Mick Gatto has been granted a boxing promoter's licence. MICK Gatto has many titles - colourful identity, arbitrator, former boxer and crane company boss. Gatto, 57, added another string to his bow last week: licensed boxing promoter. He hosts a main event featuring American James Toney and Australian Lucas Browne at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre today. Gatto, married with five children, lives near Melbourne. James Toney said Australia's boxing heyday was the period of Jeff Fenech and Kostya Tszyu. What's your view? There's no doubt about the lull in Australian boxing at the moment. It needs a boost. By bringing internationals out, it gives it that boost we need. What, for you, was the appeal of boxing? I always loved Muhammad Ali. As a kid, I had a passion for boxing. I've supported it all my life, sponsored a lot of events, and go to most fights. Boxing teaches you respect. What do you remember most about your time as a boxer? The last fights were for a comeback and I never gave it a go the way I should have. If anyone boxes, they need to put their heart and soul into it, otherwise you end up getting hurt. You are feared and revered in this town. What's that like? I'm only feared and revered by people who read nonsense in the papers. Once people get to know me, they realise I'm a big teddy bear, I'm easy going, and I treat people the way they treat me. If you treat me with respect, you get the same. How do you think you're perceived out there? People who know me love me. People who don't know me perceive me with fear. They're a bit wary. Once they sit down and get to know me, they change their attitude very quickly. 6.Why did you buy a Rolls-Royce Ghost? I never thought there was a better car than a Mercedes, but I tried a Roller and it won me over. It has an infra-red function and picks up body heat. It's a magnificent drive. It's like being in an aeroplane. They glide along. Why would you need an infra-red function? It's handy. When I'm coming home late at night, I live in a bushy part of Melbourne. Anyone hiding behind a tree at least I can see them. You're forewarned, you're forearmed. Who rules the roost in the Gatto home? Whenever there is a decision to be made, we sit down and talk about it equally. Who is your wife? My wife is Cheryle. She is an educated woman. The last 10 years she's been a housewife. We have three grandkids whom she looks after. She puts all her time and effort into them. Great cook, good woman. No complaints at all. What's your favourite television show? I don't watch much television. I'll watch the poker sometimes. I like to watch classic movies. Who was the best Godfather - Pacino, De Niro or Garcia? You forgot about Marlon Brando. Brando was the best Godfather. He played the part well. He looked the part, spoke the part. I don't think anyone did the Godfather better then him. After him, it would be De Niro. He is an absolute legend. You have a mediation business. What is your preferred method of mediation? We like to sit down and work it out with whoever we're dealing with. The reason we get results is because we don't stretch it out like lawyers. We nip it in the bud. We try to find a happy medium that both parties are comfortable with. They walk away with a little bit of a sour taste in their mouth, but at least they're happy. That's the method we like to enforce. We get results because of that. Has anyone ever made you an offer you couldn't refuse? Renata from SBS. She's doing a documentary on me and I didn't want to do it. But now I'm doing it and I don't know how I agreed to it. Why are people fascinated by the so-called Underbelly stories? It's good television. Eighty per cent of the Underbelly stuff isn't accurate. I remember when they shot it, I was told by Simon Westaway (who played Gatto in the first series): "You'll be sitting on your couch thinking, that's not true, that's not correct, but gee, it's great viewing." You're being investigated by the taxman at the moment. How are you facing up to that? It's a process you've got to go through. They keep asking repetitive questions. They drive you bloody mad. I've paid $70 million in tax in the last 10 years through the company Elite Cranes. I don't owe the taxman anything. Unfortunately, you've got to fatten the lawyers up and things of that nature. But they try to cripple you so you have no access to money. So you've got to rely on friends to live, pay the bills, pay the lawyers, and God knows what. I'll come out the other end OK.