BOXING
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As he prepares to end a 14-month hiatus from the ring, Wollongong middleweight Steve Psaras believes he has a trump card in his corner in former world champion and boxing legend Shannan Taylor.
Psaras hasn't fought since losing a split decision to Newcastle's Simon Rendina in August last year in which he broke two bones and split two nerves in his right hand. The injury, suffered in the second round of the six-round bout required surgery, keeping him sidelined for more than a year.
He'll re-enter the ring - with a potential WBF middleweight world title belt on the line - in October ahead of a second bout in November and he's confident the "Bulli Blaster" can guide him back to state and national title contention.
"Shannan is on board for his experience. There's not many really great boxers in Wollongong and, out of everyone I can think of with great experience and wealth of knowledge ... the only bloke [to go to] was Shannan," Psaras said.
"He's been great for me. He knows the craft, he's done it for 30 years. It's hard for me because I'm a trainer myself, but you can be the best trainer in the world it doesn't make you a good fighter.
"You need to take a backward step and not be in charge for a bit.
"It's been a hard transition just to let go of my training and let someone else do the job.
"He's changed me quite a lot in just the last couple of months, he's been absolutely phenomenal - he's got it all."
Taylor who won the same WBF belt in 2011 - has worked with his fellow Bulli product in the past but is now full-time at Psaras's Black Diamond gym at Fairy Meadow.
"Steve asked me to help him out and get him ready to fight and it's been great working with him. It's been awesome," Taylor said.
Psaras hopes his return to the ring leads to the NSW middleweight title he missed out on with a controversial split-draw with Sydney's Mario Karacsony in August, 2012.
"I'm hoping to lock in the [WBF] title fight, have another fight in November which will hopefully put me in the frame for another state title fight next year."
