Cancer survivor eyes state boxing title

Boxer Jesse Vosseler, who has a prosthetic left foot, spars with a training partner. Source: Supplied

BRISBANE boxer Jess Vosseler was just 16 when he was given the news that would change his life forever.

"I got a lump on my left ankle and I thought it was from all the running I was doing. It slowly got bigger so we eventually got a biopsy … and it came back that it was an osteosarcoma cancerous tumour," Vosseler said.

"They booked me in to do chemo but after two cycles they said it wasn't working how they hoped and they were going to have to amputate. They said it was better your leg than your life and they're the experts so we couldn't really argue.

"It was pretty devastating because I had high aspirations as an amateur boxer. My coach was always saying I was on my way to the Olympics so that was the main thing that devastated me."

More than a decade later, Vosseler is making up for lost time.

Jesse Vosseler: "They said it was better your leg than your life and they're the experts so we couldn't really argue." Source: News Corp Australia

After 19 victories as an amateur, the 27-year-old scored a second-round knockout against Jesse Saavedra in his professional debut in November, with his next light heavyweight bout planned for March.

He has honed his craft with the use of a prosthetic leg and now has his sights set on a state title.

"I got back into boxing again when I was 20 just to get fit. Even though I lost my leg I knew I could still do all the work," Vosseler, who fought for the Australian amateur title three weeks before his pro debut, said.

"I slowly started sparring again and that's where I started getting better and better. I was 24 when I got back in the ring (for a fight) and I never thought I would be able to compete at that level again.

"I know (the leg) is a disadvantage but over the last few years I have adapted. (For fitness) I do a lot of skipping and short sprints with a weighted sled. I use the cross-trainer at the gym and do heaps of long rounds of sparring too.

Jesse Vosseler will aim to have three or four pro fights this year. Source: News Corp Australia

"I haven't got the foot speed to be able to dance like (Anthony) Mundine or (Muhammad) Ali so I have to be more aggressive as a power puncher. I get in close more now because when you're in close it takes away that foot speed disadvantage.

"I'll probably aim to have three or four pro fights this year to try to keep the momentum going and then see at the end of the year if I want to keep going. I can't really predict how far I will go but … my trainer thinks if I can get my body to that level a state title is not out of reach."

Having witnessed first-hand Vosseler's dogged determination, trainer Sean Reynolds said the sky was the limit.

"He's potentially one of the best light heavyweights in the country. He's a class act, whether he's got a disability or not," Reynolds said.

"He can go as far as he wants to go. Definitely Queensland and Australian titles and further on from there but it all comes back to him."

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Juric implored not to move to China

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SOCCEROOS goalscorer Tomi Juric reportedly has a big decision to make over a lucrative offer to move from Western Sydney to China, but he has been implored not to be tempted by the dollars being dangled before him.

The Wanderers striker scored in a dynamic cameo during Australia's 4-0 rout of Oman on Tuesday night, but according to Sasa Ognenovski and John Kosmina, a move to China will impede his ability to reach his peak.

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"If he wants to realise his full potential, he shouldn't go to China," Ognenovski said on Fox Sports.

"If he wants to cash up, and build houses out west, fine - go to China. But if he wants to realise his full potential, be the best he can, he should try get to Europe."

Ognenovski, who spent time in Asia with Seongnam Ilhaw in South Korea - where he was crowned Asia's most valuable player in 2010 - and Umm Salal in Qatar, explained why he felt a move to China would be detrimental to Juric's career.

"I don't think he'll develop his football there. They want proven goalscorers, guys who are going to go over there and win them games.

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"If he goes over there and has a bit of a dry spell, they'll ship him back out to Australia.

"They'll put him on the bench, make life uncomfortable and he'll come back…"

Despite showing phenomenal potential in patches for the Wanderers and Socceroos, Juric has only played 33 games (including seven for Adelaide United).

While John Aloisi says he is showing the hallmarks to fulfil the void as a successor to Tim Cahill, fellow former Socceroos striker John Kosmina says Europe, not Asia, must be his next move.

"He's in a position where he's got that decision to make," Kosmina said.

"If he wants to fill his pockets, fine, go to China. But they want finished product over there.

"They don't want to take a guy like Tomi … he's got a lot to learn still, they don't want him coming over there and start teaching him more about football.

"They're not into that sort of thing.

"He's got to go to Europe and I think he's good enough to go there."

