Boxing In Australia: Wood vs. Mundine Rematch Tonight

There’s a huge rematch talking place this Wednesday at Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre as two time former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine will look to show that his shock defeat to Grant Wood last December was simply a fluke.

Prior to his amazing upset of Mundine, Wood, 10-1-1 (6), had never faced anything close to the level of competition involved in taking on “The Man”, but got the chance due to the publicity received from winning the Aussie version of “The Contender”.

In their first bout, Wood initially had difficulty with the quicker, far more experienced Mundine as long as there was distance between the two but the bigger, stronger prospect began to rush inside and was able to land awkward, yet hard right hands.

By the third frame, the bout began to get rough with Mundine holding in clinches and Wood responding with rabbit punching as the two also began to argue after a clash of heads resulted in Wood becoming cut.

The fourth saw Mundine’s greater abilities still controlling the action but Wood was managing to turn the bout more and more into a brawl, where he could bully the former world champ on the inside.

By the fifth, the contest had turned into a free for all with a great deal of holding and mauling in the clinches by both. Along the ropes, Wood suddenly managed a right to the temple followed by a left hook to the jaw and Mundine slumped to the canvas and could not beat the count.

Amazingly, Wood had pulled off an upset no one had predicted but will he be able to once again defeat Mundine?

It might be difficult as Mundine, 40-4 (24), will undoubtedly plan stick to boxing on the outside and not get into the trenches as he had in the first bout.

Wood needs to cut off the ring in his pursuit of Mundine and make the soon to be 36 year old veteran work every minute of every round, reducing Mundine’s stamina and forcing another rumble where his lack of polished skills won’t come into play.

This should be a very exiting matchup as Mundine will know he’s finished at world level if he can’t erase his previous loss to Wood.