Mundine outpoints Wood

By Craig Watt
Photos: Peter McDermont

Fomer two time WBA 168 pound champion Anthony Mundine (41-4, 24 KO’s) secured a revenge victory at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Queensland, Australia tonight with a unanimous points victory over Australian Contender winner Garth Wood (10-2-1, 6 KO’s). The 35 year old Mundine won by scores of 96-92 (twice) and 95-93 over ten rounds. This was sweet revenge for Mundine who was knocked out in five rounds of their first fight in December 2010. He clinched victory with two knockdowns in the final two rounds which edged the scorecards after the brave Wood seemed the more aggressive and enjoyed a higher work rate during the middle section of the fight. The fight lacked boxing finesse but was absorbing in terms of effort and drama with both fighters suffering cuts as a result of accidental head clashes.

Both fighters were tentative in the opening round with Mundine visibly holding his guard much higher than his usual stance and an apparent deliberate use of the head by Mundine opened a cut over the left eye of Garth Wood. At the start of the second round both fighters were warned by referee Dereck Gillam for holding before the action started and it was Mundine who started to box on the outside with greater success.

The fight saw numerous clinches and holding in the first two rounds but livened up at the end of the third round when both fighters exchanged power shots. The fourth round saw the boxing skills of Mundine take control behind an effective jab and Wood retreated but in the final minute Wood returned strongly and held the centre of the ring and landed two strong right hands which gave him some inspiration and pushed the former IBO 160 pound champion Mundine backwards.

Wood caught Mundine in the 5th round with a strong right hook but he quickly regained his composure and pinned Wood to the ropes for the final fifteen seconds to secure the round. He continued his advantage in the sixth.

In the seventh the blood streamed down the eye and nose of Mundine following a head clash and Wood was the busier of the two, seemingly gaining the initiative close in. When he returned to the corner his trainer Billy Hussein shouted the advice of “pressure, pressure, pressure.”

At the start of the eighth Wood pinned Mundine to the ropes for the first minute and landed a big right hand and punished Mundine to the body and had his best moments of the fight with concerted pressure. His constant attacks to head and body swamped any effective response from Mundine. With the cut on the forehead of Mundine worsening referee Dereck Gillam called for the doctor to inspect Mundine’s cut on the forehead in the last thirty seconds of the round but he allowed it to continue, even though the blood was now pouring down into his eye and down his nose.

In the ninth Wood continued with the initiative and showed a superior work rate to be the aggressor with Mundine devoid of his usual boxing combinations and seemingly content to hold when the advancing Wood came close. However, a crisp left hook from Mundine dropped Wood to the canvas with just fifteen seconds to go. The referee appeared confused as to whether it was a knockdown or a slip and after initially waiving on the action he then stopped the action and gave Wood an eight count.

In the final round Wood was trying for the knockout punch and stormed forward but Mundine caught him with two heavy uppercuts in the corner and dropped Wood for a second time to secure a points advantage. The 32 year old Wood rose on wobbly legs but after a some holding and hitting from Mundine the referee deducted a point from Mundine to even out the round in the final stanza.

Overall Mundine showed character to win the re-match and it is likely a third and defining fight will take place for the Australian boxing public.

April 13th, 2011

For all the latest boxing news, click here.