Danny Green beats Anthony Mundine in controversial majority decision
The fall-out from Friday night’s boxing bout between Danny Green and Anthony Mundine has continued. Warning: strong language
The fall-out from Friday night’s boxing bout between points winner Danny Green and Anthony Mundine continued on Saturday with Mundine suggesting he may appeal the result and also calling Green a “bitch”.
“I know I whipped his arse again,” Mundine, speaking on the Caravan Conversations podcast, said.
“I whipped his arse for the second time two-nil, two zero. It ruins the credibility of the sport judging like this, officiating like this. It dampens a great sport, man.
“I did what I had to do. My passion got the better of me at times. I didn’t think that I was going to back him up, but I was backing him up. Basically, he was being a bitch. I wanted to fight, to engage, and all he wanted to do was to hold.”
Green, who said after the majority decision there was “no chance” he won by one judge’s eight points, was magnanimous after his win.
“He’s a class act, man. I have always liked watching him fight,” Green said of Mundine.
“I can tell you now, he’s got no shit in him. He’s a goer, because I hit him with a couple of good shots and he came back hard.
“He’s digging hard and really trying to put me away. And as a fighter, you become endeared to the bloke.’’
Mundine ruled out a third bout between the pair in an interview with Fairfax Media.
“What’s the point? The same shit could happen again,” Mundine said. “Because of what I said in the past and my out-of-the-ring characteristics in terms of voicing my opinion, it played against me.
“It’s not [handled] in a professional manner, it’s like they pre-judge. I make it hard for myself or they make it hard for me. They don’t judge me fairly.”
Earlier Mundine was seething at the scorecard of the 98-90 judge. Adding to Mundine’s angst, a photo of the scorecard showed the 96-94 judge awarded Green a maximum 10 points in a round when he was penalised a point for elbowing.
“I thought I won that fight … but history will tell a different story,” Mundine said.
“People know in their hearts … they know who was the better man.’‘
Green admitted during the fight he was uncertain who was winning, but believed the result was just.
“I was throwing more shots,” he said.
“I was throwing harder shots. I was throwing the more aggressive shots. I was landing some clean shots.”
Green was amazed he threw any shots at all - seven weeks ago, he didn’t even think he would make it into the ring.
Green kept a back injury secret from all but his inner circle. “I couldn’t put my shoes and socks on seven weeks ago,” he said. “I had three epidural cortisones [injections] before I left to come over to the Melbourne training camp.
“It was a massive battle just to get in that ring. I didn’t think I was going to get there, really didn’t think I was going to make it.” Green said daily treatment allowed him to top his career with his sweetest victory.
“Fighters, like all contact sports, you have got to be a warrior and you have got to through a shitload of pain and shitload of torment to your body,” he said.
“That is why I’m just so elated, pretty emotional to be able to do it because eight weeks ago we didn’t think we were going to make the fight.” He now retires, contented.
“I have got a lot to be grateful for,” Green said, “’I’m healthy still, got a healthy family and friends.
“And I live in a great country and have bread and butter on the table. “I don’t have anything to complain about, mate.”
AAP
Earlier report:
Danny Green has beaten Anthony Mundine in the final clash of their bitter boxing rivalry.
Green won via a majority points decision at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, exacting belated revenge for his 2006 loss to Mundine.
However, many observers thought Mundine had done enough to take the fight.
The 43-year-old West Australian triumphed in a desperately tight fight, which the judges scored 94-94; 96-94 and 98-90, in what is expected to be the final fight of both boxer’s careers.
Green capitalised on his weight advantage of up to four kilograms against Mundine, his strength countering Mundine’s trademark speed in a largely even bout.
Whether Mundine made good on his pledge to refuse to stand for the national anthem before the bout was unknown as both fighters remained in their dressing rooms while Advance Australia Fair was sung.
Within 90 seconds of the fight getting underway, Green crumbled from a cheap shot from Mundine, who cracked him in the jaw when his rival wasn’t looking as the referee attempted to break the fighters.
