EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Dib on the rise despite defeat




 



Billy Dib returned to Australia light on luggage having lost his world title, and a pint or two short of blood following the ten staples that were needed for a cut to the back of his head along with the fourteen stitches that were needed to seal the wound above his right eye.

I spoke with the former IBF Featherweight World Champion in an exclusive interview just days after his defeat and Dib says it’s only physical wounds he carries after his split decision point’s defeat to Evgeny Gradovich.

“The wounds that are healing are the actual wounds that I suffered in the fight. I suffered a few cuts on the eye and two cuts on the head that I’m recovering from. But other than that everything is good. My health is good and in due time I’ll be back in the ring getting ready for the next one.  

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose a fight and especially to lose in that fight. That was heartbreaking because as you know from the scorecards if the referee doesn’t take a point away from me, I keep my title. But in saying that it was a cracking fight, it did a lot for my credibility in the sport because people didn’t expect to see that type of fight from me. To go out and put that type of a fight on sort of changed people’s perception of me.

“50 cent has an agreement with Top Rank that provided that we gave the guy an opportunity that they will sign an agreement to do the re-match, so there is a re-match clause in place”.

Were you surprised at all with what Gradovich showed?

“No surprises at all, I expected that sort of a fight and when people say Gradovich took the fight on short notice they have to understand that we both took the fight the same notice.  At the end of the day I had to prepare for him and he had to prepare for me, and we both had the same time to prepare.

“When people say he took the fight on short notice that’s not true because I was preparing for one style and then the fight fell through. Let’s be completely honest here, I went from preparing for Munoz to preparing for Luis Franco to preparing for Gradovich, so it wasn’t a smooth sailing sort of a camp. I mean I was working hard but with the chopping and changing of styles it made it very difficult.

“I had the same amount of time as Gradovich had to prepare for the fight so I thought it was on an even playing field. He didn’t show me anything that I didn’t think he was going to show me. I knew he was going to show a heart of a lion, which he did. I knew he was going to fight hard, which he did and I knew he was going to come forward, which he did. So he gave me everything that I thought he was going to give me.”

I know you’ve been keen to get back to the United States and entertain and really show people what you can do. Did you go in with a pre-conceived style of fight or did it just evolve during the fight?

“I think the past has sort of haunted me you know. I went from being a guy that couldn’t get on TV in America to getting on TV as the main event and now basically with the fight that I’ve put in we’ve got guys like Ken Hershman and that giving 50 cent a call saying “We’re interested in putting Billy back on HBO”. So I’ve managed to turn it around, despite that way I fought I did leave the states with an “L”, but I think I left with my career in tact in terms of getting myself back on the big stage.  So in the words of 50 cent – “Value wise, my value has gone up not down.”

“His exact words were the title means more to me than to him. Because if I can go out and put performances just like that on then I can definitely bring the money in.”

I know following the Luevano fight there were a lot of people critical of you. I know you did lose the title and there are not that many positives that come out of a defeat, but you can take away an increased fan base and maybe you’ve even answered a few critics?

“The fight was a catapult, but in saying that I did lose the title. But you have to remember something, the title is only ever one fight away because I’m still rated highly and I have a rematch clause in place.  If I want the rematch to be my next fight well then it’s possible that it could be my next fight.

“I went out and I made people who weren’t believers into believers and if you can make Dan Rafael a believer then you’re doing well. I spoke to Dan Rafael and he told me “You impressed me” and “You showed me things that I didn’t think you had.

“So, not that I’m proud that I’ve lost my title, but I’m proud that I’ve been in a fight of that magnitude as the main event on ESPN and put on the best performance for the ESPN audience.”

What did 50cent say to you following the fight?

“His exact words when he got in the ring were – “You did more for your career in this fight then you’ve ever done”. He said you’ve done nothing to hurt yourself.  He said keep your chin up and you’ve got a rematch in place so we’re just going to go back to the drawing board and work hard.

