The publicity machine surrounding the Anthony Mundine-Daniel Geale fight is going into overdrive, but is this all a smokescreen? Are Aussie boxing fans being taken for a ride again?
Anthony Mundine’s fraud over local fight fans is well known. Main Event, at the behest of promoters, charges pubs in this country more to broadcast a Mundine fight than it does a Floyd Mayweather Jr bout.
No guess who is the greater, more talented, more decorated and more popular boxer of the two. And no wonder why so few pubs now no longer show boxing.
Boxing supporters in Australia have gotten used to being served up crap. Of our fighters taking on bums and stiffs to protect their careers and beef up their inflated records.
For example, look at Mundine’s last fight against 41-year old Bronco McKart. A farcical event.
‘The Man’ has faced his fair share of nobody opponents, like Xavier Toliver, Carlos Adan Jerez, Alejandro Gustavo Falliga and others. Hardly the calibre of fighters to trouble Australia’s self-claimed “greatest ever athlete”.
But in fairness to Mundine, he is not alone. Pretty much all of our top boxers are doing it.
Danny Green took on Danny Santiago and the damaged Paul Briggs. These were not contests. But they were drummed up to sell lots of tickets and pay-per-view buys. They made a lot of money.
Daniel Geale is no motormouth – but even he has had some safe fights, including a bout against Eromosele Albert.
Fight fans are crying out for genuine clashes, real wars with real titles on the line.
Mundine ducked his last real opponent in Austin Trout in a WBA title match. Trout has since go on to face much bigger and better opponents including Miguel Cotto.
For Mundine, Geale is his best shot. He can make a ton of money and possibly capture Geale’s IBF middleweight crown, and with it some credibility. The chance for proper fights, not dressed-up wannabe contests, will increase if beats the Tasmanian.
For Geale, Mundine is a money-spinner and little else. Yes, he can avenge his only professional loss. But greater fights and greater opponents are out there. Take Sergio Martinez, or Gennady Golovkin.
Martinez is the WBC middleweight champ and an Argentine legend. Golovkin is the undefeated 30-year old Kazakh who holds the WBA and IBO middleweight belts. He is the man Geale declined to fight to face Mundine.
Mundine vs Geale should be a decent fight. Putting all the hype and hyperbole aside, it should be an actual contest. But is it the best fight we’ve had in this country in years? Doubtful. Is it the biggest fight ever staged in Australia? No way.
For that, look at Jack Johnson vs Tommy Burns in 1908 for the world heavyweight title.
But that’s what we are being told and being sold. And I’ve had a gutful.
Aussie lovers of the sweet science want to see our fighters taking on the best the world has to be offer. We want to see our best and brightest battling for world titles, not trumped belts or washed-up opponents.
You only need to look at someone like Michael Katsidis, who has rumbled with the best, not always won but never backed down, to see what boxing can potentially be: Wars in the ring.
So let’s enjoy Mundine vs Geale and let’s see a real contest. But let’s also get some perspective and not lose our heads – there are bigger fish and bigger fights out there, the ones that most boxing fans really want to see.
Shake-It!
Guest
Dude you seriously need your eyes checked ROFL LMAO I think you and Anthony Mundine are the only ones that think he won that fight, results were unanimous by the judges, and even Mundines home crowd agreed. Everybody loses at some stage and if you need some help getting it through your head that ANTHONY MUNDINE LOST TO DANIEL GEALE your GP can refer you to a counsellor. All the best with that, I hope they can help you!
Laney
Guest
LMAO....Mate you must have been watching a different fight ....
MC AnzaK
Guest
Anthony won that fight hands down, just like he said corrupt judges ruining a great sport. Anthony's the best, he's the MAN ... The true winner
Shake-It!
Guest
Happiest night ever, so glad Geale won and Yes he is Better in all aspects!
Shake-It!
Guest
I couldn't agree more Davico, I am a parent and would never let anyone with such twisted views teach my children. Hell No!
davico
Guest
If you are a teacher, then I feel sorry for your students and their parents who are trusting their kids futures to the likes of you!! Heaven help our youth!!!
The_Sports_Fan
Roar Rookie
Not that he will ever fight Floyd, but if he did, Mundine would barely lay a glove on him. He won't beat Geale and then he can just continue to fight has-beens and nobodys to his little heart's content.