Green was dazed and examined by the ringside doctor before the fight continued - both fighters traded equal blows in the initial four rounds, none overly damaging though Green did land two telling uppercuts.
Mundine, in his first fight since November 2015 and subsequent hip surgery, clipped Green with a sweet right in the fifth but there was little to split the ageing boxers.
Mundine struck with two powerful rights in the seventh round, during which Green was penalised for continued use of his elbow.
Green started the eighth strongly but also received a brief flurry from Mundine when on the ropes and the ninth and 10th were also desperately tight rounds. Both fighters will pocket up to $10 million each from the bout between the four- time world champion Green and three-time world champion Mundine. And while both are past their prime, the end to their bitter rivalry was watched by the second-largest pay-per-view television audience reported in Australia - eclipsed only by their stoush 11 years ago.
HOW THE FIGHT UNFOLDED
12.12am: Green wins
Well, we did say that it was going to be interesting to see how the judges scored this one!
Not sure what the judge who scored the fight 98-90 was watching (seriously?), but I guess we can’t be too surprised at the 94-94 and 96-94 scores. It was a close fight throughout, Green undoubtedly winning the opening exchanges before Mundine began to take control later in the fight.
Green tells the crowd that “this has nothing to do with black or white”, that boxing is a sport and that he “wanted to fight another man”. Mundine, obviously disappointed with the decision, is already making his way back to the locker room and Green calls on the crowd to give him a round of applause for putting on a terrific show.
In spite of the early cheap shot, Green dismisses suggestions this was a dirty fight, saying “all fights are dirty”. He thanks his corner and his family.
Commentator Barry Michael says he disagreed with the judges’ decision, saying he had Mundine winning the fight easily. He said Mundine was continually landing the jab and not allowing Green to land clean shots.
News Corp journalist Paul Kent says Mundine clearly won the fight, with Green barely landing a clean shot all night.
There’s vision of Mundine in his locker room right now, tears streaming from his eyes as he’s consoled by family and friends. Trying telling Mundine this fight was only about money.
Here is your winner tonight. Don't care what the judges say. #MundineGreen2 https://t.co/KJclzy4xYe pic.twitter.com/lkJfyI03V8
— Daniel Sankey (@Daniel_Sankey) February 3, 2017
11.59pm: Down to the judges
RESULT: Danny Green defeats Anthony Mundine via majority decision (94-94, 96-94, 98-90)
11.56pm: Round Ten
The fighters embrace to start the 10th and raise each other’s gloves to the crowd. That’s good to see, because there’s been plenty of bad blood in this fight, even though it’s developed into a nice contest in the past few rounds. Green scores the first punch of consequence, a left that stops Mundine in his tracks, but Mundine isn’t backing away. Green throws a wild punch and falls to the canvas but it’s no knockdown. Big shots again from Mundine who’s going for the kill in this final round. He dances away from a right hand and follows up with another strong jab. Green’s face is bloodied up but he continues to push forward. Ten seconds left and Mundine lands a right. Both fighters raise their fists in victory and we’ll have to wait to see how the judges scored it. For the record, we think Mundine has done enough ... but will not be surprised if the judges see it the other way, or if it’s even a draw.
Round: Mundine 10-9
Unofficial The Australian Total: Mundine 95-93
11.51pm: Round Nine
Mundine times a nice left hook that lands as Green charges in to start the round. Another strong right hand by Mundine as Green is back up on the ropes. Green looks for the clinch and tries to land uppercuts, but can only hit gloves. Mundine lands two good rights and Green is really starting to fatigued. He charges forward again, but cops brutal combination before he can force his way into a linch. A good right landed by Green and Mundine responds with some wild lefts and rights, which only hit shoulders. Still anyone’s fight.
