REUTERS
Jean-Marc Mormeck and O'Neil Bell (right) pose with Don King after the weigh-in for their cruiserweight championship fight in New York yesterday. French-born Mormeck will fight Bell at Madison Square Garden in New York tonight.NEW YORK CITY, New York (CMC):
Jamaica's International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion O'Neil Bell says he is not flustered by his underdog status for tonight's unification bout with double champion Jean-Marc Mormeck at Madison Square Garden.
Bell is facing what experts believe is the stiffest challenge of his career, but he expects to celebrate a triumphant appearance at the famous venue.
"I'm looking to put on a spectacular show and being the so-called underdog only helps motivate me more," Bell told reporters.
While Bell puts his International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt on the line, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titles held by the Frenchman Mormeck will be at stake.
The winner will become the 200-pound division's first undisputed champion in 18 years since Evander Holyfield defeated Carlos DeLeon in 1988 and just the second since the division was created in 1980.
Originally from Montego Bay on Jamaica's north coast, Bell is an aggressive boxer who relishes a slugfest, but also boasts of being versatile and prepared to employ whatever style is needed to beat Mormeck.
box and move
"Slugging it out is the way I like it (but) I have to listen to my corner and they're telling me to box and move side to side," said Bell, who at 30 years old, is three years younger than Mormeck.
"When somebody really comes to fight, that's when I really want to fight, but I'm not one-dimensional like he is so I'm going to do a bit of everything. I'm going to be tactical.
"It doesn't matter though, I could win going toe to toe or boxing him for 12 rounds," stated Atlanta-based Bell, who has a ring record of 25 wins (23 knockouts) against one loss and one draw.
Mormeck, a native of the French-speaking Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, is equally confident although less expressive than Bell.
The 33-year-old Frenchman has a solid log of 31 wins (21 knockouts) against two defeats and promises victory for his fans in whatever way it comes.
"I just love to win, it's not a question of power or speed, it's a matter of will," Mormeck said.
"I don't care what he (Bell) says. I have come to this country and to Madison Square Garden to win," Mormeck added.
Bell won the IBF title by defeating Canadian Dale Brown on points in May and success-fully defended the belt in a tough 11th round knockout of Sebastian Rothman in August.
Mormeck is having his first fight since April when he retained his WBA title and added the WBC belt to his log with an impressive 12-round unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Guyanese Wayne Braithwaite.
