Mundine takes care of McKart
Roar Guru Anthony Mundine recorded a seventh round stoppage win over 41-year old journeyman Bronco McKart in Las Vegas today, but a publicly stated shot against Floyd Mayweather Jr doesn’t look any closer.
Mundine made his US debut at the Palms, in front of a small crowd, and what could hardly be described as a professional broadcast – amateur would be more accurate.
The Aussie fighter would have been used to much better venues and Mundine watchers treated to better commentators and quality coverage at his previous bouts.
Mundine arrived in the ring, with Native American performers preceding him, and was cagey in the opening rounds. In rounds two and three the 37-year old started to find his feet and it became obvious that McKart had little that was going to trouble the former NRL star.
McKart had been hand-picked as an easy opponent, someone who has taken many shots in his career and had five fights since March 2008, and he did not disappoint.
Mundine used his quick hands and speed to good effect, and McKart seemed to have no answer in the later rounds as the fight progressed.
Then in the seventh round Mundine stepped up his pace and ripped to McKart’s body, dropping him with a right hook, following that up with another knockdown and then the third and final knockdown before the end of the round. Mundine had finished his US debut with a solid but unspectacular win.
Heavyweight legend Larry Holmes was one of the fight commentators and while he was impressed with ‘The Man’s ability, he was dismayed with Mundine’s tendancy to take breaks during rounds and let McKart off the hook.
My verdict? If Mundine wanted to entertain the US crowd, I don’t think he succeeded. Yes he did win, but considering his opponent and the fact he couldn’t secure an early round win, it won’t have set too many people on fire.
Floyd Mayweather Snr was on hand and entered the ring after the fight. When interviewed post-fight he said “Mundine’s chances of facing Floyd are slim to none. Floyd’s the man to meet, if you wanna get beat.” It’s hard to argue with the former boxer.
Mundine clearly has ability but at 37 he is in decline.
He has left his run at the US too late in his career. Mundine says he is in the best shape of his career, but that is a line that all fighters spin. He would have had a better chance of conquering the US at a younger age.
Proving people wrong, though, seems to a love of Mundine’s, and surely he will aim to keep doing it. Fights against someone like Austin Trout would be a much more accurate test of where ‘The Man’ is really at.
Twitter: johnnyddavidson
The Crowd Says (15) | Page 1 of Comments
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July 15th 2012 @ 9:27pm
Andrew Potter said | July 15th 2012 @ 9:27pm | Report comment
I was surprised by the fact that more of the fans were cheering for Mundine.
July 15th 2012 @ 9:27pm
ronny said | July 15th 2012 @ 9:27pm | Report comment
anthony mundine is the best fighter weve got he dominated put ona show for the yanks and finished him with beautiful combos in the 7th dropping him 3 times.. give credit when it due he is the best we have and unbelieveable talent.. incredible speed
July 16th 2012 @ 12:36pm
Blacklisted said | July 16th 2012 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
No, sorry ronny, Mundine is an average fighter who won against an average challenger.
If he’s the best fighter Australia has got then may Australian boxing R.I.P.
July 17th 2012 @ 1:09am
NJSurha said | July 17th 2012 @ 1:09am | Report comment
Mundine an Average Fighter, I dont think so Blacklisted. Here’s why…. – Danny Green, (Commonwealth Games and Olympic contender), Daniel Geale(Commonwealth Games , Summer Olypics), Mikkel Kessler(Amateur record 44-7), Sven Ottke (Amaturer record 256-47-5) Sam Solimon ( Amateur 84-11) .
Anthony “THE MAN” Mundine 4 amateur fights aged 17. After his 10th professiona fight he takes on Sven Ottke, it was Sven Ottkes 329th visit to the rng including amateur fights and Anthony Mundines 14th time if you count the four amateur fights. You might not like Mundines swagger, his media personality ,his views or what he looks like, but he was never ever average.
Australian Boxing may literally Rest In Peace when Anthony goes off the boxing scene. Boxing needed a mouth, a personality a mongrel a emotional stirrer with ambition to reach for the stars. Once his light goes out ,will there be someone in Australian boxng who will pick up the Torch? Average Fighter, dont think so.
I remember a picture of Anthony Mundine returning from the US with aMuhammad Ali’s book ” The Greatest” in his hand. He said he got a receipe from Ali, a recipe for success and he implemented this very plan and continues to follow the recipe.
Top NRL Player, World Title Holder in Boxing, Successful entrepeneur, a millionaire overnight of his own making
My grandfather once said to me…win lose or draw, never take a backward step, maybe Anthony overheard him whatever the case …..anyone who fights to get to this level can never be called an average fighter.
July 17th 2012 @ 11:08am
WQ said | July 17th 2012 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Well said NJSurha!
Regardless of like him or hate him you are foolish to ignore his talent!
July 15th 2012 @ 10:20pm
TC said | July 15th 2012 @ 10:20pm | Report comment
Accurate assessment John. Mundine may be talented in Oz but there are younger and more talented fighters in the junior middle weight division that would frankly make him look like a fool. Go back home Anthony and try and make as much cash as you can
July 16th 2012 @ 12:00am
Damien said | July 16th 2012 @ 12:00am | Report comment
Thanks John,
Your assessment of Mundine’s career so far seems fair to me.
Doing the ‘business’ in boxing is just as importanat as the actual fight and by the looks of it Mundine is trying to get his Mayweather shot by approaching it from all angles. Having the some of the Mayweather Camp attend the fight, talking to ‘Fiddy’ about doing the ‘business’. Getting Mayweather Snr in the ring after the fight to even talk with Mundine is a good sign. There is so much more to be done but it shows that the Mayweather Camp know who Mundine is (even though he is several levels below them on the boxing scale)
Nasser must be working overtime behind the scenes trying to create the path for that fight.