“Adam, with a guy like 50 cent behind me and the team members that we have in Gamboa and co anything is possible, titles could open up anywhere. You might even see me moving up in weight and challenging for another title who knows. The IBF has been good to me and I’m aligned with them at the moment but I’m just looking forward to getting back in the ring and evening up the score with Gradovich.”

What about your trainer Billy Hussein? What did he have to say after the fight?

“He’s proud of me that I put it on the line, but we had a game plan and I kind of went away from the game plan. What people don’t understand is that certain things happened in that fight and I wasn’t able to respond to Billy Hussein. I wasn’t really responsive because I was dealing with certain things that were happening to me during the fight. But I’m not one for making excuses; everything that happens to me in the fight is god’s will anyway. Nothing is possible in life without god’s will.

“Everything in life happens for a reason. After I suffered the elbow to the back of the head and the back of my head split open, I really don’t remember much of the fight since. I was sort of fighting a little bit on instinct. I suffered a ruptured left eardrum that I fought through, so I was trying to fight through adversity.

“So to come away from the fight with a split decision loss and considering I could have kept the title had the referee not taken that point away shows me that even at my worst I was so close. “

But we both left a great fight and I congratulate Gradovich on a wicked fight. But it takes two to tango and we were both able to put on a fantastic show for ESPN and from what we’re hearing and from what 50 cent has told me it’s an early candidate for fight of the year.

I know it’s only early days but is there any indication when the rematch with Gradovich may happen?

“Like 50 cent said we can make it happen in the next fight if we want, it’s totally up to us. But I think what 50 wants to do is get Gradovich and I back on the same card together, obviously with him defending his title and me fighting in a 10 round bout, just to juice up the fight a little bit more and build it up and then go at it again.”

“I’ve got the hunger, I’ve always been hungry particularly going into this fight, I certainly didn’t underestimate Gradovich or anything I badly wanted to win and now in losing the fight the master plan kicks into gear to go and get the title back, so that’s what it’s all about now.

If you had the fight over again, how would you fight it? Would you fight it the same way?

If I had the fight over again I’d fight him the same way I fought him over the first four rounds. But after suffering that elbow to the back of the head, basically I thought I was fighting on instinct from that point. Basically I think I’d box a bit more smarter.”

Dib travelled a rocky road in his attempt to return to the bright lights of the USA following the defeat to Luevano, amid the criticism that came his way following the fight.

The fight with Gradovich was meant to be his coming out party, with new promoter 50cent in his corner.

However with defeat, Dib now finds himself on a familiar path attempting to travel the road back to World Title glory.

But once again, Dib has a message for the people who choose to write him off like they did the last time.

“Jeff Harding is the only Australian to lose a World Title and win it back, and I look forward to following in the footsteps of the great Jeff Harding.”

Adam Santarossa

Follow Adam Santarossa on Twitter - @adamsantarossa

 

 



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!

 

Follow Adam on Twitter - @adamsantarossa

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

 

Follow Adam on Twitter - @adamsantarossa

 



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

 



 

 

 

Geale vs Mundine 2 : The Road to Redemption

 

 

Anthony Mundine is the only fighter in history to have had all of his fights broadcast on PPV. The simple answer for that is Anthony Mundine equals money. Mundine reportedly made $700,000 from his boxing debut against Gerard Zohs way back in 2000. It was similar money to what he would have made only a year earlier for a full season with the St George/Illawarra Dragons.

Daniel Geale on the other hand would have been lucky to make a few thousand dollars from his debut fight, despite being a former Olympian and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

 In fact it would have only been in his last few fights that Geale would have even ticked past the $700,000 payday Mundine earned on his debut, which is ultimately the very reason we have arrived at Geale v Mundine 2.

Daniel Geale is one of the greatest Australian fighters of all time. He currently holds the IBF Middleweight Title and was disgracefully stripped of the WBA Middleweight Title only weeks after winning it. He has gone to Germany twice and has come away with two world titles against top notch fighters in Sebastian Sylvester and Felix Sturm.

