ESB Forum Fighter Interviews...

Melbourne based lightheavyweight Joel '2 Gunz' Casey was kind enough to share his thoughts in our little forum interview..thanks 2 Gunz! :good

Q1.What single event made you commit to a career as a professinal boxer?

JC..the death of my grandad, i was always a dissapointment and getting into trouble with the law,got myself a decent jail term, ended up in the hole for fighting,40degree heat no fresh air,filth'n'faeces everywhere, it was that night when i decided to step up and be counted for,to make pop proud and to show the world what i can do..

Q2.Who has been the biggest influence on your boxing career?

JC..my trainer Charlie Liparota and teammate Serge Yannick,my trainer because he has built me and I see the the machine being built and it super motivates me to learn how to use it right,my team mate serge ,because we push it hard everyday in the gym and its like a two horse race,neck and neck all the time,the three of us are awesome together,i'm blessed to be in a great stable.

Q3.What advise would you give a young fella thinking of turning Pro?

JC..don't rush into turning Pro.Learn all you can while you can as a amateur,because when you turn Pro every fight counts and your always putting your career on the line,so you need to be ready to handle everything that gets thrown at you and more importantly be able to dish it out and push on in any given situation in and out of the ring..

Q4.Considering the recent growth of MMA,do you consider it a threat to boxing?

JC..no way! Boxing is all stand up combat,people love stand up fighting,plus in boxing it's all a perfected science and there will always be a place for boxing

Q5.Do you think mismatches are turning fans away from boxing and what would be your solution to this issue?

JC..yes it's definately putting people off,people want to see good fights,grading fighters might be a idea,if they're not of the grade/level and they should not able to fight some one who is,maybe something like that..

Q6.What is your opinion on the current 'health of Aussie boxing and what can we do to improve it?

JC..I think some fights get stopped to easy.I believe if the fighter wants to continue with cuts or whatever reason and the ref see's he's ok then they should let the match continue,we're fighters getting hurt is part of the game,obviously the science is to hit and not be hit.It's a battle,people get hurt.I believe being to soft and stopping fights on some cuts kills boxing too.

Q7.Besides you own trainer,Who do you rate as the best trainer in the country?

JC..i'm not sure..

Q8.Who's the biggest puncher you've ever fought?

JC..TIM BELL,he was a heavy puncher and would back his power up over the whole 12rounds..

Q9.What fighters here and overseas do you respect the most and why?

JC..PACMAN ,he leads the way on how its done and with great work comes a great machine and he maintains it,he's AWESOME,and Bernard Hopkins,there both super fighters and legends in the game.

Q10.What would be your dream matchup?

JC...To fight Hopkins in Vegas and take his title,then to take the title to Russia/Germany and fight thier best in a absolute WAR and WIN.Just like the Rocky movie,lol,that would be awesome..

Q11.What do you aspire to do in life besides boxing?

JC..To be the best person I can be.To take care of the people I love and make a movie of my life story and relax,travel and watch the world go by..

Q12.Do you drop in on ESB forum or other forum to check the feedback from the fans?

JC..yes,sometimes have a peak..

onya.Joel...thanks for your time mate..:good

 

..next cab of the rank is Gold Coast Junior Middleweight 'Cyclone' Casey Hannan..

Q1.What single event made you commit to a career as a professinal boxer?

CH..My first loss as a pro,Alex Ahtong,a heavy big knock out,made me think i'm better than this and also made me more determined to win.Boxing to me is not something to 'impress' it's an addiction.I turned professional because I did whatever my first trainer told me to do.I didn't have many amateur bouts 15 fights 11-4 winning the Australian Golden Gloves in 2008, I had a hard good run as an amateur.

Q2.Who has been the biggest influence on your boxing career?

CH..Biggest influence would have to be Les Sherrington and my trainer now Dan McGrail.When I first came to train at Dans gym,KO Fitness in Miami on the Gold Coast, I saw first hand how professional and smart they trained,it blew my mind.With Les and myself being the only two boxers in the gym we became like a family.Les is like an older brother to me and one of my closest friends.Dan 'Bones Of Stone' has lived pretty much his whole life as a boxer, anything I need to know or need to do, these two men will tell me. It would be a dream come true to box as good as either of these two men.


Q3.What advise would you give a young fella thinking of turning Pro?

CH..Im still learning to box today but I'd say don't rush,boxing is one of the hardest sports in the world and you will get a big wake up call if you don't learn to crawl, stand and walk before you RUN.

Q4.Considering the recent growth of MMA,do you consider it a threat to boxing?

CH..I myself don't mind watching the odd MMA fight but I would never start MMA.I just can't see myself rolling around on the ground to win a fight, but hey,it's all knuckles for me so no,I don't see it as threat to boxing. Boxing has been around for many many years and will continue to still be here no matter what happens.Boxing is an Olympic event and everyone wants to learn to fight standing up.


Q5.Do you think mismatches are turning fans away from boxing and what would be your solution to this issue?

CH..Ah,this is a good one,I think all eyes are turning to Anthony Mundine, haha,Aussie boxing fans have seen all of his mismatches and yeah they shouldn't be happy,but there is a good range up young up and coming professionals like myself my and many others changing what fans think. My last few fights have been against good boxers and I don't see them getting any easier. A solution to this I guess would be not to put up with it and for promoters not to make it the MAIN EVENT. There will always be mismatches maybe for someone having their first pro fight to gain their confidence, but just only have one on the card.

Q6.What is your opinion on the current 'health of Aussie boxing and what can we do to improve it?

CH..As I said before there is a few good up and coming guys coming through, especially here on the Gold Coast,a good bunch of young guys,'GOLDEN BOYS',haha, maybe there could be an Aussie tour team...maybe it's a thought...you make the team by beating a certain opponent,promoters could work together and really turn it on.


