Sven72
04-17-2008, 01:42 AM
article in todays West Australian, for those with an interest in up and comers
Dominator eyes lucrative US bouts
17th April 2008, 6:45 WST
Perth heavyweight Mark de Mori believes his latest victory in New Zealand has established his readiness to fight under the bright lights in the United States.
De Mori, 26, scored the most significant win of his career when he comfortably outpointed former World Boxing Organisation title contender Ed Mahone over eight rounds in Auckland last week.
The self-styled “Dominator” now expects to build on the momentum of that victory with another tune-up fight before embarking on a US mission.
“Hopefully we’ll find out something pretty soon,” de Mori said.
“If something doesn’t happen (in the US), I’ll just take a fight to keep busy before something bigger comes up over there. I want an opponent of the same level (as Mahone) or better. That’s what we are looking for.”
De Mori said a representative from American fight promoters Don King Productions had been in touch before the bout to inquire about the WA fighter’s US entry visa details. A DVD of the win would also be sent to the Americans.
“They’ll give it to their matchmaker and he’ll see where I’m at. They’ll find someone to test me,” de Mori said.
Although he dominated Mahone — all three judges scoring the fight in de Mori’s favour by wide margins —he was hit hard in the last round and suffered a rib injury that he was forced to disguise until the final bell.
“He’s pretty experienced and he tried a few old tricks so that I’d walk into his power,” de Mori said.
“The last round he came at me with everything.
“But the plan we set and we trained for worked perfectly. I just had to be smart about it. His weakness is that he’s quite slow with his feet and his hands, but he had a lot of power so I couldn’t just stand there with him.
“With two rounds to go, I had plenty in the tank and I wanted to try to put him away. But my trainer said to stick to the plan.”
The bruised ribs will keep de Mori out of the ring for a few weeks, but he is anxious to make a quick return after the confidence boost of victory over a man who fought for the WBO world title against Vitali Klitschko in 1999.
“I want to fight someone with international credibility,” he said. “I’m trying to impress people overseas because there’s not a huge amount of money in the fights in Australia.”
De Mori acknowledged there was risk attached to his strategy of fighting a higher calibre opponent, but felt he had little choice.
“We’ve reached a point where going backwards is just as risky,” he said.
“If we fight nobodies there’s nothing to gain and a lot to lose.”
JONATHAN COOK
Dominator eyes lucrative US bouts
17th April 2008, 6:45 WST
Perth heavyweight Mark de Mori believes his latest victory in New Zealand has established his readiness to fight under the bright lights in the United States.
De Mori, 26, scored the most significant win of his career when he comfortably outpointed former World Boxing Organisation title contender Ed Mahone over eight rounds in Auckland last week.
The self-styled “Dominator” now expects to build on the momentum of that victory with another tune-up fight before embarking on a US mission.
“Hopefully we’ll find out something pretty soon,” de Mori said.
“If something doesn’t happen (in the US), I’ll just take a fight to keep busy before something bigger comes up over there. I want an opponent of the same level (as Mahone) or better. That’s what we are looking for.”
De Mori said a representative from American fight promoters Don King Productions had been in touch before the bout to inquire about the WA fighter’s US entry visa details. A DVD of the win would also be sent to the Americans.
“They’ll give it to their matchmaker and he’ll see where I’m at. They’ll find someone to test me,” de Mori said.
Although he dominated Mahone — all three judges scoring the fight in de Mori’s favour by wide margins —he was hit hard in the last round and suffered a rib injury that he was forced to disguise until the final bell.
“He’s pretty experienced and he tried a few old tricks so that I’d walk into his power,” de Mori said.
“The last round he came at me with everything.
“But the plan we set and we trained for worked perfectly. I just had to be smart about it. His weakness is that he’s quite slow with his feet and his hands, but he had a lot of power so I couldn’t just stand there with him.
“With two rounds to go, I had plenty in the tank and I wanted to try to put him away. But my trainer said to stick to the plan.”
The bruised ribs will keep de Mori out of the ring for a few weeks, but he is anxious to make a quick return after the confidence boost of victory over a man who fought for the WBO world title against Vitali Klitschko in 1999.
“I want to fight someone with international credibility,” he said. “I’m trying to impress people overseas because there’s not a huge amount of money in the fights in Australia.”
De Mori acknowledged there was risk attached to his strategy of fighting a higher calibre opponent, but felt he had little choice.
“We’ve reached a point where going backwards is just as risky,” he said.
“If we fight nobodies there’s nothing to gain and a lot to lose.”
JONATHAN COOK