Boxing: Taylor has world in his hands

FIGHT FOCUS: Anthony Taylor will fight for World Boxing Union super lightweight title next Saturday.PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

Boxers don't get too many - if any - chances to lift a world championship belt. Tauranga doesn't often have the opportunity to see it.

So when Tauranga's Anthony Taylor climbs into the ring to fight Queensland-based Darren Askew next Saturday, he will be a rarity.

"I can't think off the top of my head when there was a fight like this in Tauranga," said Taylor's trainer, Chris Walker, of TGA Box and Tauranga Boxing Club.

The fight will be the feature bout of Walker's third Corporate Challenge boxing event at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre with Taylor and Askew squaring off for the vacant World Boxing Union Super Lightweight title.

"It's a minor world title, but it's a stepping stone to bigger things," said Walker.

Taylor says he is aiming at improving his rankings and looking at fighting at the Oceania title level.

As an amateur, Taylor won two senior national titles and, after competing at the Commonwealth Games in India in 2010, he turned pro late in 2011.

Since then he has had 12 fights, winning 10, five by knock-out, with one draw. He is the New Zealand welterweight champion.

His only loss came in controversial circumstances in his one appearance outside New Zealand as a pro. Facing Brandon Ogilvie on the undercard of 2012's Danny Green v Shane Cameron fight in Melbourne, he was on the wrong end of a majority decision.

"It was early in his pro career when he was still adjusting and it was a decision that could have gone either way," said Walker.

Saturday's opponent moved from England to Toowoomba in 2012 with a 12 fight, six win record, but has revitalised his career, winning the Queensland and Victoria Super lightweight titles.

In many ways Taylor's performance, against someone who could prove to be a difficult opponent, is going to be more important than the title that is on the line.

"[Askew] is from a very competitive gym in Australia. We've watched videos of him and he's gone really well since he moved to Toowoomba.

"In style, he's tricky - stylistically he's not a fighter you want to meet - but that's a good thing as it will bring out the best in Anthony.

"[Askew] is a tall, rangy southpaw who likes to move, so Anthony is going to have to use his skills to try and counter Darren's attributes."

Taylor is well aware of the challenge.

"I imagine he's going to be a tricky fighter," he said. "Hopefully that will bring out the best in me, otherwise it's going to be a long night."

Walker believes his charge has the skills to win.

"He's an exciting fighter to watch. He's a good combination puncher with plenty of power and has good skills to top it off."

Taylor has been helped along by Commonwealth Games teammate and southpaw Angus Donaldson who has proved to be a valuable sparring partner.

If next Saturday's fight goes the full distance, it will be the first time Taylor has been taken to 12 rounds. His previous longest fight, his last against Kru Chain, also in Tauranga, ended with a knock-out in the seventh round of eight.

"We've done extra rounds sparring because not only is there a physical component, there's a mental component to it as well," said Walker.

Before the main event there will be a series of corporate bouts between novice fighters from TGA Box.

"Corporate boxing is always fun to watch," said Walker. "We run a bootcamp at the gym and, at the end of the bootcamp, people get to jump in the ring and battle over two-minute rounds. It takes a little bit of courage and nous to get people to have a go."

Those who are keen are then given the opportunity to fight at a corporate event.

"We try to get them matched as fairly as possible, but on the night, when the adrenalin is flowing, sometimes what you expect to happen doesn't happen."

-Advance tickets are $40 and available from TGA Box.