Yet despite all of this Geale can still walk down the street and the large majority will have no idea who he is. Geale doesn’t yet have the profile to match his in-ring ability, which was shown in reports that only 3000 pay per view sales were recorded for his recent Middleweight unification fight with Sturm. But that’s all set to change with this fight.

See Anthony “The Man” Mundine hasn’t fought his way to an IBF Middleweight World Title shot with Daniel Geale, he has been given the opportunity for three reasons.

A)     As mentioned earlier, Anthony Mundine equals money. He is a compelling figure that draws publicity wherever he walks, and whether to see him win or knocked out, we all pay to see him fight.

B)      Mundine is seen as being on the downward spiral as of late. Knocked out by Garth Wood and most recently in action against journeyman, Bronco “Superman” McKart. The fact is Mundine is very beatable these days, especially to a fighter on the level that Geale has operated at recently.

C)   Geale wants payback

In boxing fights are made with a variety of factors in mind. The ultimate formula that prevails is Risk vs. Reward. It’s the very reason fighters such as Roy Jones and Shane Mosley continue to get fights. They can sell tickets, yet they are also very beatable.

Geale could have made a defence against a tougher but largely unknown fighter and made half of what he will make against Mundine.

Yet by taking the Mundine fight he will make a good payday and “scratch the itch” that is his loss to Mundine in their first fight back in 2009, all the while increasing his ever-growing profile given the public interest and press coverage the fight will achieve.

Geale was unlucky to lose his IBO Middleweight Title against Mundine back in 2009 by way of split decision. There is an unwritten rule in boxing that in a close fight the decision tends to go the way of the champion given the challenger must win decisively to wrestle the title away, however Mundine got the result.

Geale’s camp filed a protest and the IBO had three independent judges re-score the fight, all of whom scored it in favour of Geale. Therefore the IBO commanded an immediate rematch between the pair. Mundine responded by vacating the title.

So if Mundine wasn’t interested in the rematch in 2009, then why now?

The reason- He has no other options.

His recent excursion to the United States was a disaster. He sold an embarrassingly low number of tickets and raised little interest.  All the challenges to Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and others went nowhere, as they were always going too. The journey even caused the end of his long term association with Khoder Nasser.

Mundine even turned down the one legitimate chance he had at taking on the world, his interim WBA title shot against Austin Trout, the very man who recently toppled Miguel Cotto. It could have been Mundine, if only he took the chance.

The fight with Geale is Mundine’s very last shot at achieving his lofty ambitions. An IBF Middleweight Title is sure to open doors and will be the first reputable world title in his collection.

For this very reason alone, no one should discount Anthony Mundine. He is hungry, he is desperate and he will give everything that he has in this fight. This Mundine is dangerous, he simply has nothing to lose. It is his Rocky moment, and a shot he probably doesn’t deserve.

Some of Mundine’s best performances have been on the biggest occasions, his fights with Danny Green and Antwun Echols are case in point. He has spoken previously about struggling to get up for fights against opposition not on his level, which will not be a concern this time around.

For Mundine it is his last chance to leave a legacy that will be respected. For now there lies an asterix next to his name with the line “How good could he have been”. For all his talent, freakish ability and three world titles he has never truly fulfilled his potential. However he now rides the road to redemption, to leave the talk and bravado at the door and show his true character and show the world just how good a fighter he is.

A win for Mundine and new life surges into a career that where for now the lights are flickering.

A win for Geale and the country will have a hero whose standing and profile will match the size of his in-ring feats.

Strap yourselves in ladies and gentleman it’s going to be a blast!

Follow Adam on Twitter at @adamsantarossa

 

 



Geale set to take Middleweight division by "Sturm"



In the World of Boxing there are two distinct ways to climb to the top- the easy way and the hard way.

The easy way involves hand picking opponents and manipulating the divisional rankings to generate a title shot and then hopefully if everything goes your way you land yourself a world title. Sometimes if you’re lucky enough it is the real thing, but more often than not it’s either vacant or an interim belt.

