Fenech's Cutting - Does Anyone Know...

[Russell]

Just how much weight he'd cut before fights?

Supposedly the mans ability to do this was legendary, and gave him a massive advantage earlier in his career.

[fists of fury]

I'm sure JT could answer with more authority on this one, but Fenech almost always seemed to be trying to make weight. I remember in an interview how he said that it was pure hell for him always trying to make weight, and he used to resort to some pretty unreal stuff to do so.
I'd imagine like you say, that it would be a big avantage earlier in his career, but I just don't believe one can continually starve your body of water before fights like that...it's just unhealthy.

[Russell]

Any idea what kind of ridiculous things he'd do to make weight?

[fists of fury]

I seem to recall him saying that at one point his water intake was limited to an ice cube a day in the last day or two before a fight...not always, but at least on one occasion.
He said that he grew used to having his lips all dry and chapped, and his tongue feeling swollen.

Stuff like still having to lose a kilo of weight the morning of the weigh-in, an ending up having to run in thick trackies to try and sweat off the weight, stuff like that.

[Russell]

Wonder he didn't end up dead.

[JohnThomas1]

I'm sure JT could answer with more authority on this one, but Fenech almost always seemed to be trying to make weight. I remember in an interview how he said that it was pure hell for him always trying to make weight, and he used to resort to some pretty unreal stuff to do so.
I'd imagine like you say, that it would be a big avantage earlier in his career, but I just don't believe one can continually starve your body of water before fights like that...it's just unhealthy.

That's most of it, always struggling to make the weight. He also trained like one wouldn't believe.

[Russell]

How intense did his training regime get, John?

Any stories?

[JohnThomas1]

How intense did his training regime get, John?

Any stories?

I'd have to nip into his book. Actually over the next weekend i will post some small tidbits from it per exact topic. I recall some quit extreme stories.

[fists of fury]

That would be cool.

[dwilson]

Does he not run extreme distances and such?

[fists of fury]

I dunno about that one. JT?

[JohnThomas1]

I dunno about that one. JT?

I've got thurs to tues off, i will indeed dig into his book and get some answers. I do remember he near always seemed to be going berko pre weigh in trying to lose excess poundage.

[Melbourneborn]

I can't offer any more insight then John on exactly how he trained.. but, have also heard his training was super high intensity.

I know a guy who was an Australian amateur champion in the 80's; this particular guy was also very good friends with an Australian olympian named Brendan Cannon. This guy would often say Brendan was the hardest trainer h had ever seen - just on another level of intensity. Brendan was training in L.A. (i think!) in preparation for the olympics, with Fenech also in the team, and would come back to say that Fenech was the hardest trainer he had ever seen - apparantly, was just ridiculous how hard he worked.

[JohnThomas1]

Bumping for tonight, finally just found my Fenech stuff and will post tidbits as i go. I'll also post a few other interesting points and claims.

[Russell]

Sounds good. Thanks, John.

[Pat_Lowe]

June 24th Fenech vs Nelson III, who wins? I'm going with Nelson because the moment Fenech was past it, he went downhill fast. Although...GO FENECH!

[JohnThomas1]

Ok, Fenech says he had trouble making Bantamweight even right after he won that title and was preparing for an immediate rematch. He would breakfast on a special muesli porridge with lecithin granules, have no lunch and for dinner have filleted fish with lightly steamed veges. He was taking 56 pills a day, garlic, B15, C and E, spirulina for protein, asparate for potassium and hi vita stress pills. His sole liquid in the week before a fight was a special dietitian prepared potato broth. 6 potato's were peeled about 3/4 inch below the skin and the peels boiled.

[JohnThomas1]

Tidbit

Jerome Coffee pre fight when jogging past Fenech yelled you're a nobody Fenech, it's Coffee time :lol:

Coffee came back strong in 10 and 11 and after a couple of top right hands told his corner "i've got him, i've got him".

Fenech says icing coffee was a good win :lol:

[JohnThomas1]

For the McCrory fight Fenech and his handlers lived at a health farm to try get his weight down. He lived on juices and lettuce leaves with sauna every night. Apparently every night while Jeff was in the sauna Bill and co would sneak out for pizza and burgers :lol:

Fenech was still 6 pounds over with 2 days to go. He was 3 1/2 over at 3am fight day and hadn't eaten or drank in 24 hours. At 3am he ran 10 km's, sparred, shadow boxed and ran on the spot with 3 sets of clothes on. He then took fluid tabs and laxettes. 5.30am he was 1 1/2 over. Another run. He claims he collapsed at the end of it. He was still 1/4 to 1/2 over but had nothing left. Steward claimed he was held up on the scales and they didn't balance, but Fenech was already hammering ravioli. A fair fracas ensued. Fenech says he put on between 6 and 8 pounds before getting in the ring. Post fight Steward told him he'd never seen a better fighter, supposedly.

[JohnThomas1]

Fenech had no weight probs when stepping up to hammer 10/9 fave Samart Payakarun. The last uppercut caused him to swallow his tongue. SP hid in a monastery to avoid the fury of punters who had wagered $1 000 000 on him. There were riots with people killed, and later Samart went on to become an even bigger superstar as pop singer and model. True story.

[JohnThomas1]

Around this time Fenech had tax trouble, he says Panama Government tore up Duran's under similar circs due to the patriotic pride his boxing deeds created.

[JohnThomas1]

For the Zarate fight Fenech put on almost 6 kilo's from the weigh in to the bout :yikes

He said he rubbed dampened vitamin E tabs into the cut he received post fight to hasten healing.

[PedroDePacas]

For the McCrory fight Fenech and his handlers lived at a health farm to try get his weight down. He lived on juices and lettuce leaves with sauna every night. Apparently every night while Jeff was in the sauna Bill and co would sneak out for pizza and burgers :lol:

Fenech was still 6 pounds over with 2 days to go. He was 3 1/2 over at 3am fight day and hadn't eaten or drank in 24 hours. At 3am he ran 10 km's, sparred, shadow boxed and ran on the spot with 3 sets of clothes on. He then took fluid tabs and laxettes. 5.30am he was 1 1/2 over. Another run. He claims he collapsed at the end of it. He was still 1/4 to 1/2 over but had nothing left. Steward claimed he was held up on the scales and they didn't balance, but Fenech was already hammering ravioli. A fair fracas ensued. Fenech says he put on between 6 and 8 pounds before getting in the ring. Post fight Steward told him he'd never seen a better fighter, supposedly.
That is intense!

Thanks for those posts.

[JohnThomas1]

That is intense!

Thanks for those posts.

A pleasure, i'll add some tomorrow. He has some interesting comments about Duran.

[fists of fury]

Thanks John.
I actually thought you had forgotten about this thread.

[JohnThomas1]

Thanks John.
I actually thought you had forgotten about this thread.

No mate, i am just woefully unorganised at times with too much going on :oops:

I got caught up in another debate during SS's scores thread i made and actually lost where i was with all me mags. Got a fair few nutted out for him tho.