Round: Mundine 10-9
Unofficial The Australian Total: Mundine 85-84
11.47pm: Round Eight
Green charges to begin round eight, landing a couple of decent shots and forcing Mundine onto the ropes. Mundine seizes the centre of the ring off the break and lands a good right hook of his own that’s answered by a stiff Green uppercut shortly afterwards. The fighters paint a vastly different physical picture - Green is beginning to gasp for air while Mundine looks fresh. Mundine lands a left and a right as he backs Green onto the ropes, but the West Australian is able to hold on and get out of trouble. Good round for Mundine. This is close on my card.
Round: Mundine 10-9
Unofficial The Australian Total:75-75
11.44pm: Round Seven
Thirty seconds into round seven and Mundine forces Green back against the ropes, landing a hard right. He lands another hard right which rocks Green, who fights his way out of trouble. A bit of messy work in the clinch and the referee spots an elbow from Danny Green, immediately deducting a point which could prove crucial at the end of this bout. It’s a difficult one to score folks ... this looks like a 10-8 round for Mundine, thanks to the point deduction, but who knows who the judges are going to see this at the end of 10 rounds.
Round: Mundine 10-8
Unofficial The Australian Total: Green 66-65
11.43pm: That punch from the first round
11.40pm: Round Six
Green noticeably trying to lift his volume of punches in this round, throwing head-body combinations as Mundine continues to work his jab. The fighters tie up twice and again it looks like Mundine might throw an illegal shot off the break, but he holds. A minute to go in the round and again they tie up, Mundine throwing rights to Green’s head in the clinch until they’re separated. Close round and could go either way, but lean to Green.
Round: Green 10-9
Unofficial The Australian Total: Green 58-55
11.36pm: Round Five
Ladies and gentlemen, this fight is now a contest. Green’s face is getting bloody, with claret dripping from his nose, the result of those hard jabs in rounds three and four. Mundine now owns the centre of the ring, with Green taking breathers in between sporadic throws of that big right hand. A strong left again landed by Mundine, and it’s a close round ... but probably just stolen by Mundine.
Round: Mundine 10-9
Unofficial The Australian Total: Green 48-46
11.31pm: Round Four
And here comes the Mundine jab. The momentum starts to change in round number four as Mundine begins to move Green around the ring, Green desperately looking for the big shot as Mundine skips away from trouble. Mundine lands a a right and they tie up, Green taking a knee, but referee Frank Garza rules it wasn’t a knockdown. A much better round for Mundine, but the fight is not what you’d call a spectacle.
Round: Mundine 10-9
Unofficial The Australian Total: Green 39-36
11.27pm: Round Three
A better start for Mundine in round three, who’s beginning to work off his jab, while Green continues to charge forward and corner Mundine on the ropes. One has to wonder how much that illegal shot took out of Green in round one - he’s already looking fatigued. He’s still the aggressor in this fight, though, and he landed his best punch of the round - a sharp short right to the head - just before the bell, a punch which may have pinched him the round. We’ll give it to him.
Round: Green 10-9
Unofficial The Australian Total: Green 30-26
11.24pm: Round Two
Green appears to have fully recovered from the Mundine cheap shot and he’s again the aggressor in the centre of the ring. Referee Frank Garza is forced to continually separate the fighters as a scrappy contest threatens to turn ugly. Green continues to pressure Mundine, who again lands an illegal blow, this time to the back of Green’s head. Both fighters need to take a deep breath - this isn’t the exclamation mark either of them wants on their careers.
Round: Green 10-9
Unofficial The Australian Total: Green 20-17
#MundineGreen2 #cowardspunch pic.twitter.com/YjueDdxnra
— Thiso (@Thiso76) February 3, 2017
11.20pm: Round One
Green immediately takes the centre of the ring and Mundine is quickly forced to hold on as Green unleashes a flurry. The fighters again hold and as he’s trying to separate them, Mundine lands a cheap shot and Green is down! The doctor takes a close look at Green and the fight is allowed to continue but Green was noticeably hurt. The referee deducts a point from Mundine for the illegal blow and the fight is allowed to continue. Green survives but already this fight has delivered the unexpected.
Unofficial The Australian Total: Green 10-8
11.15pm:
Ladies and gentlemen, we are moments away. We’ll provide round by round updates until the conclusion of the bout, as well as our opinion on who won the round. Good luck to both fighters!
