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IBF Middleweight Champion Daniel Geale has never had that snapping finisher mentality, which has led to him being overlooked for major fights internationally.
But Geale (29-1-0 15 KO’s) proved last night that his two world title victories against formidable German opponents Felix Sturm and Sebastian Sylvester were no flukes, bullying countryman Anthony Mundine (44-5-0 26 KO’s) enroute to a dream shattering 12 round unanimous decision at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia, retaining his IBF crown.
After a lot of talk by Mundine, at a sluggish age 37, he was incapable of “walking the walk” against the youthful champion, who he managed to edge out in a 2009 collision.
One question that fans are asking is why did Geale beat Mundine? Improvement by Geale or fading by Mundine? It was both.
Mundine looked slower and stiffer against the primed 31 year old, salvaging only a couple rounds on most scorecards. He had his moments, chucking out some counter shots and power flurries but when the chips were down, the bottom line is that Geale’s high volume of work and combos were too much for the aging former world champion.
In the notable co-headliner, veteran cruiserweight Daniel Ammann (27-5-1 6 KO’s) snuck past powerful regional prospect David Aloua (8-1-0 5 KO’s). Aloua went on minor flurries, backing up Ammann regularly, but in the end Ammann’s durability and high activity payed off as he took a wide victory on points, retaining the Australian belt.
In a featured attraction, heavyweight Kimbo Slice (7-0-0 6 KO’s) mauled his way past club fighter Shane Tilyard (6-7-0 6 KO’s). Both men were stunned and nearly put down in round one, which was, oddly enough, an extremely early candidate for “Round of the Year”.
Slice was also badly hurt and nearly out in round two when he controversially tackled Tilyard to stay in the fight. Later in the round a liver shot straight to the obese stomach of Tilyard starched him to the canvas for ten seconds.
Top Aussie featherweight prospect Joel Brunker (25-0-0 14 KO’s) grinded past former world title challenger Ivan Hernandez (26-7-1 17 KO’s) of Mexico. Hernandez put up a fight but Brunker was clearly the better man, grasping control of the bout from the first bell. In the end he chugged through to an eight round shutout decision that placed him into world title contention.
Super middleweight Jamie Pittman (22-3-0 8 KO’s) fought hard and got past Zac Awad (18-3-1 7 KO’s) by a clear decision in a wide victory that opened up the televised bill.
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Corey Quincy is a boxing writer for Saddoboxing his blog Blboxing.com
and more. Email comments to Coreyg100@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter at Quincyboxingfan and like his Facebook page at Boxing Legends.
