favorite Fights: “Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo. I loved Corrales, met him in Vegas a couple of times amd he took us to his gym, we had dinner once. He was just a real cool, down-to-earth dude. It’s sad he died so early. Ward-Gatti I. Darchinyan- Arce.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “Won’t mention any names but years ago I watched two guys in heavy sparring. One had diarrhea and farted and pushed too hard and crapped in his pants. The other guy knew and went hard. And the coach knew and made them stay in for one more round. We were rolling on the ground when he hobbled out of the ring holding his pants from spilling out [laughs]. Hilarious.”
Embarrassing Boxing Memory: “Some of the trunks I wore early in my amateur career, with legs like mine were criminal.”
Childhood Dream: “To become champion of the world.”
Which Fights Did You Feel At Your Absolute Best: “I haven’t finished yet so hopefully that is ahead of me.”
First Famous Boxer You Met: “Shane Riley in 1992. He was a local pro who was national champion and I got to spar with him. He took it easy on me thankfully.”
Toughest Opponent: “Alexander Lebziak – 2000 Olympic gold medalist. He was a Russian general in the military, nicknamed ‘The Animal’ and he had a head impervious to punishment.”
Last Vacation: “Fiji, got the best waves of my life and my daughter learnt how to snorkel.”
Favorite Sport Outside Boxing: “Surfing.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I admire humility and people who help others in need. And people who are honest and decent and caring.”
Family: Wife, Nina; daughter, Chloe; son, Archie.