11.10pm: Huge cheers for Green
Vision of Green’s most famous victory, his first round KO of the legendary Roy Jones Jr, plays on the big screens at the Adelaide Oval as Danny Green makes his way to the ring to Men At Work’s Land Down Under.
Huge cheers from the crowd as Green emerges from the tunnel, singing along with the music and looking exceptionally relaxed. A wink for a supporter and Green climbs into the ring, ready to put a full stop on the biggest rivalry in Australian boxing.
11.05pm: Mundine enters the ring
First man to emerge is the “official challenger” Anthony Mundine. If you’re wondering why he’s the official challenger, even though he defeated Green almost 11 years ago, it’s because there is an Australian cruiserweight title on the line tonight.
Mundine raises a fist to the crowd and he makes his way to the ring flanked by his father and coach, Tony Mundine.
At a tick under 80kg, Mundine will go into his 55th professional fight a big underdog against a man who’ll outweigh him by at least six or seven kilograms.
10.55pm: Not long now ...
Drawing closer now to the main event, with Jessica Mauboy bashing out some tunes for the spectators. Shots from the dressing room show Anthony Mundine sitting ... no word yet whether he’ll continue sitting when Mauboy’s set gets to the national anthem. Stay tuned...
Mundine takes a seat. Obviously getting ready for the national anthem. #MundineGreen2 https://t.co/KJclzy4xYe pic.twitter.com/bK5YBUhHPi
— Daniel Sankey (@Daniel_Sankey) February 3, 2017
10.50pm: Broadhurst impresses
Result: Trent Broadhurst defeated Nader Hamdan via TKO (referee stoppage) at 25 seconds into round 4
Nader Hamdan didn’t like it, but a referee’s stoppage undoubtedly saved the veteran from a potentially severe beating at the hands of impressive young light heavyweight Trent Broadhurst.
Hamdan had been rocked twice earlier in the fight, and may have hit the canvas at the end of the second round had he not been saved by the bell.
A controlled and calculating Broadhurst picked his shots and wore down Hamdan, the end of the fight coming after Hamdan turned his back trying to avoid a series of brutal left hooks, the referee stepping in and calling a halt to the bout.
With the victory, Broadhurst improves his record to 20-1 and will undoubtedly be looking for a step up in competition over the next few months, with international opponents on the radar.
10.30pm: One more to go
ON NOW: Light heavyweight: Trent Broadhurst (19-1-0) vs Nader Hamdan (44-13-1) | 8x3 minute rounds
Betting: Trent Broadhurst $1.02, Nader Hamdan $12.00
Another of the rising stars of Australian boxing, Broadhurst faces his toughest test to date against grizzled veteran Hamdan, who seven years ago faced off against Anthony Mundine for the WBA super middleweight belt.
Broadhurst, the IBF’s number 10 ranked light heavyweight, has notched up 12 successive victories (7 via KO) since his only defeat, a KO loss to Robert Berridge all the way back in October 2011.
Hamdan has gone 1-2 since making a comeback after more than three years on the sideline, but his chin remains his biggest strength – he’s only been knocked out once in his career, and that was all the way back in 2004 against German Arthur Abraham, who’s still ranked among the top three or four super middleweights in the world.
10.25pm: Everyone’s a winner
Result: Quade Cooper defeated Jack McInnes via TKO at 2:39 of round 2
Yes, Quade Cooper won the fight. It came, predictably, after an already bloodied-up McInnes fell to his knees following a barrage of punches from a man who was bigger, stronger and infinitely more athletic.
But some of the biggest cheers of the night came for the Hervey Bay 22-year-old when legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer called for a round of applause for the portly plasterer, his face buried in a towel as he “enjoyed” one of the more painful 15 minutes of fame that a man can endure.
Sometimes, the real winners are the losers - and on this night, Jack McInnes stood tall. Go and get plastered, young plasterer. You’ve earned it. If you’re lucky, Quade and his supermodel girlfriend might even shout you a drink or two.
