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Philippines, 06 Feb 2026 |
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BATTLE OF THE MINDS: Smith vs Hussein - 2 of boxing's master tactician's go head to head! PhilBoxing.com Fri, 13 Feb 2015 DO YOU REMEMBER THE SCENE OUT OF ROCKY II at the press conference to announce the re-match between Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa? The press ask's Rocky 'Hey Rocky you got anything derogatory to say about the champ?' Rocky's response - "derogatory....yeah, he's great." Ask the same question to Billy Hussein and Brendon Smith about each other and you will get a very similar answer. The respect they have for each other is immense. "Billy Hussein, is one of the best operators in the World, he's a World class trainer and some one I have the deepest respect for," Brendon Smith said. Billy Hussein was equally effusive when asked about Brendon Smith. "Brendon Smith is one of the best in the World, I look up to him and admire what he does with his gym and his fighters and I try copy some of the things he does. He's a true professional," Billy Hussein said The similarities between the pair are endless. Both men run their own gyms, Brendon - Smithy's Gym in Toowoomba and Billy - Bodypunch Gym in Sydney. Both train,manage and promote a number of their fighters. Both have trained 3 World Champions. Billy - Vic Darchinyan, Billy Dib and Erin McGowan. Brendon - November Ntshingila, Michael Katsidis and Les Sherrington. Both have mixed, matched and beaten the best on the world stage. Brendon has been in the opposite corner against the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Joel Casamayor,Juan Diaz, Robert Guerrero and many others. Billy has worked against Roy Jones Jr, Manny Pacquiao,Shane Mosley among others during his time training in his own right and as part of Jeff Fenech's training team. "Billy and I both had boxers fight on a card in California. I had Michael Katsidis fight Joel Casamayor in the main event and Billy had Billy Dib fight Edgar Fabian Vargas in one of the main support bouts." Brendon Smith said. "It was a proud moment, two aussies on the same card in America. They also both have been involved in training members of their family. Billy was involved in guiding the careers of his brothers Skinny and Hussy Hussein and Brendon currently trains his son Braydon, an undefeated featherweight and current WBC Youth Silver World Champion. Both men also get just as big a thrill out of training World champions to working with kids and both prefer to be in the back ground. "For me it's all about the boxer, I like to be in the background, do my thing quietly," Billy Hussein said. Brendon Smith echoing Hussein's words - "It's not about me, it's about the boxers, we do our thing behind closed doors and hopefully gets the results when it comes fight night." Come March 14 it'll be a new experience for both Billy Hussein and Brendon Smith. When Australian champion Iron Will Young, trained by Brendon Smith defends his belt against Luke 'Action' Jackson trained by Billy Hussein It'll be the first time the two mentors have ever opposed each other. "When the contracts for this fight were signed, it was very exciting," Billy Hussein said. "Not just for Luke Jackson and Will Young but for myself to get the opportunity to work against Brendon Smith is something that excites me greatly. "It's a challenge that will bring the best out of me." Brendon Smith countered with - "I love this challenge because in the eye's of everyone in Australian boxing Will Young can't win this fight. "We're massive under dogs, Luke Jackson is an unbackable favourite - he's Black Caviar odds. "He's the hot prospect with an amazing pedigree and he's supposed to batter Will Young, he's supposed to knock him out, - but he won't. "There is only two people in the World that think Will Young can win this fight and that's myself and Will. That's why I'm excited by the challenge of taking on Luke Jackson and Billy Hussein. When it comes to this fight both men are holding their cards very close to their chest. "I've seen clips of Will Young, but knowing how good Brendon Smith is I expect they will have a different game plan, they'll adjust so I'm taking no notice of footage," Billy Hussein said. "Brendon Smith is a big factor, you just have to see what's he done with the likes of Jack Asis and he nearly pulled off a huge upset with Herman Ene-Purcell against Paul Gallen. While in the blue corner Brendon Smith expects everything and anything from Luke Jackson. "We need to be ready for everything," Brendon Smith said. "I think Billy is one of the smartest trainers in World boxing - he will have an A,BC,D all the way to Z plan - we need to have the same. The Will Young vs Luke Jackson bout will be one of the most watched in the country this year. the Smith vs Hussein trainer vs trainer battle is just as intriguing. However true to both men's character - they will hope no one pays any attention to them and prefer all focus to be on the boxers. They're two of Australia's best trainers but they're also two of boxing's nice guys. Whoever the winner is on March 14 you can be sure there will be a humble winner and a gracious loser - why? because Brendon Smith and Billy Hussein wouldn't have it any other way.  |
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