FROM FRANK WARREN WEBSITE

Anthony Farnell first caught the eye with a couple of National junior titles, losing only three times in a brief amateur career comprising of just 22 bouts before opting to join the paid brigade at 18.

Ever since his second pro bout, when he climbed off the canvas to halt Ulster's unbeaten star and Commonwealth Games medallist, Marty Reneghan, he has been marked down as something special.

And he confirmed his talent by taking the WBU middleweight title against Ruben Groenewald at the second attempt, at the MEN Arena in September, 2002.

After a controversial world title fight between the two three months before, Farnell took another disputed points decision to lift the title.

But after making a successful defence against Nikolay Talalakin, Farnell lost his title to Wayne Elcock in Manchester in April 2003.

To become a world champion Farnell suffered his fair-share of agony in the ring, twice coming off second best in world title fights.

There was no argument he lost to Takaloo in a WBU light-middleweight showdown, collapsing to a first round defeat in the summer of 2001.

Almost a year later, having stepped up to middleweight, Farnell fought for the WBU version of the title against Groenewald, and appeared to have done enough to win.

Despite dropping the South African, who could hardly see out of either eye at the end of the fight, Farnell was denied a title that seemed destined to be his, partly because he was deducted points for landing low blows.

But the wait was worth it, because Farnell made a solid first defence of his title, beating Nikolay Talalakin in Preston at the start of 2003, forcing the Russian to retire on his stool after 10 rounds.

After Farnell's first few fights in 1998, Sky Sports boxing experts, including the likes of former world champion Barry McGuigan, were put Farnell among their youngsters to watch.
He justified their faith by collecting nine more victories in the course of the year, fulfilling the hopes of manager Frank Warren and then trainer Brian Hughes.

But the only belt he acquired on his rise to the top was the WBO Intercontinental title, obtained by halting brave American John Long in Halifax in May 1999 and he successfully defended it four times.

His first fight of the new Millennium was on the Mike Tyson under-card at the end of January 2000.

In a sensational night of boxing featuring Manchester best including Ricky Hatton and Michael Gomez at the MEN Arena, Anthony dispatched Ian Toby in three rounds.

Further fights for that year saw the youngster in against two experienced campaigners.

In April he came up against fierce rival Ojay Abrahams who he beat over the eight rounds on points.

Then at the end of May he met the former IBF World title challenger Howard Clarke, this was Anthony's first venture over twelve rounds and he picked up tremendous experience and confidence going the distance.

In November Anthony produced his most clinical performance to date with a seventh round stoppage of the former Commonwealth welterweight champion, Scott Dixon, at the Wythenshawe Forum.

Farnell, angered by pre-fight comments by Dixon that there was "something about his face that needs thumping", soon made the Scot pay with some hurtful early uppercuts and strong work to the body.

A left hook to the head, followed by a right to the body floored Dixon with a minute left in the seventh and a vicious left to the ribs signalled the end of the contest just before the bell.

Having previously been accused of rushing in wildly in the past, he proved on the night that he had learnt from his previous battles and was far more poised and controlled.
But Farnell's first shot at a world title ended in disaster when he suffered his first professional defeat against Takaloo.

His stable-mate knocked him out in the first round of their contest for the vacant WBU light-middleweight title.

However he immediately dropped trainer Brian Hughes for Ricky Hatton's mentor Billy Graham, and showed tremendous courage by beating Lee Blundell in two rounds in his first comeback fight.

He then toughed out 12 rounds against Pavel Melnikov at the MEN in October before halting the Eastern European in the final seconds of their fight.

Then in February he beat Matt Galer in three rounds in his first fight at middleweight, having abandoned the light-middleweight ranks he struggled to make the weight.

Farnell still has lessons to learn, as he would be the first to admit, but time is on his side. Backed by a 'Barmy Army' of fanatical supporters from the Clarendon pub in Manchester, Frank Warren and Graham, Anthony Farnell has plenty going for him as a prospect.

FROM THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

Boxing: Farnell turns to former foe

ANTHONY Farnell's one-time enemy has been helping his quest for a successful second defence of his WBU middleweight title next month.

The Manchester fighter had two tough battles with London-based South African Ruben Groenewald last year, losing the first and then taking a split points decision in the second to lift the minor `world' title.

And there was plenty of bad blood boiling between the two men after a foul-filled first encounter which, many believe, Farnell lost only because he had points deducted for low blows.

That bitterness spilled over into a nasty war of words between some of Farnell's supporters and Groenewald's camp, only stopped when promoter Frank Maloney stepped in to avoid it getting out of hand.

But now the two men will meet again, as sparring partners at the Phoenix Camp gym, based at Nichols Police ABC in Hyde. The sessions are a vital part of Farnell's preparations for his clash with up-and-coming Brummie Wayne Elcock at the Manchester Evening News Arena on April 5.

Spiteful image

Says Farnell, who builds up a spiteful mental picture of any opponent before his fights: "I hated Groenewald in the two fights we had and at the time I just wanted to smash him up.

"I just saw him as the man who stood in my way to the world title but I did respect him because he is such a tough fighter and gave me the two hardest fights of my career. I learned a lot from both fights and when I was looking for sparring partners, I thought of him first."

Groenewald began his sparring with Farnell this week and the `Warrior' from Failsworth says: "In our two fights we went 24 rounds and they were both rough, tough, hard battles.

"I will probably do about 30 rounds of sparring with Groenewald and some more rounds with various middleweights and super-middleweights.

"I will be working a lot on head movement and using my jab which I feel I have neglected in my recent fights."

Elcock flew to Portugal on Monday for a week-long training camp with manager Maloney, who will double up as trainer for his man.

Hatton rival

Farnell-Elcock features as chief-support to Ricky Hatton's WBU light-welterweight title defence against the dangerous American Vince Phillips.

Also on the bill, Hatton's domestic arch-rival Junior Witter - lined up to fight Hatton at Maine Road in the summer - will fight for the new European Union belt.

British and Commonwealth champion Witter will face holder Jurgen Haeck from Belgium for the title, a sort of UEFA Cup to the Champions League which is the proper European title.