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Top Aussie middleweights Daniel Geale and Jarrod Fletcher go head-to-head at Sydney’s Horden Pavillion. Join The Roar for all the action from 7:30pm (AEDT) as we cover the main event.
Fighter: Daniel Geale
The former IBF and WBA world title holder is coming off a stunning third round loss to Gennady Golovkin in New York.
‘GGG’ put Geale down early in their tussle at Madison Square Garden, absorbing Geale’s shot as the same time as he delivered a devastating knockout blow.
The Aussie got back to his feet but was dazed and did not continue. It was a tough night for Geale who was stepping up to face the man many say is the best fighter on the planet.
With two defeats in his past three fights, including the close loss of his world title to Darren Barker last year, this is a key moment for Geale. At 33 years of age with 30 wins from 33 fights, he has little left to prove.
It will be interesting to see what motivation he has left and how he responds from that one-sided encounter in New York. This is his first fight since the defeat to Golovkin.
Geale and Fletcher have known each other for years, have sparred countless times, so it should be a close fight. The Tasmanian has the edge in experience, particularly with world-class boxers, but apart from that there is little left to separate them.
Fighter: Jarrod Fletcher
Two years younger than Geale, Fletcher had an impressive amateur career but only turned pro five years ago. Since then he has built an 18-2 record, his only defeats coming against England’s Billy Joe Saunders back in 2012 and most recently against American Daniel Jacobs in August.
That loss against Jacobs, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, was for the vacant WBA middleweight crown and the Australian was put down in the fifth round.
Like Geale he will want to rebound strongly after a defeat. The Queenslander won gold at the Commonwealth Games, just like Geale, and was a talented soccer player in his youth.
A win for the supremely fit ‘Left Jab’ over Geale would put him back up the world rankings and in contention for another world title shot. A loss for the 31-year old, currently ranked third in Australia by BoxRec behind Sam Soliman and Geale, would be a big blow.
The match-up
Neither fighter is a particularly big puncher and not known for their knockout percentage. Both are technically strong and athletic types and like to pressure opponents with their work rates.
There is little difference in height and reach, with Fletcher a centremetre taller.
Geale is vastly more experienced, having fought numerous times for world titles and around the globe. How he handles the pressure, as well as his ring smarts, might give him a slight advantage in a fight where each opponent will know their rival’s style intimately.
Prediction: Geale on points in a close bout.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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