mundine v taylor gets personal

[braden]

Shannan Taylor has promised to wage war on Anthony Mundine in their middleweight bout in Wollongong on February 11.

A perfectly amiable press conference to promote the fight turned heated when Mundine announced he had a message for Taylor - "the mouth is the open grave".

In what will ensure an entertaining event at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre, a clearly agitated Taylor suggested he and Mundine fight on the spot "for free".

The pair then briefly traded verbal blows before Mundine's manager Khoder Nasser called a sudden end to the press conference.

Taylor had earlier expressed his deep respect for Mundine's father Tony, declaring him his lifelong boxing idol.

He was similarly respectful of his opponent.

"I don't like him [Anthony] right now, but I won't be trash talking him," he said.

At first Mundine returned the favour, declaring his own respect for Taylor.

"Shannan's been around for a long time, he's got the experience and the credentials," he said.

"I know he has the heart of a lion, so I have to make sure I'm fully prepared for this fight."

The tone of the occasion changed however when Mundine declared: "I've got one line, and one line only, and it's for Shannon - the mouth is the open grave.

"[Taylor] has been talking and I'm going to punish him for it."

Taylor returned fire, declaring "95 per cent of Australians don't like [Mundine]".

"Even little old ladies don't like him, and they usually stay out of things, so when little old ladies don't like you, you must be doing something wrong," he said.

Having overcome a public battle with cocaine addiction and the near disintegration of his professional boxing career, the "Bulli Blaster" Taylor says he sees this fight as crucial to his future financial security.

"This fight is personal, it's just for me, it will set me up," he said.

"This is to get money back that's been taken away from me. I'm ready to go to war."

The fight will serve as an eliminator bout for the WBA World Middlewight Championship, with the winner most likely taking on world champion Felix Sturm in Germany on July 11.

Both fighters remain confident of victory and a trip to Europe.

"Mundine's been talking about going to Germany, he hasn't even beaten me yet," Taylor said.

"I'm getting ready for battle, I'm going to war, and I'm going to Germany."

Mundine was similarly optimistic.

"I won't just beat Taylor, I'll beat Sturm and be the best in the world, that's where I belong," he said.

"My skills are second to none, I am the best, and I'm going to prove it time and time again."

[AntonS]

Gotta do something to drum-up publicity

[RAB2204]

Chocs gonna win ud

[AntonS]

Chocs gonna win ud

By DQ wouldn't surprise me

[Beltane]

Typical drum beating for publicity. Gate tickets and PPV sales must be a bit slow, so why not a "Claytons" feud to move things along.

[Dempseys_Whiskers]

Typical drum beating for publicity. Gate tickets and PPV sales must be a bit slow, so why not a "Claytons" feud to move things along.

Actually, that's surprisingly not the case. Ticket sales are reportedly going very well, as are PPV.

[cace]

Chocs gonna win ud

By DQ wouldn't surprise me

yeh it wouldnt surprise me if he won by dq either
i can see shannon doing something monumentally stupid, after a few rounds of being outclassed

[madball1982]

Shannan loses by DQ when in the fourth round after being battered in the previous three comes out and stabs Mundine in the chest. He then complains like a little girl to the ref and ringside officials and the fight is declared a KO win to Taylor.

[Marlin]

Shannan loses by DQ when in the fourth round after being battered in the previous three comes out and stabs Mundine in the chest. He then complains like a little girl to the ref and ringside officials and the fight is declared a KO win to Taylor.

This sounds familiar!