By Tony Nobbs: In an entertaining battle Anthony Mundine (33-3, 23 KO’s) got off the floor to unanimously out point tough Japanese warrior Crazy Kim (28-5, 24 KO’s) at the Newcastle Entertainment Center in NSW on Wednesday night. Weighing 74.5 kg, the lightest of his career officially, Mundine was caught by a clean left hook to the chin in the third, going down, landing hard on his back. He stayed on the canvas momentarily getting up well before the ten, and regained senses by the end of the round but it was a telling knock down and gave Kim a real sniff of an upset.
Kim, who despite being OPBF interim super middleweight champion (he is rated WBC # 19 at 175 lb having also recently won light heavyweight belt), scaled lower than fellow 33 year old Mundine, landed hard shots during the remainder of the bout but was generally out classed by the faster Australian who won by margins of 6, 7 and 8 points. Eastside had it 98-91 Mundine’s way. Mundine is rated # 3 by the WBA at middleweight even though he is yet to make the poundage and # 6 by the IBO computerized listings at super middle. Crazy, rated # 71 at 168 lb IBO. Mundine was cut early, ruled by a punch by respected veteran referee Charlie Lucas with the ringside doctor inspecting it in the eighth.
In the main support, Mundine’s fellow Sydney sider Billy Dib (21-0. 11 KO’s) was gifted the IBO super featherweight belt with a unanimous decision over Zolani Molari (19-2, 13 KO’s) of South Africa. Dib, ranked ANBF # 3, WBC # 16, IBO # 20 going in, nicked the first two rounds but the lanky Molari, WBF champion and IBO # 49, registered a knockdown in the third when Dib stumbled into the ropes after a southpaw left -right – left combo of straight punches. The next few rounds were back and forth but over the final half of the contest it was pretty much the almost “Untouchable” visitor landing the quality shots, often from a right handed stance.
Dib was given a needed rest at the start of the tenth with the tape coming loose on his gloves and it happened again during the eleventh and at the start of the twelve th. Officially, Johny Lewis trained “Billy The Kid”, who has the backing of Golden Boy, with Shane Mosley sending the last two weeks Down Under, won by 1, 2 and 4 points. Eastside had it 116-111 for Nicky Durandt’s Zolani, giving the local lad rounds 1, 2, 5, 6. When the verdict was announced a disappointed Molari and team understandably left for the sheds immediately.
Main Event Commentator’s former IBF super feather champ Barry Michael and two time WBC light heavyweight title challenger Paul Briggs, both had Molari a clear winner. If an All Aussie clash between Dib and WA’s whiz Willie Kickett ever takes place, Kickett, coming off a razor thin win over recent IBF and IBO champ Gairy St Clair, should start favorite.
In a super cruiserweight six rounder Sydney’s Jamie Withers in his first bout in thirteen months knocked out Queensland’s former National title challenger James Ellis (ANBF # 4) in round five. Ellis was twice decked by beautiful right hands, the second time, from an absolute peach with RSC immediately. Withers’ father Jim, who boxed under the name Jimmy Brown was a top domestic middle – light heavy in the 1970’s and also briefly trained Jeff Harding in his days as WBC 175 champ champion. Young Withers was rated in the Aussie top ten previously and will re enter after this impressive win.
In another scheduled six rounder former Australian super feather champ and regional belt holder Ahmed Elomar scored a four round stoppage of Troy Glover, having his first start since1995 (both his previous pro fights being one round defeats) A creditable performance by the 36 year old Glover who has a reported 312 amateur bouts to his name.