SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Daniel Geale dominated Anthony Mundine over 12 rounds at the Sydney Entertainment Centre Wednesday, winning a wide unanimous decision in their middleweight rematch.
With his victory, by scores of 116-112 and 117-111 twice, Geale (29-1, 15 KO) erases the only loss on his ledger and proves himself the #1 contender to Sergio Martinez’ middleweight throne. Mundine, who delusionally complained before the scores were announced and left the ring without giving an interview, proved his complete lack of class and will likely go on to another rematch, with Danny Green, before retiring.
In their May 2009 fight, it was Mundine (44-5, 26 KO) who was the the better puncher and the more astute fighter defensively. From the 1st round in January 2013, the dynamic was reversed. Geale slipped many of Mundine’s best punches while answering back with jabs, tripled and doubled; right hands, straight and looping; and a lightning left hook.
The Tasmanian fighter hurt Mundine in round 3 and pummeled him to the head and body along the ropes. With “The Man” hardly responding, referee Robert Byrd inexplicably stepped in to warn him for leading with his head, buying valuable time.
The pace favoured Geale throughout the middle rounds. The Tasmanian pressured Mundine around the ring, outworking and outlanding him. Even when Mundine chose to exchange, Geale’s were the more eye catching shots.
Mundine succeeded in slowing Geale down a little in the 7th, though it took elbows, headbutts and no small amount of clinching. Even then, the round could have gone to either man.
Round 10 produced brutal exchanges – Mundine hooking, Geale with the overhand right. “Choc” managed to connect a bit more through the championship rounds, but it never seemed like he was really in the fight.
When the scores were finally announced after an agonizing wait, it was Geale who was announced the winner, much to the relief of the Sydney crowd.
On the undercard/televised freakshow, YouTube sensation Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (7-0, 6 KO) knocked out internet competition winner Shane Tilyard (6-7, 6 KO) in an two round heavyweight barnburner. Neither man can box a lick and both men could have gone down at any point in either round, though it was Tilyard who eventually did on a left hook to the body. Round 1 is a Round of the Year candidate/front runner.
In a clash for the Australian cruiserweight title, inexperienced challenger David Aloua (8-1, 5 KO) went down to Daniel Ammann (27-5-1, 6 KO) who was simply to smart and too accurate.
Featherweight “Aussie” Joel Brunker (25-0, 14 KO) had some difficulty dealing with the activity of Mexico’s Ivan Hernandez (26-7-2). Brunker was more effective throughout and got the unanimous decision, though Hernandez didn’t exactly make him look good, which was the idea.
Geale sparring partner Jamie Pittman (22-3, 8 KO) got the best of Zac Awad (18-3-1) and earned a unanimous decision over eight rounds. In a scrappy affair he demonstrated both his class and the tendency to cut and lack of power that will keep him from being anything more than a top domestic fighter.
