Anthony Mundine clears way for Jeff Horn bout after second-round knockout of Tommy Browne
ANTHONY Mundine declared he is “too much, baby” for Jeff Horn after producing one of the most brutal knockouts of his career against Tommy Browne.
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ANTHONY Mundine declared he is “too much, baby” for Jeff Horn after producing one of the most brutal knockouts of his career.
Mundine left Tommy Browne unconscious in the second round of their bout to claim the WBO Oriental middleweight title and pressure Horn into an all-Aussie showdown this year.
Mundine floored Browne with a huge left hook at the end of the second round that left the Campbelltown fighter flat on his back for more than a minute at The Star casino.
It was a statement knockout.
“Jeff Horn, I’m too much, baby,” Mundine said afterwards.
“I think Australian boxing and the whole of Australia would love that domestic showdown.
“He can fight [Terence] Crawford after.
“How I whooped Danny Green is how I’ll whoop Jeff Horn.”
Mundine moves to 48-8 (28 KO) with the win.
Browne began at a fast pace, pressuring Mundine early and forcing him onto the ropes.
Midway through the round Browne landed a big overright hand that Mundine certainly felt, and the underdog then unloaded with a four-punch combination to take the round.
Browne also had success with the overright hand in the second, but towards the end Mundine landed a vicious left, followed by a flurry of hard rights while Browne was prone against the ropes.
Just before the bell rang Browne dropped his guard and Mundine, 42, landed flush on his jaw in a destructive finale.
“I’ve been watching my earlier fights when I was younger and I was putting combinations together and punches together.
“I wanted to bring back the old Choc, bring back the Man, I picked my shots but I wanted to let my hands go when I knew I had him hurt.
“I came in to finish him.”
Browne (35-7-2) eventually rose to his feet and congratulated Mundine before the judge raised the hand of the polarising figure.
Mundine was roundly jeered in the arena as he entered and was introduced to the sellout crowd, in the aftermath of his comments regarding Horn being given more media attention because he is Caucasian and racial discrimination against indigenous Australians.
Mundine smiled as the audience booed his introduction, but after his emphatic win urged everyone to “enjoy your holidays and stay safe”.
“I want to be humble with this win, I know how hard fighters work, I know Tommy left nothing spared to prepare for fight me, and I was the same,” Mundine said.
“I caught him with a good punch tonight, what can I say?”
Mundine is hoping to finalise a deal to Horn, but the WBO welterweight champion is deep in negotiations to fight undefeated pound-for-pound king Crawford in the United States in April.
It has been revealed that Manny Pacquaio, who Horn defeated to become world champion, is also in talks to feature on that same card.
Mundine is expected to leave for South Africa next week as a participant in Channel Ten’s I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! alongside old foe Green.