Mcgowan looks to legend of the ring

JONATHAN COOKThe West Australian Perth's Erin McGowan has joined forces with former champion Jeff Fenech as she prepares to defend her World Boxing Organisation lightweight title

against Canada's Amy Johnson at the WA Basketball Centre on Friday week. McGowan, 30, who has won her 14 professional bouts, claimed the WBO crown with a points win over England's

Lyndsey Scragg last October and has turned to Fenech as she pursues recognition for her fistic feats. Fenech, Danny Green's trainer before the pair parted company in 2005, will work

McGowan's corner for the first time when she takes on 28-year-old Johnson, who has a record of seven wins, two losses and three draws. He is already convinced his charge can unify the

lightweight division and has started negotiating for an International Boxing Federation title fight. "There's a great opportunity to fight for the IBF and they want Erin,"

Fenech said. "We'll concentrate on this first but the more titles she wins and the bigger names she fights hopefully the greater the interest there will be in her." McGowan,

who juggles boxing with fitness training and raising her son, started out dreaming of amateur glory. But she has no regrets about her decision to turn professional in April, 2007. "When

I started boxing my dream was just to go to the Olympics, so it was a big decision for me to turn pro because I knew there was no turning back," she said. "But the day I had my

first pro fight I was more than happy. To have the WBO world title (and be) where I am now, I wouldn't trade that for the Olympics. "With the hours and time spent in the gym and

what I go through, it would be nice to get a bit more recognition but that's what can be expected being a female in a male-dominated sport. "That's why I'm going to fight

the best of the best and hopefully my recognition will come." Fenech said he was impressed by McGowan's ability after watching internet clips of her in action. On closer

inspection, and after working with her sporadically over the past six months, he has been convinced she is capable of dominating the lightweight division. "To be honest, I don't

think there's any girl in the world that can beat her," Fenech said. WA Olympian Adam Forsyth is also working with Fenech and will take on New Zealand's Oscar Siale on the

June 3 fight card. Forsyth is unbeaten in nine professional fights and has been taken the distance only once, when Anthony McCracken lasted eight rounds in November, 2009. GET THE LATEST

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