MANCHESTER, ENGLAND-Both contestants who will fight for the vacant WBC featherweight throne this Saturday arrived in Manchester, England. WBC top contender Injin Chi (27-2, 16 KOs), Korea, already reached here last Sunday, while #2 ranked local favorite Michael Brodie (35-1, 22 KOs), Manchester, entered the same hotel as the Korean on Tuesday. It was originally slated to be an elimination bout for the interim WBC belt. But the last WBC convention in Moscow decided to establish the champions emeritus in Eric Morales and Konstantine Tszyu as well, so it became an elimination bout for the full championship, since Morales, who has no intention to defend his 126-pound belt any longer, was forced to actually renounce his throne to pave the way for Chi and Brodie to become the legitimate WBC kingpin.
The game and gallant Korean Chi remained atop in the WBC ratings since he displayed a grueling battle with Morales despite losing a close but unanimous nod in Los Angeles two years ago. Chi, now 30, got married to be a father of a child since as well as scored three wins straight, beating ex-OPBF 126-pound champ Samuel Duran (TKO 4), world-rated Korean national feather champ Yangsoo Seung (W 10) and Thailander Thongcharoen Mahasapcondo (TKO 4). His strong wish for a rematch with Morales had been denied due to the Mexican’s busy schedule against the name opponents. Chi says, “This might be my last fight. If unable to win the world title, I ’ll hang up gloves for good. I’ll be desperate to win this belt.”
Brodie, 29, is a fast-rising prospect who has lost only once to Willie Jorrin for the WBC 122-pound throne by a controversial majority decision (115-112, 116-112 and 114-114) in September 2000. His tight guard and quick combination punching made Brodie win six bouts in a row with three within the distance since. The shaven-skulled prospect won a couple of less prestigious feather belts. Brodie won the WBF title by beating Pastor Maurin over 12 heats in May last year. He scored an nearly shutout victory on points over Argentine Juan Gerardo Cabrera for the vacant IBO belt here five months ago, though he eventually relinquished it to be entitled to fight for the vacant WBC crown. Brodie showed his improvement in every bout in terms of his combined offensive and defensive skills.
It must be a competitive encounter of the title aspirants, but Brodie apparently has a local advantage at the MEN arena, where he occasionally appeared before his partisan fans. Chi, who will fight just twice abroad, may experience the hostile atmosphere here even if he certainly tries to overcome any obstacles to prevent his coronation. Each is a boxer-puncher who boxes at the long range and fights in the close quarter as well, but Brodie boasts of his better footwork, while Chi is better at infighting toe-to-toe with his opponent. Taking the initiative in the early stage of the bout will be an important factor to decide the winner and new champ.
Matchroom Sport, presided by Barry Hearn, presents well-matched bouts, as follows:
British and Commonwealth light-middle title bout of Jamie Moore, Salford, and Gary Logan, Croydon, for 12 rounds. WBF welter title go between highly expected James Hare, Huddersfield, and Josef Matlosci, Hungary, for 12 rounds. Light-welter eight-rounder of Colin Lynes, Hornchurch, vs. TBA. Light-middle 6-round contest of Mihai Kotai, Hungary, and Joszef Brayer, Austria. Light-middle Michael Jones, Liverpool, vs. Eugenio Monterio, Manchester-based Portuguese, for six. Light Gary Hibbert, Oldham, vs. Anthony Maynarad, Birmingham, for six. Super-feahter John Murray, Manchester, vs. Mathew Burke, Stratford, for four.
The press conference for the WBC elimination bout will take place at the Crowne Plaza Manchester Midland with the presence of WBC president Jose Sulaiman tomorrow (October 16), and the official weigh-in will be held at the same venue at 2 pm on Friday. This fight will be telecast live to Korea at 6 am on Sunday because of the time difference, as the main event will start at about 10 pm on Saturday here.
(10-15-03)