Boxing: Cameron-Barrett fight details announced

Shane Cameron. Photo / Doug Sherring Photo / Doug Sherring

Details of Shane Cameron's bout against David Tua's conqueror Monte Barrett have been announced this morning, with the fight to take place in Auckland on July 5.

Auckland's SkyCity will host the bout with Barrett's WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental Heavyweight belts - formerly owned by Tua - up for grabs on the night.

The winner of the bout will will gain the right to contest the holder of the NZPBA title, which is currently held by Chiefs second five Sonny Bill Williams. Williams would have to fight either Cameron or Barrett within 12 months.

Barrett handed Tua the fourth defeat of his 58 professional career last August and is regarded as a gatekeeper to the world heavyweight title having fought a number of world champions including Wladimir Klitschko, Hasim Rahman, Nikolay Valuev and David Haye.

Barrett has a 35-win (20 by knockout), nine-loss, two-drawn record from 46 professional fights.

"This will be a massive challenge," Cameron says, "but I am up for it."

"I am a different fighter to the one people saw in 2009 and I'll prove that on July 5. Monte Barrett has a lot of success against David Tua, but it's like they say, styles make fights. I will bring something different to a bout against Barrett. I'll take the fight to him. There's no fear for me in going up against Monte.

"He's had a good career but this is my time to shine. Fighting David Tua in New Zealand might not have been too much for Monte Barrett but fighting me in my house - that will be a different story with a different ending."

Barrett had some strong fighting words ahead of the July bout.

"I've heard Shane Cameron likes to walk to the ring to Kenny Rogers' The Gambler. Well, that's an appropriate song choice for July 5 because he's gambling his career and his legacy here in New Zealand by deciding to take me on.

"I'm 41 years old. If I beat him he'll have nowhere to turn. And I will beat him. I've been looking to do some research on Shane... but it's like he's a ghost. I seen the film from the whipping Tua gave him. But hey, I believe in second chances so I am willing to give him a chance at redeeming himself in this division. But I make this promise - I will come to New Zealand in the best shape of my life.

"I am in the 11th round of my career so the importance of everything is magnified. I've already been working hard - I can throw ten shot combinations without even breathing. I am gonna want to make a statement against Shane Cameron so if you see him, tell him that I am going to beat him like he stole something from me. He's gonna be calling me 'Daddy' when I'm done with him."

- HERALD ONLINE