Author(s): Paul Upham

Sport

Boxing in Australia is steeped in history and tradition. The primal heat of battle and the triumph of the underdog have been woven into the fabric of Australian society. Even though the 'format' has changed with super-fights drawing stadium crowds and reaping millions of dollars, the core attraction of boxing is still about competition and entertainment. Since the glory days of Les Darcy and Young Griffo, the success and popularity of Australian boxing has ebbed and flowed. With the development of pay-per-view television along with the arrival of other sports competing for attention, and the dearth of true stars fighting on the global stage, Australian boxing took a battering in the middle to late 1990s. UNDISPUTED: A GOLDEN ERA IN AUSTRALIAN BOXING charts an exciting new era between the years 2000 to 2009, a time of promise and hope. Out of this decade came the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and a group of newly blooded fighters arrived. There was also the presence and skill of Kostya Tszyu, Anthony Mundine, Vic Darchinyan and Danny Green who punched above their weight at an international level. Super fights flourished, with Kostya Tszyu versus Zab Judah, Anthony Mundine versus Danny Green, Vic Darchinyan versus Cristian Mijares and Danny Green versus Roy Jones Jr. Impressive performances at the highest level helped push boxing back into the spotlight, raising the profile of the sport among boxing and mainstream sports fans.