Brubaker on Fenech switch: “Jeff will bring out the best in me”
JACK Brubaker believes Jeff Fenech can help revitalise his career.
The 27-year-old from Sydney has parted ways with long-time trainer Graham Shaw and has joined forces with the Hall of Famer Fenech after feeling as though something was lacking in his most recent battles.
“The past couple of fights something’s been missing and I’ve had trouble putting my finger on it,” Brubaker told Aus-Boxing.
“After my last fight I wasn’t 100% happy with my performance, there was something not quite right and Fenech pulled me aside and gave me a few tips and some advice and it really resonated with me.”
You’d be hard pressed to find a trainer who’s as passionate as Fenech and it’s his heart on sleeve approach that has Brubaker (16-2-2, 8 KOs) excited about the new partnership and the possibilities that it may bring.
“I just love his enthusiasm and excitement,” Brubaker said.
“He’s been in there before and I had a chat with Graham (Shaw) about my last couple of fights and everyone had my best interests at heart moving forward.
“I believe styles make fights, not only for fighters but between fighters and trainers so I went and had a hit out with Jeff just to test the waters and see how we meshed and I walked out of there reinvigorated.
“I believe Jeff will bring out the best in me and we’re going to have a big future.”
With the addition of Brubaker, Fenech now has three quality up and coming fighters in his growing stable and the environment in the gym is one that Brubaker is relishing.
“The environment in which I’m training in is different,” he said.
“Jeff’s got the young Brock Jarvis and Hassan Hamdan and it’s just a good environment to be training in with a couple of other young pros.
“I think I became a little bit content with my training over the last couple of years.
“I’ve trained hard but when we’re in the gym it’s just Graham and myself and unless you’re in a gym with a couple of other pros and you’re pushing yourself against each other, you can lose focus.”
Fenech was renowned as a fighter for his non-stop work rate as well as his precision in-fighting, and as a trainer his fighters have always been in supreme condition. This is why Brubaker believes Fenech is the perfect fit for him right now.
“I truly back myself as one of the most entertaining fighters in Australia, Jeff will bring out the best in me,” Brubaker said.
“I want to go back to that aggressive style where I throw punches in bunches as well as being on balance and creating angles and movement and all that stuff is what Jeff’s going to bring to the table.
With his enthusiasm renewed and the backing of one of Australia’s greatest ever fighters the future looks bright for Brubaker, judging by his lofty goals, including plans to become one of the premier names in Australian boxing.
“I want to get back to my best self,” he said.
“I don’t want to just be winning fights, I want to be stopping guys and I want to be the most entertaining knock out fighter in Australia.”
Words: Dan Attias/Follow Dan on Twitter
Photo: Louie Abigail/Photography by Rockfingrz