Without naming names, such belts have blotted the scene of Australian Boxing in recent years and left the boxing public scratching their heads at just what the sport had become. The easy way may line your waist with gold, but it doesn’t necessarily win you respect. The hard way involves lining up the biggest and baddest in the division and blasting through all of them until you are top of the pile and holding all the gold, along with the respect of the boxing world.

Daniel Geale does not do things the easy way.

There is no denying that Sunday Morning’s clash between Australia’s IBF Middleweight World Champion, Daniel Geale and Germany’s WBA “Super” Middleweight Champion, Sebastian Sylvester is anything but a genuine world title super fight. Both men will put their world titles on the line, in a division that if the cards fall correctly could give either figher a chance to sit atop its pile.

With the Middleweight division’s top two fighters, Sergio Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr clashing on September 15 in Las Vegas for the WBC Middleweight Title, and WBO Champion, Dmitry Pirog waiting in the wings, the contenders to the undisputed Middleweight Crown are falling into place.

In a division that once brought us the names Leonard, Hearns, Hagler and Duran, the Middleweight division is shaping up to similar proportions once again, with Geale in with a real shot of scooping the pool. With victory on Sunday morning, Geale would move towards potentially one of the biggest fights Australian Boxing has ever seen.

The fact that Daniel Geale isn’t a household name in Australia is a crying shame. After years of the circus involving Mr Mundine and Green and promises by both to “take on the world”, we are still waiting for both to truly take on genuine heavyweight of their divisions.

 Whilst Mundine has stated he is rolling the dice in America in the twilight of his career in an attempt to lure the likes of Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather into the ring, all that sojourn has offered so far is a showing against Bronco “Superman” McKart which didn’t exactly set the boxing world on fire either in the ring or at the box office.

Danny Green on the other hand has been a mixed bag, showing early promise and his own sojourn to Germany, before Light-Heavyweight gold and a sudden retirement, before an epiphany, a comeback and a dining out on a washed up Roy Jones, before suffering consecutive knockout defeats to Antonio Tarver and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, and recent events give you the sense that Green is in semi-retirement and only staying active for a potential Mundine rematch if the “Thunder from Downunder” misfires in the US.

Geale has been Australian Boxings' best kept secret for years, and only now is he starting to get the respect he deserves. A Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist and Two-Time World Champion, who could walk down the street and hardly, get recognised. Some of Australia’s best, Vic Darchinyan, Michael Katsidis and Paul Briggs, have been in absolute wars, yet never received the adulation they deserved.

Geale started his ascension to the upper echelon of World Boxing, capturing the lesser fancied, IBO Middleweight Title against fellow Australian, Daniel Dawson in Australia’s Fight of the Year in 2007. Two routine defences were followed by a controversial split-decision loss to Anthony “The Man” Mundine, and such was the controversy the IBO sanctioned an immediate rematch on review. Mundine promptly denied Geale a rematch by vacating the title.

From there, Geale knocked out the then world rated and Contender Australia Runner-Up, Kariz Kariuki before knocking out the tough Roman Karmazin to win his shot at then IBF Middleweight Champion, Sebastian Sylvester.

Geale showed the world he belonged with an impressive performance, pulling off seemingly the impossible, winning a world title in Germany, against a German hero and by split decision no less. Anyone who remembers the Danny Green-Markus Beyer fiasco understands the type of controversy that plagues such encounters. The fact that two judges scored the fight 118-110 and 118-112 to Geale and the other 118-110 to Sylvester shows that everything not everything it as it seems when in the land of Beer and Pretzels.

Despite the unwritten rule in boxing that the challenger must defeat the champion convincingly to claim his title, perhaps it was justice done, given the controversial defeat to Mundine in similar circumstances.

Geale has followed up his win over Sylvester with two routine mandatory defences against tough Africans,Erosele Albert and Ousamanu Adama. A unification clash with tough WBO Champion, Dmitry Pirog was aborted after the WBO refused to sanction the fight, however Geale’s drive has not been dented, and promptly diving head first into unification fight with Sturm.

