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Daniel Geale retained his IBF middleweight crown with a win against American Eromosele Albert in Hobart on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Tasmanian outlasted Albert to claim a unanimous victory on points in front of more than 5,000 at the Derwent Entertainment Centre.
Geale looked too nimble for an opponent seven years his senior, and took everything Albert threw at him.
It was the first time Geale defended the title he claimed from Germany’s Sebastian Sylvester in May.
“I hope you guys like a war, because goddamn that was a war,” Geale said.
“My right hand was buggered the whole way through, and he’s a tough guy.
“I told everyone before that I’m not here to take easy fights. This guy was a tough guy – he gave me a real fight.”
It was Geale’s 25th win from his 26 bouts, and just his third professional fight in his home state.
Geale said he battled through the pain of an injury to his right hand.
“It’s just a little thing that happened in training … it’s nothing too major, it just hurts every time I punch,” he said.
“I caught him with a couple of good left hooks too.”
Geale was pleased with the way he nullified Albert’s big-hitting style.
“I made it hard for him and that was my plan,” he said.
“I wasn’t just going to sit there and let him tee off because that’s what he wanted to do.”
Albert said he was frustrated with Geale’s evasive tactics.
“It’s difficult to fight someone who doesn’t want to fight,” he said.
“Daniel Geale is a pretty good fighter, a different fighter from me. He’s very technical and boxed very well.
“It’s tough to trap him down sometimes. He’d switch to left, and then he’d switch to right.”
Geale said the parochial crowd made a big difference.
“5,000 screaming Tasmanians is so much better than 5,000 screaming Germans, I can tell you,” he said.
Geale said he would take some time off before making plans on his next fight.
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