Newspaper Article - The Reporter

"Hard Training Earns Chris McCullen an Aussie Title."
The Reporter Newspaper Wednesday 30th August 2006
Article written by Jay Buchan
Posted By Huia. Good one Chrisee :)

"THANK YOU"

This is the most important post I'll publish. It is my thank you to all the people who made this dream a reality. First of all to my family,I put them through hell and I don't think anyone can really understand the torture I put my family through leading up to this fight. I admit I was a nightmare to live with and I'm sorry and I thank you. Angelo Di Carlo and his family for all their continued hard work they do for me, not only for this fight but from the start of our journey.I was lucky enough to have some great people get behind me finacially, and without this I can honestly say I don't think it would have been possible to now be classed as the Light Welterweight Champion of Australia without this help.
Graham "BUTCH" Buderus from A.E.SMITH
Paul and Diane Lack from NATIONAL STAFFING SERVICES
Jeff Hawley and his family from HAWLEY CONSTRUCTIONS
Kenny and Vicky Hamer from POOL WAREHOUSE
GREG and Narelle Wallace from EXECUTIVE FIGHT CLUB
Greg also organized a lot of other support and did a lot of extra stuff to both help myself and Angelo Di Carlo out, so to Greg and all the guys who chipped in and helped raise my sponsorship an extra thank you.
Finacially these great people allowed me to not have to work so I could soley concentrate on the fight and some part of my belt belongs to them. I am privileged enough to also have some other great sponsors who help out with equipment and clothing.
Nigel,Paul,Steve and the rest of the guys from MADISON SPORT
Gareth Williams from RIGHTCROSS
Huia Hikaiti from WE COACH- (Huia worked on keeping me mentally focused)
I have already mentioned in a previous post the great Steve Janz from KENMORE CENTRE FOR HEALTH for his super work he conducted in getting my hand in working order and to prove what a great person and supporter he is, covered all the cost of my treatment, I have also mentioned my massues Laurelea moss who kept my body in working order and also did some great work on my hand.
My Coaches Mark Wilson and Gareth Williams who work tirelessly on getting me in the right shape to fight and when ever I need anything,it is never a problem to these two guys.
A special mention must go to some great people who have been there and done a lot for me through this whole journey. Steve Morgan, Mark "CHOPPER" Burgess, Dean Kupsch, Mick Shaw, Glenn Azar, Brian Kirwan from Red Corner Promotions, my gym Logan Boxing Team who have been so patient and have stood by me,all my sparring partners, my mum and Meggsie for their help and all my brothers especially Ben, the best cornerman in town (LOL), my friends and supporters who make it so much easier with their great support.
It has been a great journey that I feel we have all done together and I'm proud to class you all as friends. Once again a huge thank you to everyone, it has truly been a pleasure to have you on my team.
"TOGETHER WE ARE ONE"

Your Australian champion
Chris McCullen

Winning is a journey
Not a destination

The Support

Just a quick post. I just want to say thank you to everyone for all your support and well wishes. I have had non stop phone calls and text messages, along with emails, post on here and some other boxing sites. It is so over whelming,I can't believe how much support and congradulations and well wishes I've had, I can't explain the feeling I have from everyone's support.
thank you all so much. Like the crowd on Friday, you are the best
Chris

"AND THE NEW"

Yes that means I'm the new Australian light welterweight champion. I beat "The Glamour Boy" Brad Hemming on points over 10 gruelling rounds. I felt I never lost a round (official scores- 100-91, 100-92, 100-90). I had a game plan and it worked, I knew to try break him mentally early, frustrate him and if he come with an attack I was to come back harder and faster, I had in my mind before the fight, round 7 I was going to pick the pace up so he would have his mind questioning what do I have to do to stop this guy. Everything went exactly the way I thought. Sometimes it was ugly,sometimes pretty but I knew stay on his chest and he won't like it. I can also now confirm, 4 weeks out from the fight I re-broke my right hand sparring Mick katsidis, Everyone thought I was mad for not postponing the fight but I worked to hard and I just said I'll deal with it, I'll fight one handed if I have to, my doctor said I won't last 2 rounds, I can now say "doc I didn't last 2 rounds, your were right, I lasted 10 and now you are wrong, LOL". I sparred nearly every round after that only using my left hand as it was even to painful just being in the glove. A friend of mine named Steve Janz from Kenmore Centre Of Health worked tirelessly for 3 and a half weeks on it trying to get it right, constant acupuncture, herbal Chinese medicine and what ever else to get it right. It was perfect and I owe Steve , his family and his business everything for getting me right. Also my massues Laurelea Moss also did some work on it as well and she did a great job in keeping my body in working order. I will post a separate post to thank everyone as I have so many people to thank.
Till then take care
Chris mcCullen
Australian Light Welterweight Champion

"THE TIME HAS COME'

Well it's here, last night I weighed in, I weighed 63.30kg and I think my opponent weighed in around the same 63.40kg. I then went to dinner with the rest of my team, I had a spaghetti dish along with plenty of fluid. I felt that was the best I've made the weight although it's never easy or fun but I think all the hard training helped and hopefully in a few hours time it all pays of for me. This morning I went to the coffee club for breakfast with a group of my close friends, I had the usual fight day meal, pancakes and a skinny cap in a mug. Right now I'm quite anxious and a little nervous, I can't sleep and I can't sit still. It's the worst feeling to have but I know I need this feeling and I'll perform to the best of my ability. The support I have received today is amazing, I've had so many phone calls and messages it's not funny, and I can't explain enough how much it means to me. Well everyone what I have worked so hard for is here and it's time to put all the time and effort to plan, so I'll post in the next few days as of the result. I want to thank everyone for everything you have all did for me
We are one and we'll win as one
Chris

"CLOSER"

It's now down to the week I taper off, I had my last spar, all my hard running is complete, this week is all about sharpening up, fast punching, short fast running, ect ect. I sparred 8 rounds with Jeremy Condron on Saturday, it was a great hit out for both of us and we both completed the rounds very comfortably. I would like to wish Jeremy all the best in his quest for the Qld Welterweight Title and I'm sure he'll give it everything he's got. Also my other sparring partner Mick Shaw, I hope we all get behind him and my mate Tyrone Tongia, it should be a big night of boxing and something that can't come quick enough for me for many reasons.
once again I just want to say thank you so much for everyone's support and well wishes, I really appreciate it and I hope I can make you all proud on the night.
till next time stay happy
Chris

"Welterweights Head To Head"

Albert and Logan News Article (Friday 18/08/06). Please click on the green link above to view the entire article. Posted by Huia.

