Wins for Green and Mundine

Tonight at the Challenge Stadium, Perth, Super Middleweights Anthony “The Man” Mundine and Danny Green, appearing on the same card for the first time, both won their fights against 2nd or 3rd tier opposition.

In a sold out show, promoting their expected autumn 2006 clash and providing a good, low risk payday for both fighters, local boy Danny Green looked impressive shutting out Mexican veteran Kirino Garcia over 10 rounds, 100-90 on all 3 scorecards. Green looked calm and collected, picking his shots, punching cleanly and not trying too hard to knock the Mexican out. As for Garcia, he brought plenty of heart and a very hard head to the fight, but little to worry Green. So a good workout for Green, but not a great yardstick as to his current form

After Green’s fight, the partisan Perth crowd were whipped into a frenzy of hatred for Mundine; his opponent, New Zealander Rico Chong Nee must have wondered what he had done to deserve such a rapturous welcome, whilst Mundine was greeted with boos and abusive chanting.

As for the fight itself, despite Chong Nee landing a couple of good shots, Mundine soon established control, with a sharp, consistent jab that closed Chong Nee’s left eye by the end of the 2nd round. Frankly the fight could have been called off then, but it was soon ended by Mundine, who landed 3 crisp right hooks that Chong Nee clearly did not see coming, the 3rd of these leaving him on the canvas unable to continue. So a good 3rd round KO for Mundine, but again, its hard to judge his form.

The show, which had something of an air of pantomime all night, with Green in the role of valiant hero, and Mundine as moustache twirling villain, then descended into farce, as Mundine was rushed immediately from the ring under a hail of paper cups, cans and bottles. A disgraceful performance from those involved, who showed their complete ignorance of the sport.

Latest prediction is that Green and Mundine will finally meet in April in Melbourne