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Next target on Thorpedo's radar: Fight Club for charity
Sydney Morning HeraldNext target on Thorpedo's radar: Fight Club for charitySydney Morning HeraldAustralia's most decorated Olympian is believed to be interested in a Fight Club contest at Cronulla later this year. Whether or not he has ambitions beyond ...
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/next-target-on-thorpedos-radar-fight-club-for-charity/2009/07/11/1247258264986.html&usg=AFQjCNGTkblX0a6QfXXM75oNv3F3zcP50g
Next target on Thorpedo's radar: Fight Club for charity
Daniel Lane
July 12, 2009
THE idea of Ian "The Thorpedo" Thorpe becoming a boxer might sound like a joke but here's the punchline - it is said to be on his radar.
Australia's most decorated Olympian is believed to be interested in a Fight Club contest at Cronulla later this year. Whether or not he has ambitions beyond winning a three-rounder, he would join a long list of athletes who have turned to boxing as a challenge.
Anthony Mundine, John Hopoate, Sonny Bill Williams, Solomon Haumono and Lance Thompson are among league stars who've taken to boxing.
Bulldogs winger Hazam El Masri is also considering a fight when the NRL season finishes and recently retired Sydney Swan Barry Hall is expected soon to enter the professional heavyweight ranks. However, Thorpe, who can command thousands of dollars as a public speaker or make millions from sponsorships if he returned to swimming, stands to make nothing from his pugilistic endeavour.
A motivation for the renowned philanthropist to box could be that the Fight Club supports charities founded by Test cricket greats Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
The Sun-Herald understands Thorpe was keen to participate in a Fight Club bout at Sharks Leagues Club on Friday night but he couldn't commit to the strenuous training in the lead-up because of professional engagements.
A crowd of 1000 watched local police officers, real estate agents and cafe owners fight in a series of two-minute rounds staged under Boxing NSW rules.
If Thorpe signs on to fight he will be put through 10 weeks of "torture sessions" including sandhill runs, boxing and sparring sessions, long-distance runs, sprints, weights and other drills.
It is similar to the training he endured when he ruled the pool and no doubt Swimming Australia would hope the training might help rekindle his competitive spark to immediately toss out the boxing trunks and return to swimmers.
Cracking the whip at the 46 training sessions he'd be obliged to attend would be Paul Watson, who was the conditioner for the Cronulla and Penrith NRL teams, former Cricket Australia trainer Jock Campbell and Corey Bocking, who is widely respected in amateur boxing circles.
He would also be instructed by world class boxing trainer David Birchell, who looks after world champion Sakio Bika, and Brian Wilmott who assisted former world champion Jeff Harding throughout his career in the 1990s.
Thorpe enjoyed boxing training during his swimming career but three-time world title contender Troy Waters said he would want Thorpe to be fully informed as to the potential danger.
"He has been a world class athlete and a great champion, who I respect enormously," said Waters, who will be inducted into Australia's Boxing Hall of Fame in October.
"But I will say the killer instinct he displayed in the swimming pool is far different to the killer instinct in the boxing ring.
"Boxing has a different mentality to any other sport because it really is body on the line and the reality is that means potentially fatal risks."
Sydney Morning HeraldNext target on Thorpedo's radar: Fight Club for charitySydney Morning HeraldAustralia's most decorated Olympian is believed to be interested in a Fight Club contest at Cronulla later this year. Whether or not he has ambitions beyond ...
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/next-target-on-thorpedos-radar-fight-club-for-charity/2009/07/11/1247258264986.html&usg=AFQjCNGTkblX0a6QfXXM75oNv3F3zcP50g
Next target on Thorpedo's radar: Fight Club for charity
Daniel Lane
July 12, 2009
THE idea of Ian "The Thorpedo" Thorpe becoming a boxer might sound like a joke but here's the punchline - it is said to be on his radar.
Australia's most decorated Olympian is believed to be interested in a Fight Club contest at Cronulla later this year. Whether or not he has ambitions beyond winning a three-rounder, he would join a long list of athletes who have turned to boxing as a challenge.
Anthony Mundine, John Hopoate, Sonny Bill Williams, Solomon Haumono and Lance Thompson are among league stars who've taken to boxing.
Bulldogs winger Hazam El Masri is also considering a fight when the NRL season finishes and recently retired Sydney Swan Barry Hall is expected soon to enter the professional heavyweight ranks. However, Thorpe, who can command thousands of dollars as a public speaker or make millions from sponsorships if he returned to swimming, stands to make nothing from his pugilistic endeavour.
A motivation for the renowned philanthropist to box could be that the Fight Club supports charities founded by Test cricket greats Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
The Sun-Herald understands Thorpe was keen to participate in a Fight Club bout at Sharks Leagues Club on Friday night but he couldn't commit to the strenuous training in the lead-up because of professional engagements.
A crowd of 1000 watched local police officers, real estate agents and cafe owners fight in a series of two-minute rounds staged under Boxing NSW rules.
If Thorpe signs on to fight he will be put through 10 weeks of "torture sessions" including sandhill runs, boxing and sparring sessions, long-distance runs, sprints, weights and other drills.
It is similar to the training he endured when he ruled the pool and no doubt Swimming Australia would hope the training might help rekindle his competitive spark to immediately toss out the boxing trunks and return to swimmers.
Cracking the whip at the 46 training sessions he'd be obliged to attend would be Paul Watson, who was the conditioner for the Cronulla and Penrith NRL teams, former Cricket Australia trainer Jock Campbell and Corey Bocking, who is widely respected in amateur boxing circles.
He would also be instructed by world class boxing trainer David Birchell, who looks after world champion Sakio Bika, and Brian Wilmott who assisted former world champion Jeff Harding throughout his career in the 1990s.
Thorpe enjoyed boxing training during his swimming career but three-time world title contender Troy Waters said he would want Thorpe to be fully informed as to the potential danger.
"He has been a world class athlete and a great champion, who I respect enormously," said Waters, who will be inducted into Australia's Boxing Hall of Fame in October.
"But I will say the killer instinct he displayed in the swimming pool is far different to the killer instinct in the boxing ring.
"Boxing has a different mentality to any other sport because it really is body on the line and the reality is that means potentially fatal risks."