Personally I believe if Mundine even gets a shot at Mayweather he should consider that a huge victory in itself. I don’t think he has a chance but who knows. Miracles do happen sometimes, and in boxing..anything could happen.
July 16th 2012 @ 8:03am
John Davidson said | July 16th 2012 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Thanks Damien.
Agreed, if Mundine got a shot it would be a huge coup. Massive. I think Mayweather is too good but you are right – miracles happen in sport and boxing is in a league of its own.
July 16th 2012 @ 11:35pm
NJSurha said | July 16th 2012 @ 11:35pm | Report comment
I would prefer if the Australian meda did not follow the Man. He is an extraordinary busnessman in the world of indigenous self promotion. Other people dig up our gold and make themselves rich on our land and are seen as empire builders. One stand alone aborginal role model, dont smoke or drink gets his butt kicked media wise almost from day one as he dared to make a name for himself.
The sport writers many of whom have no actual sporting achievements to provide a basis for their expertise are just lucky enough to have the floor, so to speak. I say get in the ring and calll him a bum. I say run a Km or two with him and yell your negative style of public writng as you effortlessly keep up with the man. He actually lives his dream, whilst most of you keyboard warriors write about other people’s dreams.
Some well known aussie sportsmen are forgiven for taking drugs, comitting domestic violence and so on and you hear people say ” we are too hard on our young generation and need more understanding.” And yet what do we get over the Mckart fight this type of wording “in front of a small crowd, and what could hardly be described as a professional broadcast – amateur would be more accurate” as if to portray the Mans attempt for greatness as falling short. So Larry Holmes, Floyd Mayweather Snr, Fifty Cents and some fine US American troops were also present at this amateurish event, I wonder why, oh it must have been to watch the undercard. Sad.
July 17th 2012 @ 8:03pm
NJSurha said | July 17th 2012 @ 8:03pm | Report comment
John, there is a big difference between the word Ducking and Ignoring. I believe Mundine ignored Trout for a greater reason than the belt held by Trout. I have watched Trout fight and Mundine would put him away. I also thought why would Mundine fight someone like Bronco Superman Mckart.
There are a lot of questions.
How on earth did the Mundine camp even come up with someone like him Bronco Mckart anyway. Were they directed towards him?
How did Mundine come to be training in the Mayweather Gym? Why was Mundine forced out of the Mayweather Gym? Where was Roger Mayweather in all of this?
Larry Holmes, 50 cents, Floyd Snr were they all there to see this over the hill, huge australian hate-fan based aboriginal boy from Sydney, or were they there to see Bronco Superman Mckart, apparently an over the hill, underated 65th placed fighter in this weight catergory?
Could there possibly be a plan being hatched by a visionary young man (37) years of age who has polarised himself in a so called dying sport by beating Aussie boxing favorites and being guilty of having and stating in public his own opinions to set the stage for a chance at the American Man, Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Only time will tell. If this is all coincidence, its a good story, but if there is some smoke. Cant wait to see the fire.
July 16th 2012 @ 10:49am
The Greatest Game Of All said | July 16th 2012 @ 10:49am | Report comment
Don’t underestimate the effect of speed in boxing, Mundine is definitely faster than Cotto and Young Canelo and that gives him a big chance. Mayweathers got more important issues at the moment though.
July 16th 2012 @ 11:39am
B.A Sports said | July 16th 2012 @ 11:39am | Report comment
It will be interesting to see if Mayweather looks for his first fight out of prison to be one where he needs a punching bag so he can get a good workout, or if he will go for the block buster straight out of gaol. The former is obviously Mundine’s only shot.
July 16th 2012 @ 2:43pm
Nafe said | July 16th 2012 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
There is a lot of negativity about Mundine here but if I recall, before Mundine fought Green, everyone was saying the exact same thing that Green would end his career etc but Mundine did the job.
At the end of the day you can only beat who is put in front of you. Like him or hate him, Mundine seems to do the job he sets out to do. He has faught the best in Australia and won, he starts his US chapter of his carreer with a win, sure a lowly opponany, but you have to start from the bottom and work up.
July 17th 2012 @ 5:03am
John Davidson said | July 17th 2012 @ 5:03am | Report comment
NJSurha did you watch the fight? If you did, you would agree the broadcast was amateur hour. That is a fact. Mundine’s usual Main Event production are light years better.
I have praised Mundine before and he is a good role model in that he doesn’t drink or smoke and has blazed a trail in two sports. But that doesn’t disguise the fact that he ducked Trout to fight a much weaker opponent in McKart, and it is about backing up your word.
July 17th 2012 @ 10:44am
The Greatest Game Of All said | July 17th 2012 @ 10:44am | Report comment
Amatuer hour? Is Mundine expected to hold the camera and commentate aswell? I thought the Great Larry Holmes had some very good insights and offered some constructive criticism of Anthony’s boxing technique, but he didnt resort to calling him a bum or nobody or average as his own countrymen do.
How do you know he ducked Trout? The word is Trout was making pocket change for his fights and then demands Mundine to cough up? Did he price himself out? Where is Trouts fan base? Who is Trout? Mundine is a businessman, he aint gonna just throw his money away. Trout also fought and beat Frank Lo Porto recently, is anyone accusing Trout of fighting bums?
Mundine fought and beat Bronco McKart, a man that went toe to toe with the likes of Pavlik and Winky Wright who was also at the fight along with 50 cent, Mayweather Snr and Larry Holmes, those are some heavy hitters, he got the attention he was looking for, and he did it without fighting Trout.