10.14pm: Victory! (of sorts)
Ladies and gentlemen, Jack McInnes has survived the first round against Quade Cooper.
Let me just repeat ... JACK McINNES HAS SURVIVED THE FIRST ROUND AGAINST QUADE COOPER.
10.05pm: Here comes Quade
NEXT: Cruiserweight: Quade Cooper (2-0-0) vs Jack McInnes (0-2-0) | 4x3 minute rounds
Betting: Quade Cooper $1.05, Jack McInnes $8.00
Instead of previewing this bout between rugby union international Cooper and his 22-year-old Hervey Bay opponent, let’s instead present this tweet:
Quade Cooper and his opponent Jack McInnes fighting tomorrow night - what's your tip pic.twitter.com/bGV1xmSycH
— Grantlee Kieza (@Kieza_cmail) February 2, 2017
That’s probably all you need to know.
Cooper will win and we just hope McInnes, who has said this will be the final fight of his boxing career, is able to remember how it went.
(To be fair to Jack, he did only get the call-up to fight Cooper about two weeks ago ... and he’s actually done pretty well to lose 13kg to make weight. You can read more about that here.)
9.55pm: Moloneys inflict double trouble
Result: Andrew Moloney defeated Renoel Paes via unanimous decision
They breed them tough in the Philippines. One might say too tough for their own good.
For even the most experienced statistician would have had trouble keeping up with the tally of power punches that Andrew Moloney landed against Filipino visitor Renoel Pael.
After his twin brother Jason scored a dominant decision victory over his own Filipino opponent earlier in the evening, Moloney was on a mission to one-up his sibling by scoring a knock-out victory.
It seemed inevitable that the knock-out would come when Moloney opened up a nasty cut above Pael’s left eye mid-way through. Moloney saw blood - literally - and threw everything he had at Pael in a bid to get the stoppage, but ultimately went unrewarded.
In the end, he and his corner will care little, because the victory keeps him well and truly on a path to a world title shot. And it’s not a ridiculous suggestion that it could come sometime in the next 18 months should he add two or three more victories to his undefeated record.
The bigger question is probably this - will it be Andrew or Jason who wins the race to the twins’ first world title shot? We’ve got no idea there, but we’re going to enjoy the race.
9.10pm: Moloney take two
NEXT: Bantamweight: Andrew Moloney (11-0-0) vs Renoel Pael (21-4-1) | 8x3 minute rounds
Betting: Andrew Moloney $1.06, Renoel Pael $7.50
The second of the Moloney twins goes into battle against another game Filipino opponent who boasts fast hands and a particularly strong right, as evidenced here. While the odds suggest it will be a walk in the park for Moloney, the reality is that Pael (in the Youtbue clip below) is sure to provide a stern test. That being said, Moloney – the WBA’s number 11 ranked bantamweight and a gold medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – should have too much class and will be hoping to add an eighth KO victory to his record.
9pm: Tszyu impresses
Yes, he was fighting a man almost twice his age. Yes, that opponent had also lost his past eight fights and yes, he hadn’t had a victory since all the way back in February, 2013.
But Kostya Tszyu’s 22-year-old son, Tim, could hardly have been more impressive in his second pro fight, a .... victory over 38-year-old journeyman Mark Dalby.
Tszyu put Dalby on the canvas in round one, bloodied him up with a series of hard jabs in the second and continued the barrage in the third before Dalby’s corner mercifully called a stop to the fight.
Oh geez this is carnage. Tszyu just murdering poor mans Jason Statham #fightnight #MundineGreen2
— Brett Baldwin (@_boycs) February 3, 2017
8.45pm: Here comes Tzyu
NEXT UP: Middleweight: Tim Tszyu (1-0-0) vs Mark Dalby (4-12-0) | 6x3 minute rounds
Betting: Tim Tszyu $1.02, Mark Dalby $12.00
The son of two-time light welterweight world champion Kostya, Tim Tszyu returns to the ring for the first time since a unanimous decision victory against Queenslander Zorran Cassidy in December last year.
