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Anthony Mundine rolls back the years against Rabchenko

12th November, 2014
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Anthony Mundine will take on Danny Green once more. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)
Roar Guru
12th November, 2014
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1009 Reads

Anthony Mundine breathed new life into his boxing career with an impressive split decision win over Sergey Rabchenko in Melbourne.

It was a fight many, myself included, thought was a step too far for him. Rabchenko came in with an unbeaten record, an 11-year age difference and decent power in his fists. On paper he should have had Mundine’s number.

The Australian’s last five fights have been fairly ordinary. The joke Bronco McKart bout in Vegas, dominated by Daniel Geale in Sydney, the on-again, off-again farce with an elderly Shane Mosley who retired hurt, the win over no-name Gunnar Jackson and then decimated by Josh Clottey.

At 39, Mundine isn’t getting any quicker or faster.

But ‘The Man’ wound back the clock last night at Hisense Arena. He started strongly, counter-punched well and had enough speed to trouble the Belarusian.

His defence was solid, and mentally he was right up for the battle. He started to fade somewhat in the middle to late rounds, but fired back in flashes towards the end of the fight and did enough to deserve the win.

He’s kick-started a career that looked like it was on its last legs. Father time catches up with everyone and after Clottey smashed him in Newcastle in April, the former St George Illawarra five-eighth looked down. A spent force.

But there’s some life in the old dog yet. Where he goes from here is where it gets interesting.

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The win over Rabchenko gives him the WBC Silver light middleweight belt and in range in the rankings of WBC champions Floyd Mayweather. But let’s be honest, a fight with Mayweather won’t happen.

Outside of Australia, a small boxing market, Mundine is not known. He can’t bring the kind of cash to attract Mayweather, the arch capitalist.

The likes of Britain’s Amir Khan would bring a lot more fans and TV money than Mundine would.

‘The Man’ seemed to acknowledge this straight after the fight. In the ring he admitted “I think Floyd is the best and it’s up to him if he wants to fight me”.

A bout with Canelo Alvarez, which Mundine hinted at, is more possible but I don’t think likely either.

There isn’t much upside to Alvarez fighting the Aussie. He doesn’t bring enough money or fame, or a strong belt.

Mundine’s best bet is a bout with Carlos Molina, Ishe Smith, Erislandy Lara or Cornelius Bundrage. Beat one of those quartet and people really start to sit up and take notice. He may need another win to get up on that stage.

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It’s hard to say exactly what Mundine’s focus is at this point – a world title or a cash grab. He joked about getting a few more million in the interview last night. Surely he has more than enough from both his boxing and NRL days to keep him satisfied. I guess we will know when his next move and next opponent are announced.

Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson

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