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
Follow Adam on Twitter - @adamsantarossa
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