Like his father, the 22-year-old Tszyu built up an impressive amateur record (33-1) before moving into the pro ranks.
His opponent, South Australian local Mark Dalby, may have lost his past eight fights, but amongst those he managed to go the distance with the likes of the undefeated Ahmed Dib and former OPBF middleweight title holder Dwight Ritchie.
8.35pm: ‘A star in the making’
Result: Jason Moloney defeated Marco Demecillo via unanimous decision (80-71, 80-69, 80-70)
Believe the hype. These Moloney twins are GOOD.
Well, maybe we’re getting a little bit ahead of ourselves given Andrew Moloney won’t step into the ring for another hour. But his twin brother, Jason, put on a clinic in a unanimous decision victory over his courageous-yet-outmatched Filipino opponent, Marco Demecillo.
![Boxing twins, Andrew [left] and Jason [right] Moloney. Picture: Alex Coppel](https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/0b9ec41bdd4ce419dc81f3fb9a331026?width=650)
With 1 minute 20 seconds remaining in round number three, Moloney dropped Demecillo with a brutal left to the body that drew winces not just from Demecillo, but from the crowd as well. From that moment on it was simply a matter of survival for Demecillo, whose brightest moments came in the seventh round, when he landed a right hand, poked out his tongue ... and proceeded to cop yet another barrage of punches from the Aussie.
Commentating for Main Event, former WBF World Heavyweight Champion Kali Meehan described Moloney as a “star in the making”.
“I’m a new fan of this boxer. He’s got everything. I hope the whole country gets behind this man because he’s got the goods,” Meehan enthused.
8.10pm: Crowd slowly building up
7.57pm: On now
Super bantamweight: Jason Moloney (11-0-0) vs Marco Demecillo (22-6-1) | 8x3 minute rounds
Betting: Jason Moloney $1.04, Marco Demecillo $9.50
You’re forgiven if you think you’re seeing double a couple of bouts from now, because Jason Moloney is the twin brother of Andrew, who we’ll see later in the evening.
But if this is your first time watching the Moloney twins, then find a comfortable chair and buckle yourself in, because you’re in for a treat. Jason, nicknamed “The Smooth One”, is the WBA’s number 10 rated bantamweight, having compiled an 11-0 record since turning professional in 2014.
A Commonwealth Games representative for Australia at Delhi in 2010, Jason is the current holder of the WBA’s Oceania super bantamweight title. While the record (22-6-1) of Filipino fighter Marco Demecillo is average, he’s a kill-or-be-killed kind of fighter who should ensure the bout is entertaining.
7.55pm: Ex-Tiger back on his feet
Earlier tonight, former Richmond midfielder Shane Tuck went some way to erasing the memories of a painful debut when he scored a unanimous decision victory over Ivan Kolar.
Tuck, who played 174 games for the Tigers between 2004 and 2013, made headlines for all the wrong reasons when he suffered a devastating KO loss against Lucas Miller in 2015 (if you haven’t seen the knock-out, check it out below).
But he was able to notch his first victory in the first undercard bout of the evening at Adelaide Oval, prevailing in a four-round contest in 30-degree heat.
Tuck will make a quick return to competition when he takes on Steve Telepe at The Pavilion in Melbourne on March 25.
7.47pm: This is .... The Spartan
He may only have two professional victories on his resume, but Antonio “The Spartan” Caruso has no shortage of confidence.
Caruso attracted the ire of a Fox Sports producer when he refused to make his way to the ring until his Spartan-themed entrance song had begun. And immediately after a closely-fought bout against his former training partner that was awaiting a decision from the judges, Caruso leapt onto the ropes to celebrate with a Spartan battle cry (if you haven’t watched 300, watch it below).
The result was probably a lot closer than Caruso and his corner would have imagined, with Caruso edging out Friday Nwaiwu 38-38, 39-38, 39-38.
But there’s little doubt Caruso has a future in the sport ... both in and out of the ring.
