Date of Birth: 26/2/81

Age Started Boxing: 9 started training, first fight at 10.

Amateur Record: 135-30

Professional Record: 20-0 (12 ko's)

First Boxing Memory: My first training session in a beat up old gym in Launceston with about 20 huge guys pounding the bags and a Coach yelling commands from the side, I just turned 9.

Favourite Current Fighter: Joe Calzaghe

All-Time Fighter: Sugar Ray Leonard

Favourite All-Time Fight/s: Leonard vs. Hagler

Favourite Music: Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon

Favourite Movie/s: Point Break and Snatch

Job Outside of Boxing: Amateur Coach/Personal Trainer

Pre-fight Meal: Something pretty light, maybe a salad roll or a sandwich

Toughest Part about being a fighter: Maintaining a certain weight and weigh-ins.

Toughest Opponent Faced: Daniel Dawson

Funny Boxing Memory:

The 2000 Oceania Games in Canberra, I was fighting a guy from Samoa and in the second round my trunks were riding really high and distracting me slightly. So when I got to a safe distance I think it was the second round I decided to pull them down slightly but instead pulled them down to about knee height. Luckily the ref jumped straight in because I could barely move and pulled them up for me. He ended up pulling them up higher than they were to start with so I had to just put it out of my head, the fight got stopped on the 20 point system in the third so I didn't need to worry for that much longer anyway.

What's your training routine before a fight like:

Training hard and training often, always aiming to get myself in the best condition I can be in.

The Apple Isle says that you're its favourite son and a better export than Boags Beer, do you still have a strong connection with Tasmania, would you relocate back across the Tasman when you eventually retire:

I love Tassie it's such a great place, I still have great connections down there. So many people have helped me out over the years and are still helping me it is a place where I would like to end up but at this stage it's really hard to tell what's going to happen.

As a former Olympian and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, what does Australia need to do to get a Gold Medal at the Olympic Games, do you think the current system needs an overhaul:

I'm not too sure, it may help but it is tough at the top level. We have some talented amateur fighters in Australia but its difficult when some of our fighters are not getting enough tough competition to prepare for the big fights. Maybe more funding for boxing would get better results.

Last year was a quiet year for yourself having only two fights which you won comfortably. Will this year be a busy one:

It's time for me to take the next step, all has been going great in the gym and there is no injuries so at this stage we are looking for a really busy year against tough opposition.

You are currently the IBO world champion. How do you rank that organisation against the other four major sanctioning bodies (IBF, WBC, WBA and WBO):

The IBO has had some really good Champions, its a great Title to have as it puts me in a great position to challenge for other belts as well, and fight the guys that I want a shot at.

There have been a lot of different rumours about your next opponent, according to the IBO website you are defending your Title against Sam Soliman. But as of late, Arthur Abraham has been another name mentioned. What are your thoughts on these fights:

They both will be tough fights in their own right, but I believe if I work hard in and out of the gym anything and everything is possible.

Sam Soliman makes the best of fighters look very ordinary with his unorthodox style, which has given trouble to some of the best fighters in the world. How would you approach this fight:

The same as I do every other fight, concentrate on getting myself 100 percent in every way.

A fight with and victory over Anthony Mundine would firmly place you on the world stage and put you in line for a lucrative pay-day. Do you plan to fight Mundine in the future and would you out your title on the line:

Fighting Mundine would be a great step for me, he is a great fighter but I am younger and hungrier and if I get the opportunity to fight him I would certainly make the most of it. I would certainly put my Title up for the chance to fight him, I'm not being over confident but I know I have what it takes to beat him.

You are now rated the #10 middleweight in the world by the Bible of Boxing, The Ring Magazine. Do you plan on fighting any of The Ring's top 10 in the future:

Yes hopefully.

Have you considered relocating to America, the so called "Mecca" of boxing where you could possibly align yourself with the big promoters such as Golden Boy and Top Rank, etc:

Yes I have considered it and if I need to I will, but I'm happy with everything so far. My management are doing a great job so I don't need to move anywhere else unless we decide it's in my best interest.

In closing, are there any people that you would like to thank:

Yes lots of people. My wife and 3 kids, my Mum and Dad, my management; Billy Treacy & Garrie Francisco, my Coach Graham Shaw, Grange Old School Boxing, Rocco, Graeme George, Jeff Fenech. Kerry Finch, Carole Walters, Jeff Leech Hines.

My sponsors Rob and Corinna Slade, www.sladebloodstock.com.au, Bram Van Arkel, Brendan and Kaye Royal Hotel Horsham, Andrew Brown-A.B.E Fire Protection, Don Barr- Millenium Heating & Cooling, Carl Fredericks-ACT INSULATIONS, Peter Walker, Terry Whitelum- Brooks Australia, Vic Elvin-Elvin Group, Mick Houston- Canberra Motorcycles and Mick Ninness. And thanks to FIGHT GAME and my fans for all their support.