Brendon Smith loves to see his boxers develop and prosper

Toowoomba boxing trainer Brendon Smith has been ringside for some massive fights in Australia and overseas. Regardless of the results he is proud of the work his fighters put in.

Steve Spark (right) with trainer promoter Brendon Smith after the fight against Mick Whitehead as part of Locked Down Lights Up at Smithys TGW Gym. Picture: Kevin Farmer

BOXING: It’s fair to say Brendon Smith gives boxing fans the fights they want and love.

That, however, is not the Toowoomba trainer and promoter’s pure focus though.

Smith enjoys working with everyone of his fighters,– admiring their progress through handwork, determination and focus, and if they earn the “big fights” so be it.

Tonight one of Smith’s boxers Steve Spark faces the biggest challenge in Australian boxing in Tszyu.

It’s a massive fight but Smith won’t be drawn on what the bout means just yet.

“We’re not thinking past the fight,” Smith said.

“We haven’t won anything yet so we’re not thinking about the future.

“I’ve always been about doing the hard work now and focusing just on that.

“I hope that some of my experience, having been involved in fights all over the world, helps them (his boxers) on the night, but it’s always been about the moment and not the future.”

Here’s our look at some of the biggest fights Smith has been witness to or involved in.

Michael Katsidis
vs Juan Marquez,
Las Vegas 2010

This fight cemented Katsidis’ standing as a warrior. Just weeks before the clash in Las Vegas, Michael’s brother Stathi died in his Brisbane home. Marquez won the fight with a ninth round stoppage, but Katsidis fought to the very end and earned high praise.

Michael Katsidis
vs Kevin Mitchell, London 2010

In front of a vocal Upton Park home crowd, Katsidis absolutely battered Mitchell in the third to secure victory to claim the interim title.

Michael Katsidis
vs Graham Earl, London 2007

This fight could’ve been held in a phone box with the two fighters going toe-to-toe over six rounds.

Early in the second round, Katsidis downed Earl for the third time but referee Micky Vann strangely threw away the towel throw in by Earl’s camp.

After weathering one too many Katsidis blows, Earl never returned for the seventh round of the bout.

Michael Katsidis
vs Joel Casamayor, California, 2008

This fight shouldn’t have gone to 10 rounds, but the fact it did is what makes it so memorable.

Casamayor floored Katsidis with a clinical left to open the fight and dropped the Toowoomba fighter with another left immediately after he found his footing after the first.

The Cuban continued to batter Katsidis and by the end of the second round, a Casamayor win seemed inevitable.

The third round, however, was a very different story with Katsidis targeting Casamayor’s body.

Katsidis fought his way back into the match and for large parts looked to be the likely winner before a clinical Casamayor counter punch ended Katsidis’ run at the start of the 10th round.