IBF Middleweight Champion Geale Defeats Albert In Australia

It was a night of boxing last evening as more that 5,000 fans packed Derwent Entertainment Centre in Hobart on the Australian Island of Tasmania as middleweight Daniel Geale successfully defended his IBF title against Ermosele Albert.

37 year old Miami, Florida based Nigerian Albert came into the bout as IBO Latino middleweight beltholder after failing to win a regional light middle strap on four occasions.

Despite putting his all into the effort, Albert simply could not get to grips with the shorter, much faster and skilled Tasmania born Geale, 30, of Mt. Annan, New South Wales.

For 12 rounds, Geale, who defeated Sebastian Sylvester for the IBF title this past May, practiced a stick and move strategy, frustrating Albert by refusing to stand and trade punches but there were plenty of brief exchanges with both men finding the target.

But despite admitting afterward fighting with an injured right hand, Geale was the busier, more accurate boxer, switching stances and giving angles to prevent Albert from putting together a cohesive offense.

After the 12 rounds were over, Geale swept the scorecards 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112.

The popular Australian improves to 26-1 (15), while Albert drops to 24-5-1 (12).

Geale could be heading into a rematch with former two-time WBA super middle champ Anthony Mundine, who handed Geale his only loss to date two years ago.

The undercard saw ex-WBA middleweight title challenger Jamie Pittman, 21-3 (8), go down to defeat in an upset as the Gosford based southpaw was stopped on cuts in the second by Cameroon born Melbourne resident Serge Yannick for the PABA super middle crown.

Also on the bill, featherweight Joel Brunker, 20-0 (13), stayed undefeated with a hard fought unanimous eight round 78-75, 77-75 and 78-74 points verdict over Reynaldo Belandres, 14-3-2 (9).