Garth Wood’s attempt to destabilise Daniel Geale with a cheeky head butt ahead of their Aussie middleweight showdown tomorrow night should backfire spectacularly.
Wood and Geale meet at Sydney’s Horden Pavillion and after a bitter lead-up to the fight Wood tried a butt on Geale as the two fighters squared off following the weigh-in.
It was the culmination of a war of words leading up to the February 19 bout. Often these kind of hostilities are staged but this time there seems to be some lingering animosity between the two.
Regardless, Geale has proven before that he won’t let his opponents get under his skin.
Anthony Mundine tried and spectacularly failed early last year, mocking Geale’s heritage and his wife’s before their January bout. ‘The Man’ wanted to get inside Geale’s head but just ended up getting soundly beaten.
All things considered, it should be the same result tomorrow.
Wood is not in the same class as Geale. He is a scrappy, limited brawler however who does possess some power. Mundine found that out in their first fight.
Geale has the edge in skill, experience and speed. A superior boxer, if the Tasmanian relies on his footwork and nous, avoiding Wood’s attempts to turn it into a street brawl or wrestling match, and deciding to fight intelligently, he should cruise to a points win.
Wood has only been fighting since 2007 and has had just 16 bouts. The 35-year old has not been in the ring with the same pedigree of opponents that Geale has, bar Mundine and Sam Soliman.
The former IBF champ, on the other hand, had a long amateur career along with 31 pro fights. Geale has won world titles in Germany and stands at the brink of more title shots possibly against Felix Sturm or Gennady Golovkin – if he can past Wood.
The 32-year old’s last fight was against Englishman Darren Barker in the US in August, where he lost his IBF crown by split decision. It was a close run thing.
After knocking Barker down early in the fight with a crippling rip to the body, he took his foot off the gas and the Englishmen roared back, just edging a close decision. Geale won’t be as careless this time.
Wood’s knockout power must be respected, as well as his heart. The former NRL player will be on Geale like a moth to a flame from the opening bell.
But Geale’s class and superior ability should prevail. Bigger challenges overseas await as long as he navigates past this local foe. A bright future back at the top of the middleweight world food chain would disappear if Wood pulls off a massive upset.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter at johnnyddavidson
John Davidson
Roar Guru
Thanks High Shot
The Grafter
Guest
Purely objective Branna, but the fighter went from having two of the big three belts, to zero all within two fights. He is now back in the pack fighting bums where he should of been aiming at Martinez, and would of been a chance to hold the three. Martin Murray fought him to a close loss last April in Argentina. Daniel Geale has been very poorly managed. As for a profile in Australia? Why bother when the media is obsessed with a certain other middleweight. Who knew of Fletcher and Blake Caparella winning overseas two weeks ago? Ask Michael Katsidis (fights again next month) or Robbie Peden about profiles in Australia. A profile in Australia is only worthy of relinquishing a world title when one can command consistent Main Event PPV's as Mundine can. Totally agree about GGG. He is the fighter they are avoiding, although I believe DG has 'called him out'. If so, and it goes ahead, it could make or break Geale.
The High Shot
Roar Pro
I always enjoy your boxing articles, John.
Branna
Guest
Grafter I see where you are coming from for most of it, but I don't see how you can possibly start to believe that Geale should have retained his belt against Barker. I watched the fight and Barker should have won unanimously. Her got dropped once and lost the twelfth round, but Barker was still the clear winner. Further, I can totally understand why Geale fought Mundine over GGG. He was being paid 20 times as much money to fight Mundine. GGG would have knocked him out. Fighting Mundine gave Geale a name in Australia. He also wanted to avenge the only loss of his career
Jeremy
Guest
Agree with The Grafter but I also think disqualification could be on the cards if Wood starts using illegal tactics in the ring. Might happen in the mid to latter rounds when he tires and is getting outboxed by Geale.
The Grafter
Guest
This is a major step down for Geale (perhaps the 800k Woods backers had laid out to bring Martin Murray out may of sweetened it) whom I believe has been poorly managed over the past two years. Instead of relinquishing his WBA (now held by GGG who Queenslander Jared Fletcher won on his most recent undercard in Monte Carlo) for a two million dollar purse to slip back and fight Mundine, then losing his IBF belt to Barker (a terrible decision considering its the challenger that should always have to dominate any points decision to win any belt), Geale finds himself fighting an at best, journeyman that took up boxing as a second sport. In Woods favour is his toughness and desire, however he is a VERY limited boxer that would of been used as a sparring partner for Daniel Geale up until the last twelve months. Doe to the points made in the second paragraph where Daniel Geale should of been lining up a unification fight against WBC future hall of Famer Sergio Martinez (whom at 38 is well past his prime), he has gone backwards to the current No 36 middleweight in the world. Perhaps its appropriate its at the Hordon Pavilion......... Geale to win on points 120-108.