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 Kickett relaxed before big bout 

Kickett relaxed before big bout

22/08/2008 1:00:00 AM
Australia's hottest young boxing prospect ''Cool'' Willie Kickett has invited comparisons to Jamaica's carefree sprint sensation Usain Bolt in the lead-up to his first big international fight today.

While Australia's amateur boxers bombed out in Beijing, 21-year-old Kickett has the chance to win his first major professional title.

The West Australian fights Argentina's WBO Latino super featherweight champion Vicente Martin Rodriguez, with the vacant WBO Asian Pacific Youth super featherweight crown also on the line at Wyong Leagues Club on the NSW Central Coast.

Kickett, whose silky skills have invited comparison with another Aborigine, two-time WBA super middleweight title-holder Anthony Mundine, has an impeccable 11-0 (5 KOs) professional record.

Rodriguez, 23, boasts a record of 21-1 with 10 KOs but has not fought outside Argentina as a professional.

Kickett comfortably outpointed former IBF super featherweight champion Gairy St Clair in his last bout, but Rodriguez is his first reputable overseas opponent.

Kickett's trainer Craig Christian admitted to being nervous about the fight, but revealed even the increased media attention wasn't fazing his fighter.

''It doesn't bother him, I'm a bit nervous, but him nothing,'' Christian said yesterday.

''The cameras were coming on this morning, it's good experience for him because he's got to get use to that, he's not fussed by anything. He doesn't even want to know who he's fighting, it just doesn't bother him.

''I saw his parents the other day after training and said, 'This is a big fight'. They said, 'Is it? He didn't tell us anything'.

''He doesn't want to see tapes or anything like that. He says, 'Put me in front of them and I'll fight them'. It's a very carefree attitude.

''It's a good thing. He's not overawed by who he's fighting and he's kind of like that bloke [Bolt] that just won the [Olympic] 100 and 200m, he's not fussed.''

Christian said he was continuing to work on Kickett's power and tightening his defence as he was still occasionally vulnerable to right-hand punches.

He would have little hesitation in throwing him into a match with Britain's WBO super featherweight world champion Alex Arthur, but would prefer to wait. AAP

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