7.25pm: Rolling out the yellow carpet
How do you turn Adelaide Oval into a boxing arena?
7.15pm: Next up
Super middleweight: Tony Caruso (1 win, 0 losses, 1 draw) vs Friday Nwaiwu (3-7-1)
4x3 minute rounds
They may be Adelaide locals and former training partners, but Tony Caruso and Friday Nwaiwu arrive at the Adelaide Oval tonight having taken very different paths. Nwaiwu is a former amateur star who won a bronze medal for his native Nigeria at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, while Caruso is a former talented Australian Rules footballer who gave away the Sherrin to focus on mixed martial arts before eventually switching full-time to boxing.
7.05pm: Aloua back on track
When David Aloua and Filipo Fonoti Masoe signed on to fight on the Mundine vs Green 2 undercard, there’s little chance they thought they’d be trading punches in bright sunshine and near-30 degree heat.
But that’s exactly what the big heavyweights were faced with when they entered the ring in front of a smattering of keen spectators this evening for their six-round contest.
Masoe may have shaded the first round through sheer volume of punches, but it was clear from the second round that the heat was taking its toll. Aloua dropped Masoe with a hard straight right midway through the fourth round and while a plucky Masoe was able to survive the round, he wasn’t able to turn the tide.
Result: David Aloua wins via unanimous decision.
6.40pm: On now
Heavyweight: David Aloua (11-2-0) vs Filipo Fonoti Masoe (3-11-0) | 6x3 minute rounds
Betting: David Aloua $1.03, Filipo Fonoti Masoe $10.00
This fight is scheduled for six three-minute rounds, but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t get past Round One. Aloua is a serious talent. A former holder of regional cruiserweight titles for both the WBO and WBA, Aloua handed 2006 Commonwealth Games representative “Hollywood” Brad Pitt his first professional loss with a devastating round 4 KO on the Anthony Mundine vs Joshua Clottey undercard in Newcastle back in November 2014. But his momentum was halted in his very next bout when he was stopped by Anthony McCracken.
After a two-year hiatus, the 29-year-old Aloua is looking to get his career back on track and he should be able to do that comfortably against Masoe, who’s only won one of his past 11 bouts.
6.30pm: Fight card
The action gets under way right about now:
Super middleweight: Ivan Kolar (1-5-0) vs Shane Tuck (0-1-0)
Heavyweight: David Aloua (11-2-0) vs Filipo Fonoti Masoe (3-11-0)
Super middleweight: Tony Caruso (1 win, 0 losses, 1 draw) vs Friday Nwaiwu (3-7-1)
Super bantamweight: Jason Moloney (11-0-0) vs Marco Demecillo (22-6-1)
Middleweight: Tim Tszyu (1-0-0) vs Mark Dalby (4-12-0)
Bantamweight: Andrew Moloney (11-0-0) vs Renoel Pael (21-4-1)
Cruiserweight: Quade Cooper (2-0-0) vs Jack McInnes (0-2-0)
Light heavyweight: Trent Broadhurst (19-1-0) vs Nader Hamdan (44-13-1)
Cruiserweight (catchweight 83kg) for the Australian Cruiserweight Title: Anthony Mundine (47-7-0) vs Danny Green (35-5-0)
6.25pm: Settling the score
In 2006, “The Man” outboxed a gaunt-looking Green in a unanimous points victory at super middleweight (76kg) ... a fight from which both men went on to capture world titles. But they followed very different paths to do so — Green moving up two divisions to cruiserweight as Mundine dropped two divisions to light middleweight.
Yesterday, Mundine weighed in for the 83kg catchweight bout at 79.6kg — clearly the smaller man when compared to Green, who cut weight to make 82.9kg and will likely be two or three kilograms heavier tonight.
The bookies believe the bigger man has a sizeable advantage tonight, making Green ($1.42 with Sportsbet) a warm favourite over Mundine ($2.90) — but that hasn’t stopped Mundine declaring he’ll again outbox his arch rival, as he did 11 years ago.
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