Open Letter from Kali Meehan

This is Kali Meehan, and I'm writing this open letter to let the Boxing public to let them know what's going on in my career! I am number ranked number three in the WBA, but I know this surprises some people who don't think I am busy enough so I thought now was a good time to set the record straight.

As I write, I am expecting confirmation of an elimination bout, probably against John Ruiz, with the victor to fight the winner of Valuev v Chagaev.


A bit of background - I turned pro in 1997 in the country of my birth New Zealand, had four fights with four wins, then I moved Australia, and continued Boxing. After fighting everyone I could in the Pacific, I then had one fight in Japan vs Peter Okello, one fight in England - my first loss to Danny Williams - and a (then) career of 28 wins 1 loss, I was going nowhere in the sport of Boxing. I had fought one guy three times, another guy four times, was promised this, promised that - promised the world and given an atlas. All the while, I was holding down two jobs - rubbish man in the day, security guard in the night. Feeling like I was going nowhere, I walked away from Boxing, and played rugby League!

Two years later I was introduced to my current trainer Mark Janssen and he asked me if I would fight again. I told him I plan to, want to in fact, but its financially too hard. He asked "If i can get you a sponsor so you don't have to work two jobs will you fight?" I said HELL YEAH!! Well, he found me a sponsor and I started training. Two weeks later I was invited to spar John Ruiz, the then WBA heavyweight Champ!

This was the first time I had ever been in the ring with someone from the top level. He was geting ready to fight Rachman and I became his main sparring partner. His then trainer Norm Stone was so happy with my performance during that camp, that he threw me extra bonuses every week and rang Don King in front of me saying "Don, you gotta sign this Aussie kid!"

So here I was, straight from the rubbish truck and into Don Kings office, signing a contract with the worlds biggest boxing promoter. I went to his training camp and sparred everyone there! Then I was asked to go to Big Bear to help Lamon Brewster, prepare for his WBO shot with Vladimir Klitscho. I fought on the undercard, against Damon Reed in April of 2004, knocking him down five times during the bout and winning by sixth stoppage! After being in the states for ten very interesting and exciting weeks I gratefully returned home to my wife and three boys.

Then I got a phone call - would I agree to fight Brewster for the WBO heavyweight championship of the world in September? I think the answer was obvious, again HELL YEAH! All my prayers were about to be answered, I was going to be the Champ! When I fought Damon Reed five months earlier, he was really a cruiserweight and at no time in the fight did I feel he could hurt me, so this was really my first strong fight in over 2 years and the first time ever fighting at the top level.

I lost the fight by (controversial) split decision, but I remember the feeling of having made it to this level and when people asked if I was angry that I was not awarded the decision, I said "No! I believe I will get the title! I believe I will be Heavyweight Champion of the world!"

I then accepted a fight with Hasim Rahman in November, a decision I now know was too soon after my title fight. I was simply not as focused as I needed to be in training. Added to that, the hype that comes with reaching the top level - fighting at Mandaley Bay for the title - was a lot for a rubbish man to take in. Then, my three sparring partners pulled out with injuries. Not the ideal preparation, but that is sometimes the way with this sport.

I went to New York to fight at Madison Square Garden with hardly any sparring under my belt. We got there two weeks before the fight and planned to spar 30 rounds in the first week, taper off in the second week and then fight. Despite the interrupted preparation, I was confident I would beat Rachman. However, on my second day in New York I pulled a muscle in my neck doing pushups. I couldn't move my neck, let alone train and hardly slept at all. I was at the chiropractor twice a day, all the while walking around trying to hide the ice pack on my neck!

alking into the ring that night at Madison Square Garden, to fight Rachman, on HBO for IBF, WBC elimination fight, my mind was miles away, and my energy was nothing! so my game plan was to try and take all his punches, and make him tire himself out! (It failed...) I was so drained of energy and with one minute to go of the fifth, he got me with his best punches and whilst he could not knock me down but my Trainer stopped the fight after that round. I was so angry and on the plane home I asked him why he did it? He replied: "Because you were not 100% fit." I said in that case, thank you. A lot of people, particularly my promoter Don King, had high hopes for me before that fight, and I couldnt let that fight break me - rather, it would make me!

Then it was into the boxing wilderness for me, no fights came my way, my manager and sponsor left me, and I had to virtually start again. My trainer Mark Janssen, who is a world class boxing trainer, stands by me and believes in me though and he is the important one!

Since then I have had five fights to bring that hope back, winning them all by KO in the third round, save the fight with DaVarryl Williamson who I knocked out in the sixth! What may not be so clear to the boxing public is the fact that before the Williamson fight I had no sparring and took the fight at nine days notice. For me it was my last chance and he was in his best condition ever being a (then) sparring partner for Vitali Klitschko, while I was pushing a wheelbarrow full of concrete in Australia! I'm proud to hear some people say that was the best knockout they have ever seen! My performance in that fight restored some of the hope Don King had lost in me and I have since fought and won again in February of this year.

Im ready to fight any heavyweight and every day I email Don King to let him know I'm hungry and willing to fight! I want to fight Valuev for the tittle as I believe he is tailor made for me and believe I will be the first to knock him out. During his fight with Liakhovich, I honestly could have fallen asleep. Some people commented on how good he looked but I honestly don't know what they are talking about! Samuel Peter has no chin, and no stamina - McCline proved that in their fight, but he let his chance go. If I get that chance I will put it all on the line as I always do! Vladimir Klitschko has skills, but if any one makes him fight, he panics!

My goal is to fight for the title, win it and then have a rematch with Rahman. I would take a rematch with him tomorrow if it were offered.

Thanks for reading this far. I promise you will be seeing more of me.

Kali Meehan

 

Yeah he's 38, time's not on his side. Needs to get a wriggle on. It's a shame that any momentum gained from the Williamson win has gone. Still, he's not been in too many wars, which is a good thing.

 

You, me and about 100 million others I'd say.

 

Yeah he was, according to Boxrec, but not according to him in that letter!