Mundine looking for big challenge
Posted: 12 Jan 2010, 21:09
BRAD WALTER
January 14, 2010
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Bring it on … Anthony Mundine at home yesterday after his win on Monday. He says he is desperate for a big challenge to keep him motivated.
Bring it on … Anthony Mundine at home yesterday after his win on Monday. He says he is desperate for a big challenge to keep him motivated. Photo: Anthony Johnson
It will be billed as ''Choc from The Block versus Wood from The Hood'', but just when the bout between the two Sydney boxers with Rabbitohs connections is fought depends on whether bigger opportunities arise for Anthony Mundine overseas.
Mundine, a South Sydney junior who until recently had a mentoring role with the Rabbitohs, will pay the club's former fullback and current sponsor Garth Wood $250,000 to step into the ring with him as part of his reward for winning The Contender final on Monday night, but the triple world champion's first priority is securing a big money fight in the US.
As he prepared to undergo surgery today for the troublesome groin and hip problems that restricted him in Monday night's unanimous points win over Rob Medley at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Mundine told the Herald of his need for a big challenge to keep him motivated and his dismay at the judging of a fight he had clearly dominated.
''It's disheartening,'' Mundine said of the scoring of the three judges who awarded him the fight 117-113, 117-115 and 117-112. ''I was more gutted over that than anything else because I clearly dominated … He couldn't touch me, I hit him at will.
''My jab and combinations were strong and fast and my defence was pretty impregnable until I got a bit lazy in the later rounds. There were one or maybe two rounds you could have given him and that's debatable. It is just sad.''
Mundine's renewed frustration with officialdom is likely to further encourage him to seek an overseas bout sooner rather than later - possibly leaving Wood to wait for his chance against the former Dragons star whose footsteps he has followed by quitting the NRL to box.
''I'm The Man so they've all got to wait on me but I'm not going anywhere,'' Mundine said as he relaxed at home yesterday with his family. ''The only thing I'm striving for is bigger fights. If something bigger comes up, like Kelly Pavlik, then I will take that, but Garth will definitely be one of my next few fights. I'm not going to badmouth him because I respect Garth and his family, he's got himself to where he is and he's earned the right, so we are going to get in the ring together whether it happens next or the fight after or the fight after that.
''But it is hard for me to keep getting up for these fights, because for the guys I'm fighting it's the fight of their lives but for me it's just another fight. I train hard and try to mentally prepare but I can't lift the same way that they do. It's like me fighting Bernard Hopkins or Roy Jones [jnr] or someone like that when they were in their prime …
''I was ready for Medley, you could see how strong I was and how fit I was, but maybe I lost that killer instinct - that 'Eye of the Tiger'. I need a big challenge to get that back.''
While happy to offer Wood a big payday and a chance at glory, Mundine questioned the wrestling-type tactics he was allowed to use in his split-decision win over Sydney Olympian Kariz Kariuki, who was frustrated by being unable to box properly.
''[Wood] is not your ordinary textbook boxer but he does what works for him - getting down and dirty, holding and handling. For me boxing should be boxing, so we've got to address that with the referees.''
January 14, 2010
Ads by Google
AUSTAR Sale
Free Install & No Lock-in Contract*+6 Months Free Sport or Movies tier
www.AUSTAR.com.au
Bring it on … Anthony Mundine at home yesterday after his win on Monday. He says he is desperate for a big challenge to keep him motivated.
Bring it on … Anthony Mundine at home yesterday after his win on Monday. He says he is desperate for a big challenge to keep him motivated. Photo: Anthony Johnson
It will be billed as ''Choc from The Block versus Wood from The Hood'', but just when the bout between the two Sydney boxers with Rabbitohs connections is fought depends on whether bigger opportunities arise for Anthony Mundine overseas.
Mundine, a South Sydney junior who until recently had a mentoring role with the Rabbitohs, will pay the club's former fullback and current sponsor Garth Wood $250,000 to step into the ring with him as part of his reward for winning The Contender final on Monday night, but the triple world champion's first priority is securing a big money fight in the US.
As he prepared to undergo surgery today for the troublesome groin and hip problems that restricted him in Monday night's unanimous points win over Rob Medley at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Mundine told the Herald of his need for a big challenge to keep him motivated and his dismay at the judging of a fight he had clearly dominated.
''It's disheartening,'' Mundine said of the scoring of the three judges who awarded him the fight 117-113, 117-115 and 117-112. ''I was more gutted over that than anything else because I clearly dominated … He couldn't touch me, I hit him at will.
''My jab and combinations were strong and fast and my defence was pretty impregnable until I got a bit lazy in the later rounds. There were one or maybe two rounds you could have given him and that's debatable. It is just sad.''
Mundine's renewed frustration with officialdom is likely to further encourage him to seek an overseas bout sooner rather than later - possibly leaving Wood to wait for his chance against the former Dragons star whose footsteps he has followed by quitting the NRL to box.
''I'm The Man so they've all got to wait on me but I'm not going anywhere,'' Mundine said as he relaxed at home yesterday with his family. ''The only thing I'm striving for is bigger fights. If something bigger comes up, like Kelly Pavlik, then I will take that, but Garth will definitely be one of my next few fights. I'm not going to badmouth him because I respect Garth and his family, he's got himself to where he is and he's earned the right, so we are going to get in the ring together whether it happens next or the fight after or the fight after that.
''But it is hard for me to keep getting up for these fights, because for the guys I'm fighting it's the fight of their lives but for me it's just another fight. I train hard and try to mentally prepare but I can't lift the same way that they do. It's like me fighting Bernard Hopkins or Roy Jones [jnr] or someone like that when they were in their prime …
''I was ready for Medley, you could see how strong I was and how fit I was, but maybe I lost that killer instinct - that 'Eye of the Tiger'. I need a big challenge to get that back.''
While happy to offer Wood a big payday and a chance at glory, Mundine questioned the wrestling-type tactics he was allowed to use in his split-decision win over Sydney Olympian Kariz Kariuki, who was frustrated by being unable to box properly.
''[Wood] is not your ordinary textbook boxer but he does what works for him - getting down and dirty, holding and handling. For me boxing should be boxing, so we've got to address that with the referees.''
