Geale's the man as he proves too good for Mundine

 

 

The world is Daniel Geale’s oyster after he made amends for the only defeat of his career retaining his IBF Middleweight World Title over Anthony Mundine via unanimous decision (117-111,117-111,116-112).

Geale was simply too good for Mundine throughout the fight, as he dictated terms, using his angles to great effect and showcased the improvement that has taken him to two world titles since the pair last fought in 2009.

Mundine looked very much one dimensional throughout and relied on his ever present jab, but simply didn’t mix it up enough to trouble Geale, as the champion’s superior work rate saw him rack up the rounds.

 Geale looked unfazed by anything Mundine threw his direction and he was confident enough to continually push forward and close the range.

Mundine looked content to fight off the back foot and remain the counter puncher, but Geale’s hand speed and footwork meant he was out of harm’s way before Mundine had a chance to score any punches of his own.

There were flashes from Mundine throughout the fight and he did score nicely with his right hand on occasions but he simply did not do enough to prevent Geale from constantly coming forward and pushing the pace of the fight.

Mundine lacked urgency and seemed prepared to go the distance rather than take risks and try and win the fight by knockout.

Geale looked battle ready on the back on consecutive World title fights against Sebatien Sylvester and Felix Sturm, whilst Mundine looked a tad at sea having to make the jump up in level from his recent competition.

Whilst some will sound the final siren on Mundine’s career, it is hard to determine whether Mundine has declined considerably or if Geale was simply far too good.

I expect Mundine to have one last fight, which will be with old nemesis Danny Green mid 2013. There is simply too much interest and money in that fight for it not too happen. It’s the very reason that Green continues to keep active. Despite their difference in weight divisions I expect a happy medium to be found and the fighters to meet at a catch weight somewhere between Super Middleweight and the Light-Heavyweight limit, given Green fights closer to the Light-Heavyweight mark despite being a Cruiserweight World Champion.

For Geale, there are some super fights in his future. I expect him to meet WBA Middleweight Champion, Gennady Golovkin to unify both the WBA and IBF Middleweight Titles once more, whilst there is also the option of fighting the winner of Felix Sturm and Sam Soliman, who will become his IBF Mandatory challenger.

A win over Golovkin could open the door to the best middleweight on the planet, Sergio Martinez, who is expected to rematch Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr, after their first fight ended in a thrilling first round despite being completely one sided for the preceding eleven rounds.

Overall it was a great night for Australian Boxing and the profile of Daniel Geale will have lifted significantly now. It’s onwards and upwards for Australia’s newest boxing sensation and we now eagerly await the next step, which is surely up!

 

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GEALE-MUNDINE 2 : THE PREDICTION

 

It’s the question I have been asked numerous times in the lead up to this fight- Who will win?

It’s the biggest fight this country has seen since Anthony Mundine and Danny Green went toe to toe in 2006, and this time it is for a legitimate World Title, with serious money and career opportunities awaiting the winner.

Money spinning fights with Gennady Golovkin, Felix Sturm, Julio Cesar Chavez or Sergio Martinez could await whoever gets their hand raised on Wednesday night.

Daniel Geale comes into the fight in some serious form having not lost since his defeat to Mundine in 2009. His most recent fight was a World Title unification fight in Germany against Felix Sturm, which came on the back of big wins over Sebastien Sylvester and Roman Karmazin.

Anthony Mundine has had mixed fortunes since he beat Geale in 2009. He has been knocked out by The Contender Australia winner, Garth Wood, had an impressive win over former World Champion, Rigoberto Alvarez and his most recent fight was a win over journeyman Bronco “Superman” McKart.

If we were picking racehorses, it would be simple. But tipping winners in Boxing isn’t so easy.

Not when things like heart, willpower, hunger and desire are involved.

The burning question going into this fight is whether or not Anthony “The Man” Mundine still possesses all of those qualities, because if he does- he is a dangerous fighter.

This fight is a fight that Mundine probably doesn’t deserve, given he has largely been granted this fight on his profile and marketability.

But even behind the talk and bravado, Mundine must recognise this is his last opportunity to win a World Title and remain relevant on the big stage.

It is this very fact that no one should right off Mundine.

He simply must win.

Mundine has often talked about struggling to get up for fights against lesser known opponents.

He should have no problem getting up for this one then.

Mundine has also finally settled at a weight having dived between Super Middleweight- Middleweight and Junior Middleweight in recent years. Sure there is not a lot of difference between these divisions but it does take its toll on a thirty seven year old fighter.

Mundine is feeling fresh and is injury free, having had surgery to fix his problem hips, which despite the complaint still having to be managed, Mundine himself has said he feels less restricted in the ring.

Mundine is looking fit and from all accounts has gained some of the power that he displayed early on in his career, with his speed and sharpness also evident.

But he will need all of that to go with Daniel Geale.

Whilst Geale doesn’t necessarily have a lot of pop in his punches, they just don’t stop coming.

The reason he won the fight against Sturm was through the volume of punches thrown from bell to bell, round to round. When the bell sounded to end each round Geale was still throwing, and he simply wore Sturm down in his own backyard.