Training update

This time next week I will become part human again, the weigh in will be over and I'll sit down to a few large healthy and filling meals. It is then my mind will really kick into fight mode, not that it isn't in there now, just everything else is over except for the fight (all the training,the weigh in, ect), so the only thing left is the fight. My training is going awesome, I've had plenty of sparring over the past 6 or 7 weeks or so and have been training now for 9 weeks. I've done many rounds with Mick Shaw,Mick Katsidis,Jason Kanofski,Adam Partridge,Ashley Huston,Graham Foley and Jeremy Condron. I will finish my sparring this Saturday with Jeremy and then taper off for the next week. I did my last real hard run today and again will just work down to short sharp runs over the next week. I'm really happy with my training and must thank everyone involved from Mark and Gareth to all my sparring partners, all the great people around me, the people who have been part of my preparation and helped get me in the shape I'm in or have helped keeping my body in working order, and off course my sponsors. My weight is good and on target and actually I've have just finished my dinner which was a large bowl of steamed vege's and a protein drink and just having a cup of tea as I post this update.
I will keep you update and let you all know how my last spar goes.
Till then take care
Chris

Time Will Tell

Well we're just on 2 weeks out from the fight, and in all honesty it can't come quick enough for me. As each day goes by my confidence gets better and better. I can say I have never pushed my body to the limits I have for this fight and I have now become unbeatable in my mind. I have been very lucky, I have so many good people supporting me and that has allowed me to train full time, and I'm sure that's the reason I have pushed my body to knew limits. I know "THE GLAMOUR BOY" (Brad Hemming)will be training the house down, I know Les (his trainer) will be into his ear telling him he will win this fight and Les will have Brad very fit and ready so this should make for one hell of a fight. Yesterday was a hard run and stairs session that literally busted me to pieces, I said to myself "If I can't win this fight, it is not through my training or efforts, there is know way I can loose, I've trained to hard". At the moment I'm just mixing my hard sessions with good refreshing sessions to make sure I peak come August 25, I am already fit enough for the fight now. When I say hard, I mean hard, a pain barrier that I never thought I'd reach or even break, but I have on so many occasions for this fight.
Till next time take care and live safe.
Chris
"TIME WILL TELL"

Sparring

Yesterday (Saturday 5-8-06), we had a big sparring day organised by one of my sponsors Greg Wallace at his Executive Fight Club gym out at Brookfield. There were plenty of people on hand watching, a lot of the people Greg has organised to finacially support me and I thank Greg and all the guys for there help. I did 8 good solid rounds with Mick Shaw, my fitness is feeling very good, I did the rounds very comfortable as did Mick (a special thanks to Steve Janz from Kenmore Centre For Health for his help.)
Greg put on a great arvo with drinks and BBQ and some good sparring sessions, top amateurs Jimmy Whitbourne,Daniel Russell,Daniel Crawford as well as pro's Tyrone Tongia, Jai Russell and Jason Larson were all on hand sparring.
Today is my rest day, and what I call chocolate Sunday, I allow myself to have some sought of junk, maybe a small chocolate or custard or something on them lines, so it is my favorite day of the week.
Well once again to Greg and his wife Narelle thank you so much for having us yesterday and to everyone who's helping me out finacially through Greg's hard work,or just supporting me, thank you all so much, till then hope everyone is happy and safe
Take care
Chris

Training

Hello all,
Well training is all going well, feeling very fit at the moment. Last Sunday I went up to Toowoomba and did 8 rounds with mick Shaw, It was a good work out and a pleasant drive for Mark and myself. I did 8 rounds yesterday with young amateur Ashley Huston who I train(he just got a silver medal in the 60kg junior division at the Aussie Titles). Sometimes I think to myself why would anyone put themselves through all this pain and hard work, then I think for a minute and go "oh yea now I know", the answer is to "WIN", and I know I definitely haven't shirked the hard work. Yesterday I also did a run and stairs at Tanah Merah (a suburb in the Logan area), man these things are tough, Kangaroo Point has nothing on these stairs, this is one place in my head I must break the pain barrier. "It's pain".
My time with Huia from WE Coach ( Huia is helping with the mental side of my fight) is going awesome, she gives me such a positive mind and her help in such a big fight is something I recommend for others. I know I have good mental strenth but this just adds to that and is making my mind even stronger.
Another former sponsor of mine Hawley Constructions have climbed back on board to help me out. Long time friend Jeff and the Hawley family were my sponsor back in my third fight against Jay Washington at the Mansfield Tavern, so it is good to have them back on board helping out in the big one. All this support is so overwhelming, something I can't describe how much I appreciate.
This Saturday I have a big sparring session with my good mate Mick Shaw out at my Sponsors gym (Greg Wallace from Executive Fight Club). Greg has organized a big day that I'm really looking forward to, It'll be good to catch up with everyone out there that Greg has got supporting and backing me.
Till next time, I'll be training hard
Take Care
Chris