Mundine-Echols Announced - Aug 16!

By Tony Nobbs

06.06 - Anthony Mundine will face Antwun Echols for the vacant WBA Super Middleweight Championship at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Wednesday August 6. The fight was announced yesterday at a press conference at the fight venue, site of the former Rugby League star'sextravagant pro debut on July 3, 2000.

Since being knocked out in ten by Sven Ottke for the IBF laurels in December '01, Mundine has gone on an eight bout win streak, capturing the three WBA regional titles, PABA, PAFBA and Fedelatin to move into the number two spot behind Echols, 31.

The now 18-1, 14 KO Mundine, 28, born and bred in Sydney was last in action in March scoring an easy first round knockout of Rogerio Cacciatore. He is a more seasoned boxer to the one who, in only his eleventh bout, made Ottke look like a journeyman for almost nine rounds and will need to be at his evasive best against the big puncher from Davenport, Iowa, a proven commodity at the top level.

Echols, unsuccessful in two bids at Bernard Hopkins IBF Middleweight crown in '99 and 2000 has some impressive scalps in his 29-4-1, 26 KO record and is coming off a three round victory over Richard Grant in March for the NABA and NABF Titles. But like many punchers 'Kid Dynomite', who's recent problems are not expected to jeopordise the fight, has shown a dent in his armour in the early rounds and Mundine, Australia's most proven 1 68 pounder, is an explosive starter when he wants to be.

Though many will consider this version of the Title as second string (the WBA regard Ottke as a "Super" Champ) the winner of Mundine-Echols will hold a strong case to be rated among the best in the division behind Joe Calzaghe and Ottke. And Mundine has often mentioned his desire to revenge his defeat to the German.

Mundine is the third Australian boxer to receive a shot at a WBA Title since the PABA's emergance in 1995 and Queensland official Derek Milham should be commended for his efforts.

Kevin Kelly, another Sydney aboriginal, was written off by HBO prior to his 1999 challenge of 154 lb Champ David Reid but gave a tremendous performance in losing a debatable decision, dropping the then unbeaten 'American Dream' in the fifth.

Mundine, on home soil, may go one better.But nothing bar his best will get the job done.

Meanwhile, Rod Waterhouse, trainer-manager of Paul Briggs, in this writer's opinion anyway, the uncrowned World Lt. Heavyweight Champion, tonight told Eastside that his charge will be sparring Echols in Melbourne prior to the big fight.

"Obviously we'd like to be sparring Anthony as he is an Australian but he and his people don't appear interested and we are instead taking the opportunity to work with a world class fighter at the request of Antwun Echols' connections". Waterhouse added that Mundine's Sydney rival Danny Green and former opponent Sam Soliman will also be boxing the visitor.