Jeff Fenech explains why he confronted rival trainer Ben Savva on Tszyu vs Mendoza undercard

Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech has explained his decision to rush into the ring and face rival trainer Ben Savva ahead of Tim Tszyu’s world title win, saying: “If you want to talk about me, say so- me in front.”

One of the great feuds in Australian boxing erupted on Sunday afternoon at the Gold Coast Convention when – on the undercard of Tszyu’s WBO world title fight – Fenech and Savva had to be physically separated inside the ring.

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The incident followed a week of discussions between the pair, and subsequently saw the young coach brand Fenech a “fucking idiot” and a “moron” – while also accusing him of homophobic slurs.

Speaking to Fox Sports Australia on Monday, however, Fenech vehemently denied ever making such comments towards the coach who he described as a “nobody”.

Fenech also suggested that Savva was probably upset given that his fighter, Danvers Cuschieri, had just gotten “knocked out” by his own rising star, Hass Hamdan.

While Tszyu’s strong undercard fight went the distance, Hamdan won on all three judges’ scorecards: 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75.

Immediately after the fight, Fenech could be seen shouting and gesturing across the ring towards Savva, who then returned his serve, prompting the four-time world champion to rush in and confront his rival, with both men quickly being separated.

When asked backstage shortly afterward to explain the altercation, Savva said, “We were humble, we were congratulating them and Jeff just started for no apparent reason.

“Making fun of me like he always does.

“Then he started making weird finger gestures, so I talked back to him and he got aggressive.

“He’s just an idiot.”

“He’s an absolute fool and Australian boxing knows it.”

Interviewed on Monday, Fenech said: “Ben Savva can say whatever he wants about me.

“I just want him to say it to my face.

“Because every time he sees me in person, he doesn’t say anything.

“The s… you say about me in the media, the s… you say about me online… it’s easy to talk tough when the other person isn’t there.

“Then tell me to my face.”

“That’s why I went to him.”

Later, Fenech continued: “This guy is nobody.

“Didn’t get anything.”

“Honestly, I hope he does.

“The kid he brought into the fight, he gave a really tough and courageous performance.

“But Hass punched him.”

Fenech also said that he had never in his life made homophobic comments towards Savva.

“Never,” Fenech emphasized.

“Not once.

“At open practices I gave him a comic because he’s a comic coach, that’s all.”

Sunday’s incident was the culmination of years of tension between the two men, which escalated throughout the week of Tszyu’s championship fight against Brian Mendoza.

During an open training session on Monday, Savva accused Fenech of being “above the law,” while also suggesting “he thinks everyone could train and fight like Jeff Fenech, and that makes them Jeff Fenech.”

Then, at the fight week press conference, things escalated further – Hamdan even suggested that after beating Cuschieri, he wanted to fight Savva – even though the trainer hadn’t fought in four years.

Asked on Monday if that was a possibility, Fenech laughed: “No, because I don’t want to see Ben get hurt.”

When asked to explain where the rivalry came from, Savva said it followed comments he made about Fenech’s former manager Brock Jarvis.

“This goes back to the fact that I made a comment once about Brock Jarvis needing to be re-evaluated after being dropped by the Mexican,” he explained.

“I said Brock Jarvis probably needs to re-evaluate and refine a few things before he takes his place again.

“Just because I could see he was a little vulnerable and it turns out I was right.

“Since Jeff hates me, attacks me, I don’t know why. He continues to embarrass himself, making himself look like an idiot over and over again.

“There you go, I have no idea.

“What I said was very polite.

I said to refine a few things before he levels up and because I said two years of pure hatred, he’s a bitter man.

“I don’t even understand.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Savva said: “The only reason he hates me is because I’m the only person who says what every other boxing coach in Australia thinks.

“For two years, the guy has been attacking me for no reason.

“A lot of homophobic stuff which in 2023 seems very prevalent, but Jeff Fenech is above the law as I said before.

“He’s doing fine.”