He added: "You've got to remember Tomi hasn't played a lot of football. He's spent a lot of time out with injuries. Once he can get some match minutes under his belt, some training hours up in particular, he's going to be a hell of a player."

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Messi’s purple patch of confusion

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LIONEL Messi has confused everyone at the Ballon d'Or awards with his purple tuxedo and his comments about his future at Barcelona.

The Argentine superstar's spangly suit was the latest of a long line of fashion statements at the annual football gala — where he was beaten to the top award by Cristiano Ronaldo. He made notable headlines two years ago with a striking polka dot outfit.

"Ronaldo deserved to beat Messi in the Ballon d'Or on choice of suit for the event alone," commented former English Football Association communications chief Adrian Bevington.

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But there is as much speculation about whether Messi will stay at Barcelona — his club of the past decade — as there is on his fashion sense.

Lionel Messi speaks during the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony. Source: AFP

Messi's reportedly rocky relationship with Barcelona coach Luis Enrique already has major European clubs on alert, according to media reports.

The alarm bells rang louder after Messi said on Monday "I've always said I want to end my career at Barcelona". He added: "But you never know what will happen in the world of football. I do not know where I'll be next year."

Messi referred reporters to comments by his big rival Ronaldo that "lots of things change in football and anything can happen."

The statement by the four-time Ballon d'Or winner further clouded his intentions after a reported showdown with Enrique last week and his statement on Sunday describing reports linking him to Chelsea and Manchester City as "all lies".

"I have never demanded anything to ensure that I stay because I never had any intention of leaving," he told Barca TV after a brilliant performance in his side's 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona's tumultuous week also included the sacking of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta.

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I’ll handle the hype: Ange stays cool

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ANGE Postecoglou had no complaints following the resounding 4-0 win over Oman, but insists his side can still get better.

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The Socceroos have now scored eight goals in two games to book their place in the knock-out stages of the Asian Cup, but perhaps the most pleasing aspect is that eight different players have got on the scoresheet.

Ange Postecoglou warns that the Socceroos will only get better. Source: Getty Images

"I guess it just shows the even contribution," Postecoglou said.

"It's not just the goalscorers. Guys like (Mathew) Leckie, (Massimo) Luongo and (Mark) Bresc didn't get on the scoresheet tonight, but they were always threatening as well.

"From my perspective it's the way we've tried to build this team and give them that belief and confidence that they can play aggressive and attacking football. It all starts with just commitment from everyone.

"No complaints from me, that was a fantastic performance and pleased for the players, they got rewards for all the hard work they've put in."

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Postecoglou believes the performance against Oman was a step up from the 4-1 win over Kuwait, but that's what he expected.

"I thought we played really well in that first game. I know people thought Kuwait was maybe the easiest, but as they showed with Korea today they're no pushovers," he said.

"We expect to improve as we go through the tournament. We made three changes tonight and we made some early substitutions, but as you saw the team didn't miss a beat. Some players needed 90 minutes.

"Whatever we've done so far has been good, but we can certainly get better."

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Oman coach Paul Le Guen, whose side crashed out of the tournament following the defeat, believes the Socceroos are favourites to win the trophy.

But Postecoglou isn't paying any attention to the pressure the 'favourites' tag might come with.

"I handled everyone writing us off okay, I think I'll handle the hype," he said.

"I've got a real belief in this group of players and the way we're going about things. Instead of being an issue for me what the external view is of us, I still think people underestimate us."

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KP admits to ‘crying sessions’ over exile

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KEVIN Pietersen has revealed he has suffered "a few crying sessions" over his England exile in a fascinating, candid interview with Ricky Ponting during Tuesday night's Big Bash League commentary.

Pietersen also said current England one-day captain Eoin Morgan would like him in the side before turning to Ponting and asking: "Would you select me, Punter?"

"Absolutely," replied the former Australian skipper. "I would have thought you were in England's best eleven one-day players."

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Cricket commentators have copped constant flack throughout the summer for their self-indulgent banter, which has taken the focus away from the on-field action.

But it felt as if the cricket was interrupting the commentary during the Melbourne Renegades-Brisbane Heat TV broadcast.

Former opponents Pietersen and Ponting engaged in a refreshing and honest 25-minute interview during the Heat's innings.

Ricky Ponting and Kevin Pietersen have words during the 2009 Ashes series. Source: AP

Ponting put on his Michael Parkinson hat, grilling Pietersen on a range of issues, including why he was "sacked" — in Pietersen's words — from England line-ups.

