Prickly retort: take a number for rematch

Craig Ross rossc@tcp.newsltd.com.au

CAIRNS Muay Thai fighter Ayde "Prickles" Walker has a simple message for Julatten rival Harlee Avison: earn your rematch.

Walker and his trainer Dylan Bradley are furious that Avison has called for a rematch with the Cairns fighter in 2009.

Avison, 17, said last week he would not rest until he had avenged his defeat to 22-year-old Walker at Smithfield in September, but the Walker camp believes the teenager has no right to be calling the shots.

Walker said Avison had a shot at him and lost and he now had other opponents in his sights, unless Avison could make a return bout worth his while.

"Show me the money," Walker said.

"I work a job with less hours so that I can train and fight so, if I get injured, I need to be able to look after myself financially." A war of words broke out between Walker and Avison following their September battle with the Avison camp disputing Walker ’s post-fight claims that he had "wiped the floor" with his opponent and left him looking like the "Elephant Man".

Bradley said Avison would also have to prove he was worthy of a rematch before one was granted, saying the Thailand-based Julatten product needed victories over other highly rated opponents.

"Harlee will have to take a number if he wants a crack at it," Bradley said yesterday. "There ’s a long queue if he wants to get in line." Already in the queue is wellcredentialled Gold Coast fighter Clayton Collier, who ’ll clash with Walker in Brisbane on February 14. Akhough he boasts only a handful of professional bouts to his name, Walker is eagerly awaiting the chance to prove himself against a top-class opponent.

"He ’s an A-grade pro," he said of Collier.

Walker said he was ready to meet Collier ’s challenge, pointing to his effort to go the distance with Thai fighter Kasemachi in Manunda earlier this year.

http://www.cairns.com.au/