Q7.Besides you own trainer,Who do you rate as the best trainer in the country?

CH..Thats hard, the best trainer is the one that knows his boxer the best and doesn't mind telling him what he's doing wrong and ways to improve them.They should find and fix all bad habits.Dan,my trainer says to me"don't think,just do,leave the thinking to me",because he knows I think too much. Best trainer in the country maybe Chris Carden, good guy with some good Pros and Ams..

Q8.Who's the biggest puncher you've ever fought?

CH..Biggest puncher, that would have to be when I was an amateur.I fought in Casino NSW,had ****** Rowsell in my corner and couldn't lose in front of one of my heros.Boxed a guy from Lismore,Garth I think his name was,who hit me so hard I had a flash-back of a dream about fighting him before, almost like deja vu.I won the fight on points played it very smart and safe.

Q9.What fighters here and overseas do you respect the most and why?

CH..Les Sherrington.He's just an all round good guy,looks out for his mates and not a bad bone in his body.In boxing he trains his arse off,puts in 100% well "one thousand percent" he would say.
Overseas I'd have to say Manny Pacquiao,the guys a freak,trains hard and awesome to watch,also I respect anyone that boxes anyone who jumps in between the ropes and gives the sport a good name.Alot of people think outside of boxing,we live the easy life this would be far from true.It can be boring,hard,painful,tiring,emotional and more but most of all the best thing I've ever came across,I LOVE it..

Q10.What would be your dream matchup?

CH..Dream matchup right now would be to rematch Craig Hill Jnr but a all time matchup would be to fight for a World Title in Vegas.Don't care who it is,one punch can change a fight,your always in for a chance.

Q11.What do you aspire to do in life besides boxing?

CH..Definitely to root all the good sorts I can get a hold of.Haha,no,I'd like to surf,travel and have a healthy family,kids,nice home,be finically secure, happy and just live.Apart from boxing I also love to surf.My younger brother and I are always out with our mates surfing and having a laugh.

Q12.Do you drop in on ESB forum or other forum to check the feedback from the fans?

CH..For sure I do, hopping on the internet and seeing what people have to say about you can really bring you down to earth,also it's a good for constructive criticism.It's not just to see what people are saying about yourself but can be used to gather information on stats' and on up and coming opponents to find out what to watch for or to work more on.

..hey thanks Case' for your input mate and we're lookin' forward to seein' you back in the winners circle where you belong..:thumbsup

 

Hey fellas...this was all done by way of email so any spellin' mistakes and discrepancies we'll just have to live with...but the guts of it is all there...cheers boyz:thumbsup

 

..well hopefully mate this thing gets some legs and a few other fellas put the interview to a few other fighters...and yeah mate..someone controversial like Elomar would be interesting..:yep

 

..next up we've got gun super featherweight Paul 'Showtime' Flemming..former Olympian and a fighter with genuine shot at crackin' the International market..

Q1.What single event made you commit to a career as a professinal boxer?

PF..I was boxing as am amateur and never thought about going Pro until after the olympics,getting offered a contract with toprank it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up..

Q2.Who has been the biggest influence on your boxing career?

PF..My family have been the biggest influence in my career.Everything they have sacrificed for me to chase my dream and the support they have given me..

Q3.What advise would you give a young fella thinking of turning Pro?

PF..The advice I would give would be to give 100% leave nothing to chance.If your going to do something go all out and its not enough to just train in the gym,you have to live boxing inside the ring and out..

Q4.Considering the recent growth of MMA,do you consider it a threat to boxing?

PF..I think boxing is here to stay no matter what sport comes along.Boxing is boxing,there is no replacing it..

Q5.Do you think mismatches are turning fans away from boxing and what would be your solution to this issue?

PF..I dont really think that the mismatch situation is that bad. I think there is not enough depth in Australian Boxing so to get the fights,some fighters will have to fight some guys that are below them.I don't think there is much we can do but I think the quality of the fights internationalLy are really good atm.

Q6.What is your opinion on the current 'health of Aussie boxing and what can we do to improve it?

PF..I think Aussie Boxing has some great young fighters coming through and I think the promoters need to pump them more..

Q7.Besides you own trainer,Who do you rate as the best trainer in the country?

PF..I would have to say Chris McCullen.Whenever we go to Brisbane we train with him.He also has one of the hottest young prospects in Australia at the moment Trent Broadhurst..

Q8.Who's the biggest puncher you've ever fought?

PF..I don't really know who the biggest puncher I have fought is haven't really been tagged yet,touch wood,but I would have to say the guy who beat me in the Olympics Khedafi Djelkhir..

Q9.What fighters here and overseas do you respect the most and why?

PF..Well I respect Manny Pacquiao for all his achievements in the sport and because he is so humble.Danny Geale for going all the way over to Germany and to bring back the title witch is very hard to do and Billy Dib because everyone wrote him off and he came back and won the title..

Q10.What would be your dream matchup?

PF..I don't really know who my dream matchup would be.If you ask me this in a years time when i'm ready to fight for the title then i'll have more of an idea.

Q11.What do you aspire to do in life besides boxing?

PF..I would love to start a program for Aborignal youth just to give them some guidance in all aspects of life..

Q12.Do you drop in on ESB forum or other forum to check the feedback from the fans?

PF..Yeah I check out out the forums from time to time but I try not to get caught up in all the argueing and bickering.I take in the positive and try not to take much notice to the negitive..

Hey Paulie...thanks a million for your input mate...even if you never have another fight I'm sure you've inspired many of our aboriginal youth to think big and know that anything is possible if you put in the hard yards...you're also a credit to all us Aussies for the way you present yourself in those interviews aired across the US...thanks again mate.:thumbsup