Whilst many feel Geale has bitten off a little more than he can chew this time in tempting fate and returning to Germany to try and pull of the impossible a second time, I feel Sturm is ripe for the picking. Gary Shaw, Geale’s promoter and The Grange Old School Boxing team are no mugs, and certainly know what they are getting themselves into, and I’m sure they agree that Sturm has certainly seen better days.

Controversy has plagued Sturm’s recent fights against British fighters, Matthew Macklin and Martin Murray, with Macklin scoring a close points defeat whilst the British press cried “Bloody Murder” after the Murray-Sturm fight was called a draw.

Thirty six of Sturm’s forty one fights have taken place in Germany, with three in Hungary and one in Croatia. Sturm has only fought on one occasion in America, in which he suffered defeat at the hands of the great, Oscar De La Hoya by unanimous decision in a tight encounter for the WBO Middleweight Title.

Twenty seven of Geale’s fights have taken place at home in Australia, with the only fight away from home being the world title win in Germany against Sylvester, ensuring Sturm is by far the more comfortable on Sunday.

There is no denying the talents of Sturm. He is coming off a fourteen fight undefeated streak, which has included names such as Macklin,Zbik, Murray, Castillejo, Pittman and the man Geale wrestled the title from, fellow German, Sebastian Sylvester.

But Sturm’s career has never been considered truly great, given his desire not to fight outside Germany. There were reports that Anthony Mundine had offered great sums to lure Sturm to Australia some years ago, but the Mundine Camp was promptly told a fight would only take place on German soil.

Geale has been criticised for not having the knockout power of the likes of Sergio Martinez and Chavez Junior, but Geale’s knockout percentage of 53.57% far outweighs that of Sturm, who at 39.02%, is the one with the inability to spark out his opponents. Geale has the crushing knockout of Roman Karmazin fresh in the mind, and I feel only his fractured hand has prevented him from adding to his knockout record in his past two fights.

Whilst Geale may need a knockout in Germany on Sunday, he is more than equipped to get the job done on decision. Geale has a solid jab and moves well, but he can have a tendency to rush forward in an attempt to start at a fast tempo. Geale has been to the canvas on four occasions in his career, with the last against Mundine, and will need to remain composed under the bright lights in Germany.

Australian Boxing legend, Jeff Fenech is on record as saying Geale is a better fighter than both Mundine and Green, and victory on Sunday morning will certainly eradicate both of the formers resume’s to the periphery.

Victory on Sunday in Germany will finally launch Geale into the Boxing stratosphere that his talents deserve and the Australian Boxing public will finally see that he is in fact, “The Real Deal”.

 



Khan King Amir rise again?

It starts with a flash and you’re on the canvas. Everything is blurry and you’re body is screaming at you to stay down. You push your legs and they struggle to cooperate but somehow you find yourself back on your feet. 

Your ears are ringing ,your legs aren’t there and you're still in la-la land, but you do your best to stop the man in the blue shirt from stopping the fight. He asks you “Are you ok?”, and you nod your head unconvincingly,wipe your gloves, and he somehow lets you continue, it is a World Title fight after all; they don’t stop these things easily.

You stagger to centre ring and eye off the man that has sent you crushing to the edges of defeat. He is like a caged lion, stalking his prey with a devilish look on his face. He is salivating like a lion hunting his wounded prey, he has struck a mighty blow and can see, and taste the blood which pours out of you,showing signs of your mortality. The young lion can taste the title he craves, the very one you have stained with your blood, sweat and tears over the last few years.

The referee brings the fight back to life, and you summon all you’re strength to punch your way back into the contest, throwing shots with all that is left in your body. You throw shots with the same ferocity as all those great nights where they lauded you the next best thing, but tonight your punches do nothing, your body is not responding as it once did and this caged lion is rocking your head back with unparalleled ferocity.

One shot, and the flash is back. 


You are down on the canvas, and it’s all over.

The world title dreams, potential super fights with the best fighters on the planet, and the title of “Next Big Thing” all wash away amidst the sounds of the referee signaling, “fight over”.

