03.02.04 – By Luke Dodemaide: When sitting around an Aussie barbeque these days, having a beer at the pub or even casually talking about sport with some mates, boxing has again made a comeback into the conversation’s of the Aussie male. It is also highly likely, almost certain, that throughout your conversation, you will be asked your opinion on one fight, that fight is Anthony Mundine versus Danny Green.
Throughout my conversations with friends, family and others, choices are very balanced. Some go with the menacing power and boxing brains of Danny Green, others go with fancy footwork and the silky smooth skills of Anthony Mundine.
Will Mundine box circle’s around Green, or will Green catch Mundine on his questionable chin and end the night early? Rarely has there ever been a fight more intriguing in Australian boxing history.
Danny Green has a guaranteed world title shot, but unfortunately had to post pone through injury. But once recovered it seems he will step into the ring with WBC super middleweight champion Markus Beyer, many view Beyer as a man already a casualty to Green, as Green knocked Beyer down twice in their title fight last year only to be controversially disqualified in the fifth round. Danny Green had climbed the mountain, but was unable to raise his flag.
2003 saw the true emergence of Anthony ‘the Man’ Mundine, he put on a outstanding boxing display on Antwun Echols to become WBA super middleweight champion of the world, and has since defended his title once with a fifth round stoppage over a very questionable opponent, to say the least, Japanese Yoshinora Nishizawa, a 38 year old with 24 wins from 43 fights.
Despite Nishizawa’s very mediocre skills, he was able to put Mundine on the canvas in the second round. Further questioning the chin of the ‘Man’.
If Nishizawa can land shots on Mundine, there seems no reason why Green could not. And if he does land on Mundine, Green’s power will be a lot harder to overcome than the Japanese journeymen.
Green’s hand speed is also underrated in my view, as well as his very mature boxing brain. Green was creating angles and executing punches on former world champ Eric Lucas in his last fight which was very impressive.
Mundine’s footwork may be far superior to Eric Lucas, but does he have the experience and the brains to defend against the highly effective arsenal of the ‘Green Machine’?
The more I look at it, the more it appears Danny has the goods to beat Mundine, you might even say he is ‘Man’ made.
Right now when asking about this fight, it is purely a hypothetical question. But if this bout is signed later this year, Australian boxing will buzz for months. Is it out of the question to say that it could lead to boxing making a real break back into becoming a main stream sport here in Australia? Time will tell.
Even if both fighters never meet, although fingers crossed, Australia definitely has something to look forward to in the super middleweight division for years to come.
Any thoughts, queries or questions surrounding this article can be sent to l_dodemaide@hotmail