Anthony Mundine vs Ricky Thornberry Tonight
By Tony Nobbs
02.11 - The Carrara Basketball Stadium, on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia is expected to be filled tonight as Super Middleweight Anthony "The Man" Mundine and "The Gatton Tiger" Ricky Thornberry clash over 12 rounds with the winner walking away with three WBA regional belts and the opportunity to next year face Byron Mitchell for the World Crown. Mundine, (15-1, 12 KO) currently has both the Pan Asian (PABA) and Pan African (PAFBA) belts in his trophy cabinet while Thornberry (27-4, 12 KO) holds the WBA Fedelatin Title.
After his brother Ricky lost a points decision to Sven Ottke for the IBF Title on March 16 in Magdeburg, Germany, trainer-manager Noel Thornberry told me upon arriving home that "It is in the best interest of Australian boxing that Anthony Mundine fights us". Well the fight is now a reality and the pair met for a final Press Conference at a crowded Kirra Beach Hotel on the southern end of the Gold Coast, Australia's premier holiday destination yesterday and both expressed a confidence in winning their much anticipated fight which has been billed as a World Title eliminator and will be shown live on PPV station Main Event throughout Australia.
Mundine, 27, who trains out of his father Tony's gymnasium in Redfern, Sydney, NSW, was obviously the Man most had come to hear and he spoke with respect for his 34 year old opponent, a professional since 1985 and of a desire to face Sven Ottke who knocked him out in his challenge for the IBF Title on December 1 last year.
"I respect him as a human being and a fighter, all fighters, all who step into the ring deserve respect. He is there to do his best but it wont be enough, because I am the best in the World. After I win the WBA Title I want to unify with Sven Ottke. He don't want to fight me again because he knows I had him beat and I was still only a Virgin in this sport. I made mistakes in my preparation but I've corrected them. I've been doing my roadwork for Thornberry, sparring Heavyweights, Cruiserweights, Welterweights and been hurting all of them, which tells me he is in for a world of a beating tomorrow night. I am now more experienced and focused. I only had ten fights before Ottke and I had a world champ beat. There is no doubt Ottke don't want to fight me again."
A determined looking Thornbery, a former IBO Champion at this weight, who was yesterday listed as a 5-1 underdog, said he is capable of pulling of an upset and getting a third shot at a major World Title. "Anthony is a young man and I give him credit for what he has done in two years in boxing. But he hasn't been tested yet except for when he fought Sven Ottke and he fell to pieces. That's because Ottke was a proper Super Middleweight which I am also. I'm strong, fit and believe I can extend him and force him into the later stages where my experience in tough fights and the pressure I put on him will break him again. I'm not as fast as Anthony, I don't have fast hands but I have had thirty four rounds of boxing in three fights this year, something I never had for my fights with Sven Ottke or Joe Calzaghe. I've been sparring plenty of rounds with Paul Briggs, Sam Soliman and Ernie Artango who is very fast so it's been my best preparation. This fight can really make me. We have chased this for a while. Anthony can run but he can't hide. I have a good game plan to follow going in and I'm better physically or mentally than when I fought Ottke or Calzaghe".
The brilliant Briggs, from the Gold Coast, is rated # 9 currently by the WBC at Lt. Heavyweight and the awkward Soliman, now rated #12 IBF at Middleweight gave Mundine his toughest fight on Australian soil September 3 last year. Briggs' trainer Rod Waterhouse told me that Thornberry had done "around thirty rounds" with his charge and he saw signs of improvement in Thornberry in each session. "Rick's got an underated left jab. He doesn't use it much but if he did he might surprise himself. Paul was too big for him and a too fast but Paul can box along with guys and Ricky was going nicely toward the end. He will have to pressure Mundine from the start, make him work in each of the rounds, get him going back and not just try and hang in there. When Mundine is moving backwards he is still quick with his hands but there is no power".
Mundine stated that he has not seen any tapes of Thornberry but his dad and trainer Tony Sr and manager Khoder Nasser had travelled to Ipswich, Queensland to watch Thornberry's last fight, a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision over Argentine southpaw Ramon Britez on August 16 to capture Fedelatin Title.
"My dad and my manager saw his last fight. I haven't seen him but I know his record. I will just take the fight as it comes because each fight is different. He will try and pressure me and take me late but he ain't seen anyone like me. There is no one with my skill in the division". Mundine was last in action September scoring a three round Knockout of South African Soon Botes, annexing the PAFBA throne.
A relaxed and friendly Mundine showed the true side to his personality by staying behind for half an hour after the press conference, attended by former fringe Heavyweight contender Jimmy Thunder and IBF rated Bantamweight Nathan Sting, to mix with fans and sign autographs before heading back to the Capricornia Hotel in Broadbeach, a thirty minute drive from Kirra for the official weigh - in. Thornberry was left waiting at the press conference by Mundine for 45 minutes and it was his turn at the weigh -in when he was twenty minutes late. Mundine, who walked in munching on a KIT Kat chocalate scaled 76.1 kg (167 ¾ lb) witnessed by Thonberrys mother. Thornberry initially weighed 76.75 kg (169 lb) before making it on his third attempt, coming in at 76.05KG (167 ½ lb).
Thornberry, from small town Gatton, 2 hour drive from tonights venue has long been an asset to boxing in Australia and will need to fight his best fight to defeat Mundine. Ricky's Light Heavyweight father Trevor, known as "The Iceman" was a knock 'em cold puncher in the late 60's, early seventies, renowned for several brutal encounters. Ricky inherited his father's toughness and courage but so far in his career, has not shown the punch. He may need to tonight if he is to become a house - hold name in this country for more than one evening.
Officials for the bout are WBA Fedelatin supervisor, Jose Oliver Gomez (Pamama), PABA and PAFBA supervisor Derek Milham (Australia), referee Charlerm Prayadsab (Thailand) and the three judges are all from Australia, Cyril Cairns, Wally Lewis and Phil Austin. ANBF supervisor for the u/c, John Hogg.
The first fight starts at 6 pm local Queensland time, 7 pm AEST. Commentaters, ex IBF 130 lb Champion Barry Michael and Brad Vocale. The main support features, Australian Welter Champ Solo Egberime (7-0) v Ernie Artango (17-2-1). Other bouts are Danny Buza (13-6) v Simon Patterson(6-3), Cruiserweights, Ty Allen (3-0-1) v Matt Shaw (5-2-1), Welterweights, And a pair of Middleweight 4 rounders between Geoff Kanofski (17-12-4) v Ali Adam (1-1), and Dion Marr (2-0) v Yazawa Kazomasa (0-0)