Geale is a fighter that is both smarter and more confident than the one who lost his IBO Middleweight World Title back to Mundine in 2009.

He is patient and waits for his opportunities, unlike when he was dropped by Mundine last time when he hastily rushed forward early in the fight.

Geale used his angles well and has tightened his defence, which means Mundine will have to bring more to the table than the lightning jab, which has become Mundine’s only real weapon in recent years.

Geale has been in with the cream of the Middleweight division in recent times and is battled hardened with hard-fought twelve round slugfests in the bank.

If the fight is going to the later rounds, you’d be banking on Geale.

But Mundine’s best performances have been on the biggest occasions in his career.

Fights against Danny Green and Antwon Echols are case in point.

Always the showman, will Mundine rise to the occasion again?

Geale may have had the deer in the headlights look in 2009, but this time around Geale has become a seasoned campaigner having had a 2012 to rival some of the biggest names in boxing.

So who is it then?

Well, as much as I like picking roughies and then telling you all “I told you so” (*Juan Manuel Marquez), I can’t go past Daniel Geale.

His performance against Sturm was simply all about willpower and a determination to not give in to defeat.

I do not know that after all his fights, and particularly the calibre of fighters Mundine has been in the ring with in recent times, that Mundine can go with Geale when the going gets tough.

Mundine is a very, very dangerous fighter come Wednesday night, but at this point in time in their careers I feel Geale is the better one.

PREDICTION – Geale by points decision

 

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It's time for Mundine to let his actions speak loudest

 

 At the end of the day action speaks louder than words and in the career of Anthony “The Man” Mundine, sadly the words have always outweighed the action.

Talk is cheap in all areas except the fight game, where it has some importance.

It can sell fights and it can get you fights, but ultimately it’s your actions in the ring that decide whether you get another one.

There’s an argument that talk is exactly what has got Anthony Mundine this fight, and having seen the build-up it’s probably the reason you and I will hand over our $50 to watch it.

But behind all the talk and bravado, Mundine’s legacy is simply one of unfulfilled potential.

He has spent the last twelve months calling out the biggest names in the sport – Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.

Yet his only true pathway to getting to the big names was his option to face interim WBA Junior Middleweight champion, Austin Trout with Mundine being the mandatory challenger to Trout’s title.

Mundine turned the fight down.

Trout went onto fight WBA Super Junior Middleweight Champion Miguel Cotto and beat him, which has him now in line to face the upper echelon of the boxing world.

See what I said about action speaking louder than words.

In saying all that, Mundine has compiled a legacy that doesn’t necessarily get the recognition it deserves.

He walked away from the NRL in his prime to take up the hardest professional sport there was.

He has no Amateur experience, despite having a handy boxer in his father.

The man he will stand opposite of on Wednesday night had an Amateur career that included a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal and an Olympics.

Mundine took on a boxing legend in Sven Ottke in his 11^th Professional Fight, and although we all know how it ended, anyone who watched the fight knows he was more than mixing it with the German for the most part.

He is a three- time World Champion and there is no denying he has rejuvenated the sport in Australia in the last thirteen years, yet is consistently voted one of the most hated sportspeople in the country.

He is loved by some, disliked by many, and I know I don’t have to outlay the reasons why.

His career could have been anything. He had a lightning jab, great power and the profile and showmanship to match the big names. But he just never took the shot.

He made $700,000 in his first fight, figure fighters of lesser profile struggle to make in World Title fights. A figure Daniel Geale has only just managed to attain in the last two years, and Mundine is the only fighter to have had all his fights broadcast on pay per view.

Since Mundine and Geale fought last in 2009 their resumes have taken vastly different courses.

Mundine – Falliga (17-5), Medley (27-2), Jerez (30-12), Waters (20-2), Wood (10-2), Toliver (23-6), Alvarez (26-3) and McKart (53-9)

Geale – Barbosa (22-5), Kariuki (21-8), Karmazin (40-3), Sylvester (34-3), Albert (24-4), Adama (20-2), Sturm (37-2)

Only one of Mundine’s last eight opponents have been rated in the Top 10 in any organisation, despite him calling for the top fighters on the planet.

Geale on the other hand has won both the WBA and IBF Middleweight World Titles, and fought in four World Title fights.

Does Mundine want to win a World Title and a shot at fulfilling his potential or does he simply want another tidy payday and the limelight, perhaps one final time.

A victory for Mundine and the IBF Middleweight title is a hell of a bargaining chip to entice a big name in the ring.

There is even talk the winner will be granted a unification fight with Gennady Golovkin, the now WBA Middleweight Champion, after Geale was stripped of the title for taking the Mundine fight.

A defeat and the glimmer of light that remains in Mundine’s career will surely fade, and I expect Mundine to have a final money spinning fight against Danny Green later this year, before stepping away.

In Boxing, talk may line your pockets with gold, but it doesn’t put any around your waist.

Mundine will have to earn that through his actions in the ring on Wednesday night.

Follow Adam on Twitter - @adamsantarossa