COULDHAVEBEEN
10-28-2008, 09:53 PM
Looks like little guys are finally going to get a crack at it on Nov 14th on the undercard of the Kani vs Piper card:
Midget boxing set to be big hit
From goldcoast.com.au (David Lewis)
October 29th, 2008
THE Gold Coast is to host a sporting novelty act with real punch -- midget boxing.
In a historic meeting, Jamie 'The Giant' Fallon and Nazih 'Hammer Head' Kheir will step into the ring at the convention centre on November 14 as pioneers of pugilism for the vertically challenged.
Both are hell-bent on using their gloves to prove they are serious gladiators, rather than sideshow fakers in the nation's inaugural duel of pocketsized punchers.
A 'special feature' on the six-fight 'Big man little man boxing' bill put together by Gold Coast promoter Jamie Myer, the bout is seen by both fighters as the first step in the formation of a world boxing body for the small of stature that would be based in Australia.
Myer cancelled a proposed dust up between the duo last month at short notice because he feared it would be depicted as a gimmick.
But with both honing their skills under the tutelage of top trainers -- the respected Billy Husain and Alex Wymara -- he decided to give it a tick.
He even plans to enlist retired heavyweight monolith Joe Bugner, who went the distance with both Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, as referee.
"I was worried it might have lacked credibility but that's no longer a concern," said Myer. "They have both been prepared by professionals and they want to make boxing for little people part of the sporting fabric.
"A lot of people will want to see how they perform. Dr Lou Lewis, in Sydney, has passed them fit and I see them just the same as any other professional fighter.
"They need to have the same rights as anybody else."
Fallon, who stands 107cm tall and weighs 35kg, is a part-time actor and one-time body double for Austin Powers' Mini Me, Verne Troyer.
He's appeared in TV commercials, musical theatre and played a leprechaun in the movie Ned.
Married with three children, he insisted: "This is deadly serious and it certainly won't be any form of an act. If people suspect that, they should come along and watch. That should change their minds.
"They can make their own judgments. If they saw the amount of work we put in down the gym they might be surprised."
Fallon, who suffers from a condition called pseudoachondroplasia, added: "We've both worked very hard and hope to use the opportunity to attract others out there to the sport."
The Sydney sluggers are former friends who had a fall out -- and plan to settle the score in a flurry of fists.
Fallon has been honing his skills at the Redfern gym where Anthony Mundine prepares for his world title fights and counts 'The Man' as a mate.
Kheir, 23, a 128cm tall metal worker, is the heavier and taller of the two and must shed around 9kg to come down the stipulated 47kg mark for a bout that will be fought over six, one-minute rounds.
]He said: "There's a bit of niggle between us -- and it would give me a real rush to flatten him. I can't wait. I'm hoping to knock him out in the third round."
Midget boxing is an evolution of dwarf tossing, invented on the Gold Coast at the now defunct Penthouse Nightclub in the 1980s.
Nerang resident Lee Wichello, who stands 130cm tall, is excited by the prospect of little men going toe to toe.
"It's great," said the 42year-old.
"I support it 120 per cent.
"It could really take off and it will show that height restrictions mean very little when you get in the ring.
"I'll be there to see how they go."
Midget boxing set to be big hit
From goldcoast.com.au (David Lewis)
October 29th, 2008
THE Gold Coast is to host a sporting novelty act with real punch -- midget boxing.
In a historic meeting, Jamie 'The Giant' Fallon and Nazih 'Hammer Head' Kheir will step into the ring at the convention centre on November 14 as pioneers of pugilism for the vertically challenged.
Both are hell-bent on using their gloves to prove they are serious gladiators, rather than sideshow fakers in the nation's inaugural duel of pocketsized punchers.
A 'special feature' on the six-fight 'Big man little man boxing' bill put together by Gold Coast promoter Jamie Myer, the bout is seen by both fighters as the first step in the formation of a world boxing body for the small of stature that would be based in Australia.
Myer cancelled a proposed dust up between the duo last month at short notice because he feared it would be depicted as a gimmick.
But with both honing their skills under the tutelage of top trainers -- the respected Billy Husain and Alex Wymara -- he decided to give it a tick.
He even plans to enlist retired heavyweight monolith Joe Bugner, who went the distance with both Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, as referee.
"I was worried it might have lacked credibility but that's no longer a concern," said Myer. "They have both been prepared by professionals and they want to make boxing for little people part of the sporting fabric.
"A lot of people will want to see how they perform. Dr Lou Lewis, in Sydney, has passed them fit and I see them just the same as any other professional fighter.
"They need to have the same rights as anybody else."
Fallon, who stands 107cm tall and weighs 35kg, is a part-time actor and one-time body double for Austin Powers' Mini Me, Verne Troyer.
He's appeared in TV commercials, musical theatre and played a leprechaun in the movie Ned.
Married with three children, he insisted: "This is deadly serious and it certainly won't be any form of an act. If people suspect that, they should come along and watch. That should change their minds.
"They can make their own judgments. If they saw the amount of work we put in down the gym they might be surprised."
Fallon, who suffers from a condition called pseudoachondroplasia, added: "We've both worked very hard and hope to use the opportunity to attract others out there to the sport."
The Sydney sluggers are former friends who had a fall out -- and plan to settle the score in a flurry of fists.
Fallon has been honing his skills at the Redfern gym where Anthony Mundine prepares for his world title fights and counts 'The Man' as a mate.
Kheir, 23, a 128cm tall metal worker, is the heavier and taller of the two and must shed around 9kg to come down the stipulated 47kg mark for a bout that will be fought over six, one-minute rounds.
]He said: "There's a bit of niggle between us -- and it would give me a real rush to flatten him. I can't wait. I'm hoping to knock him out in the third round."
Midget boxing is an evolution of dwarf tossing, invented on the Gold Coast at the now defunct Penthouse Nightclub in the 1980s.
Nerang resident Lee Wichello, who stands 130cm tall, is excited by the prospect of little men going toe to toe.
"It's great," said the 42year-old.
"I support it 120 per cent.
"It could really take off and it will show that height restrictions mean very little when you get in the ring.
"I'll be there to see how they go."