Thursday, 19 June 2008:
Boxing great Azumah Nelson insists he still has the punching power to flatten Jeff Fenech in their bout next week, dismissing fears for his safety by declaring he was born to fight.
After a controversial draw 17 years ago in Las Vegas, Nelson stopped Fenech in the eighth round at Princes Park a year later.
Nelson, who is Ghana's greatest sportsman, said he would put aside his friendship with the Australian when he takes to the ring and claimed Fenech would again come off second best in their third battle.
"He's got a big mouth, he's got a big punch, but I have the bigger punch. I'm going to knock him out," Nelson said.
"I'm going to knock him out on Tuesday so everybody should be there to see how I'm going to knock him out.
"I did it before (beat him), I'll do it again."
Nelson described Fenech as a courageous fighter and revealed he had never fought an opponent who was as strong as the Australian. Both are members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
But Nelson said Fenech, who has received the support of underworld figure Mick Gatto and former cricket champion Shane Warne, was only a chance of beating him if he could drop him early in the 10-round bout.
"It takes me a long time to get going. When the runs are going and I'm charging, I'm at my best," Nelson said.
"If you don't knock me out in the first three rounds, then you're in trouble. I have a lot of styles, I have 99 styles.
"I can change my strategy any time.
"I'm a master in the ring, that's why I'm called 'the professor'."
Nelson, who is three months shy of turning 50, laughed off suggestions he was not in the same shape as Fenech, who at 44 looked ripped for his age.
The ages of the two three-time world champions has drawn some concerns from retired light-heavyweight world champion Danny Green and the Australian Medical Association.
But Nelson said there was no danger with the pair boxing.
"They are the medical people and we are the boxers," he said.
"This is our game, this is what we know. When you come into this world, God gives you something, God gives you a profession. Boxing is my profession."
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