BOXING - Azzaoui lands big boost ahead of Moscow bout

Preparations for a world title fight in Russia next month will receive a big boost when Mohammed Azzaoui steps into the ring with New Zealand heavyweight Shane Cameron in Auckland tomorrow.
Sparring with the heavyweight champion is just the kind of preparation Azzaoui needs for his IBO World Cruiserweight title fight against Nicaraguan cruiserweight Henry Saenz in Moscow in October.
The former Algerian amateur boxer, now based in Kerikeri, will benefit immensely from time in the ring with the heavy-hitting Cameron and two sessions have been booked.
"It's just what we needed," Azzaoui's manager Anthony Warren said.
"A boxer has to be aware of what Shane can deal to you because he has immense power on either hand."
At this stage very little is known about Azzaoui's Nicaraguan opponent, except that he is an upright fighter with a decent right hand. Therefore Cameron's power-hitting will be ideal preparation for Azzaoui.
The bout, on the undercard of the WBO World Heavyweight title bout between Evander Holyfield and Sultan Ibragimov, received an unexpected upgrade when it was nominated by the IBO organisation as a title bout for its vacant world cruiserweight title.
This means extra pressure on the fighters and Azzaoui couldn't hope for better opposition in the ring than Cameron.
"It works out really good for both sides because it will sharpen Shane up because Mohammed's a lot faster than him and we get to toughen up because of Shane's power," Warren said.
Arranging good sparring partners has been a problem for Azzaoui in the past but this time everything has fallen into place very well.
"Both of them are in the throes of getting ready for fights so we're both in the same timeframe. It has worked out nicely for the pair of us," Warren said.
Azzaoui's camp have also organised a top English cruiserweight, David Haye, for sparring practice when they get to London, their base for their final preparation for the bout in Moscow. Haye will spar with Azzaoui ahead of his own title fight against unified WBA world champion Jean Marc Mormeck.
"He's thrilled to have someone of Mohammed's calibre to train with and it will give us a gauge to see where we really are on the world scene," Warren said.
"We'll get another two sessions with Haye and by the time we get through that then we should be oiled up and ready for the Nicaraguan."