It looks familiar, it’s because you have seen it all before.

In 2008 at the hands of Breidis Prescott, Amir Khan is destroyed inside 35 seconds, by an opponent, who despite his 19-0 record many viewed as a mere stepping stone.

This wasn’t meant to be, you are an Olympic Silver Medalist, a British Icon and a poster boy for the next generation of Boxing.

The next day the papers say you were “hype” and good marketing, but lacked the gumption to match the potential, and you’re simply someone that had a lot of promise but was clearly too big for his boots.

This is around about the time; you throw the paper down, hit the gym and destroy every doomsday proclamation levied at the career of Amir “King” Khan.

You go on to link with one of the World’s Best trainers in Freddie Roach and promptly blast your way to wins over Marco Antonio Barrera, Paul Malignaggi, Marcos Maidana and Zab Judah, as well as the WBA and IBF Light-Welterweight World title’s.

You hit a bump in the shape of Lamont Peterson, who wins a disputed majority decision to take your world titles and a slice of your marketability along with it, however most is restored when in the ensuing months comes news that Peterson tests positive to a banned substance, and the titles are duly returned.

That turn of events puts you in the path of the caged lion, Danny Garcia, who is quickly ushered in as a new opponent, in a fight to unify the division, his WBC title with your IBF/WBA belts.

Garcia talks a big talk, but you are a heavy favorite and expected to win comfortably. It’s the perfect time to strike too, given the recent controversy following the Pacquiao-Bradley fight it looks like those two will rematch and could leave the door open for you to get a shot at Mayweather.

For the first three rounds, it all goes to plan as you dazzle Garcia with your fists, showing an uncanny hand speed that the Brit’s had once enjoyed from The Prince called Naseem.

But then there is that flash…and all those dreams go down the gutter.

The papers the next day look awfully similar to those from four years ago and this time you have the one of the best trainers in the world guiding you, and your backed by one of the top promotions in the world, Golden Boy.

How do you come back from this?

When you were KO’d by Prescott they said you were “Chinny”, yet you seemingly dispelled that myth with your win over Maidana, but now Garcia’s knockout has got you marked as “chinny” once more.

They say you have major technical flaws, but you are trained by one of the best trainers of all time, so is there more to the story.

Is it time for Amir Khan to cast aside his Hall of Fame trainer, to someone that spends all his time with Team Khan, rather than spread his services across a number of fighters, including Pacquiao and Chavez, among others.

Do you reconsider your plan to mix it with the plethora of Welterweight’s such as Mayweather, Pacquaio,  Cotto, Margarito, or do you try to recapture your glory in the light-welterweights where you are coming off two consecutive losses.

In the world of boxing, three consecutive losses on the trot seemingly make you irrelevant and Amir Khan is now walking that tightrope.

Losses to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia, both who are solid fighters, but not on the elite level that the pound for pound kings stand on, severely hurts Khan’s marketability and Golden Boy will be trying to protect their investment.

Do they steer Khan back into calmer waters with a fight against Malignaggi or perhaps Devon Alexander, or do they make the bold step to Welterweight and try and pull off a coup of Tim Bradley proportions.

I have not given up on Amir Khan as returning to the top level of the sport just yet, but it is clear that many within the industry now have their doubts.

I don’t think he is chinny, and he has great heart, and his knockout to Garcia was through his arrogance/carelessness and should not result in a pen being drawn through his name just yet.

Many people did the same thing four years ago and Khan quickly gave them a dose of humble pie.

The next step in Khan’s career will define it.

Does he take a major risk and roll the dice on a marquee name in which victory provides him with a quick return to marquee status, or does he pick the carcass of opponents past their prime to prepare his confidence and box office appeal?

Khan’s long rival Tim Bradley has shown how quickly it can be done and sometimes it can only take one fight.

Khan’s journey to become king once more may well be a long one, but having seen his resurrection once before, who’s to say he cannot rise again.

Follow Adam Santarossa on Twitter - @adamsantarossa