Mundine Sweeps \”Snakeboy\” Aside Down Under

Deposed ex-WBA Super Middleweight boss Anthony Mundine made a resounding statement last night in Canberra, Australia when he dismantled a willful Rashid “Snakeboy” Matumla within six eventful rounds at the Institute of Sports Stadium. The Tanzanian import tried mightily to get the bigger, stronger Mundine off his game but lacked the necessary concussive force in his efforts and was peppered with counterpunches. It was a dented and damaged Matumla that entered into the sixth and final round and the former regional titlist at light middle was unable to fend off Mundine when the Sydney man finally went into a sustained offensive drive. In the end it was several right hands which dropped the African onto the canvas and forced the referee to call a halt to the action. Matumla beat the count but by that time had absorbed far too much punishment.

A dominating performance was expected from Mundine and “The Man” didn’t disappoint. But how helpful slugging a thirty seven year old blown up light middle around the ring will be to the former WBA champ’s future prospects remains to be seen. Such an exercise kept the ring rust at bay for the thirty year old boxer to be sure but it will likely be Mundine’s upcoming sparring session with another former champion, Roy Jones Jr, that will prepare “Choc” for the proposed contests with either domestic hardman Danny Green or a rematch with current WBA kingpin Mikkel Kessler.

The super middleweight division is currently one of the more interesting weight classes right now and the upcoming potential super fight between WBO supremo Joe Calzaghe and IBF titlist Jeff Lacy this November should go some way to clearing up a fractured world title picture.