"I've got no idea why I'm not playing for England. I've never been told. But I know that the current captain (Morgan) would like to have me in the England team," Pietersen said.

Morgan recently replaced Alastair Cook as England's one-day captain after the latter was dropped for poor form.

"I want to play for England. If I get the opportunity to play for England I will. I'm 34 years of age, Kumar Sangakkara is 38 and has just scored a double hundred," Pietersen said.

"I honestly believe that I'm batting as well as I've ever batted at the moment. I've got over my knee injury which is huge. Over the last 18 months I've just hated batting, just because my knee was so sore.

"I love playing cricket at the moment so given half the opportunity to go and play [in the World Cup], the way I'm playing at the moment, of course I would.

Ricky Ponting and Kevin Pietersen exchange words during the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Source: News Limited

"The frustrating thing for me is that I'll be sitting on my sofa watching a series and I'll get a message from a couple of youngsters in the side saying 'what shall I do tomorrow – how should I play?'

"That for me is quite sad because I'd prefer to be standing at the other end, or training with these guys, saying this is how we should and shouldn't do it."

After Pietersen denied he was an arrogant player — "I saw myself as confident in my ability and my training" — the Melbourne Stars batsman asked Ponting if he thought Pietersen had the biggest ego of all English cricketers during his playing career.

Ponting said Pietersen "wouldn't rank in the top four", nominating a "certain right-arm off-spinner" (Graeme Swann) as the most arrogant, followed by a "man who fields behind the stumps, wears a bit of protection" (wicketkeeper Matt Prior) and "a couple of fast bowlers" (Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad).

Ponting and Pietersen's stint in the commentary box received ample plaudits on social media.

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S Korea ‘no chance’ against Socceroos

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SOUTH Korea's coach says his squad have no chance of beating the Socceroos in the teams' final Asian Cup group match if they repeat their disappointing performance against Kuwait.

Although the Taeguk Warriors' place in the quarter-finals was confirmed with a match to spare by Australia's 4-0 win over Oman, Uli Stielike wasn't satisfied with his side's performance in a 1-0 win over Kuwait 1-0 in Canberra on Tuesday night.

Nam Tae-hee scored the 36th-minute winner when he got in front of his marker to head Cha Du-ri's precise right-wing cross past goalkeeper Hameed Youssef and into the net.

While the world no. 69 side appeared to shake off their first-game nerves, showing some fire in attack, a clearly disappointed Stielike conceded South Korea were lucky to leave the match with maximum.

It was obvious they were no longer group favourites, he said.

South Korea's coach Uli Stielike says his squad was "very, very lucky" to beat Kuwait. Source: AP

"With football like this, you cannot win the tournament," the German told reporters after the match.

"With a performance like today, you cannot go far in this tournament."

Kuwait defended well in the first half, leaving the Koreans wandering and pacing as they searched for a goal in front of 8795 fans at Canberra Stadium.

But despite several clear opportunities in the second half, South Korea could not double their lead.

Stielike blamed pressure on the players for "easy mistakes" such as giving away the ball with loose passes.

Nam Tae-Hee (L) of South Korea fights for the ball with Fahad Alhajeri (R) of Kuwait. Source: AFP

"What I have to say is sad for my side (but) in a lot of phases, Kuwait was the better team — better handling of the ball, more moves, more passes," he said.

"The result I consider, very, very lucky."

South Korea have four days until they face Australia in their final Group A match, and Stielike is not confident his star-studded squad can trumping the hosts.

"Against Australia, if we play the same way, (we'll have) no chance," the coach said.

His main concern is his depleted squad, with midfielder Lee Chung-Yong forced home after being ruled out for at least three weeks with a leg fracture.

Tomi Juric celebrates his goal with Mark Bresciano, Mark Milligan and Matthew Leckie in the Socceroos match against Oman. Source: News Corp Australia

Bayer Leverkusen star Son Heung-min was missing from the starting line-up suffering a fever, while Kim Chang-soo was also omitted after sustaining injuries in Saturday's 1-0 win over Oman.

"Our main objective now is the recuperation of the players," Stielike said.

"We'll have to see the next days what players will be 100 per cent (fit) to attack the game against Australia."

Kuwait will face Oman on Saturday, with a win over labelled crucial by coach Nabil Maaloul.

Maaloul said injuries had plagued his side as well and he looked forward to the return of some of his "dangerous" players.

"The loss is OK. The players were not ready. Too many were injured."

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