The_Sports_Fan
Roar Rookie
Most Mundine fights are a sham. He tends to fight nobodys and then thinks he's amazing but this one is a beauty! Mundine WILL lose to Geale because Geale is better.
Ahmad
Guest
I don't thing Anthony mundine have chance to win Daniel Geale hi will knock him down on the 5 round no problems easy fight to night
Laney
Guest
The biggest sham of the lot is Boxing itself its run by criminals and thugs , if you want to watch real men in a real fight watch the UFC.
Shake-It!
Guest
It's not tall poppy syndrome, it's just when one constantly acts like a stooge and gets nasty, talking about someone's family unnecessarily negative it shows who they are as a person and that doesn't really seem like a great sportsman to me. Talk a lot a smack is one thing but picking on children culture cos they are lighter skin that him, that's just hurtful. Anyway should be a close and exciting fight.
Godfrey
Guest
Modern boxing is a shot duck. There are so many world titles on offer that they mean virtually nothing. 40 years ago there was 8 weight divisions and 1 world title in each division. Today there are 15 weight divisions and 5 or 6 world titles in each division. When Tony Mundine fought Carlos Monzon for the world title in 1974, there was only one middleweight title in the world. Today there is half a dozen of them. Most of the world champions today are pretend ones and their titles mean virtually nothing. 5 champions in each weight division today. 1 champion in each division in yesteryear. Pretend champions v a real one.
MC AnzaK
Guest
Roresome Said I miss the good old days of heavyweight fights from Vegas creating great real challenges and proving good viewing across the globe. So true ay... It's like super middle weight has been the heavyweight for years... Maybe that's why UFC is so popular... That sport s&$@ me to tears... But so many of my mates are into it now... Two semi naked men rolling around on the floor hugging... But look at the marketing for it, it's incredible, magazines, promotions, I bet there is an add for a shi^%% UFC fight during the Mundine Geale fight Go Munners
Carl Unger
Roar Pro
Anthony Mundine does what in the professional wrestling industry calls "Promos" Basically you talk alot of smack without really meaning it and use all the personality you have in front of the cameras to promote the fight and get PPV buys. The hype is similar to pro wrestling hype.
browny
Guest
you're humble too arent ya mate?
Steven Peters
Guest
so true UFC is the true combat sport even the early days, mundine wouldn't last the first minute of the first round against an mma fighter, claiming to be the best athlete ever, just have a look how an mma fighter prepares for a fight.
Steven Peters
Guest
end of the day it is what it is, a fight between 2 boxers. it is entertainment, i must say, i am just as bad as everyone else i bag mundine with his chosen opponents over the years, and the stupid comments he has made, and i never go out of my way to watch his fights, and then curiosity always gets the better of me and then i Google the result.
MC AnzaK
Guest
Good article and good comments. In a nutshell this is no sham... Neither fighter is a push over... I also believe it's this biggest thing since green Mundine... Well at least from a marketing point of view... Plus this has a belt up for grabs so it should be bigger and better hey, there was no belt for the green fight. Geale is arguably the best up and coming boxer Australia has had in years... And Mundine whether people like him or not is the greatest boxer Australia has ever had and one of the best promoters of the sport. Lets face it... Floyd is the ultimate goal. And with this win and maybe a year or two and a bit of luck either of these boxers could face him... That would just be a dream come true. I hope it's Anthony. The greatest australian sportsman in history, and more people hate him then stars in the sky, infact multi million dollar media companys have disassociated themselves with him... But he says it and he believes it... He talks and he jabs... And to every non believer out there Munners will smash Geale and Floyd you're next baby... And what are all those haters going to say when he wins that!!! Nothing!!! You will be too caught up in shame because your tall poppy sindrome negative comments in the past don't mean Sh&)...
Shake-It!
Guest
I had 10 minutes to edit my comment, however my battery decided to shut down after about 30 seconds I do apologise!
Geoffy-Geoff
Guest
Guys / Gals.....Some of you obvioulsy have a fair grasp of boxing and related concepts, but really, most you need to SERIOUSLY attend to your literacy and use of the written word. But for what it's worth...Geale gets it on points. I love youse all.