Anthony Mundine

Denmark's Mikkel Kessler has put a dent in Anthony Mundine's hopes of securing a rematch with Manny Siaca, the now former WBA Super Middleweight champion. I think Mundine and his team have "bugger all" (Aussie slang) chance of persuading Kessler to make his first defense of his title in Australia. I'm sure Kessler and his team will wish to make his first defense in Denmark as Kessler just plain refused to come to Australia to fight Danny Green in a WBC eliminator. It turned out to be a good move as Siaca certainly does not represent the danger that Green would have posed to Kessler.

Add to this problem, Mundine now appears to be facing a much more difficult opponent and Anthony certainly has not faced any really dangerous opponents to prepare him for a bout with the dangerous Mikkel Kessler since he defeated a rusty Antwun Echols.

I have heard that Kessler is a very big puncher and that spells bad news for the fragile chinned Anthony Mundine. Jeff Fenech has stated he feels Kessler is the second best Super Middleweight out there behind Danny Green. We would expect Fenech to think Green is the division's best (I am of the same opinion) but I'm sure Fenech studied Kessler's bouts in detail when he was sure Danny Green would be facing the Danish puncher next. Fenech indicated in the Sun Herald that "The Man" might try to avoid a bout with Kessler. If that's the case, "The Man" better have a look around because it doesn't get any easier with any of the other belt holders.  Joe Calzaghe (WBO title holder) is a big puncher and smart boxer, Jeff Lacey (IBF title holder) is a skilled fighter and big puncher too and Marcus Beyer (WBC titleholder) has to face Danny Green next, a bout I think he will lose. Anyway Mundine looks towards a legitimate title within the Super Middleweight division, there is a legitimate and dangerous opponent to go through. I see tough times ahead for Team Mundine!

Mundine made the following comments that were posted on the boxingtalk.net website: On Kessler "A solid fighter but the Siaca here wasn't the Siaca I fought. Plus I was only 60% of myself that night as I was ill." This may have been the case, although it sounds a bit like Sharmba Mitchell to me!

Danny Green

Danny Green is set to participate in his second purse bid for the year on 1st December for the right to stage the rematch with Marcus Beyer. Danny has been getting a lot of support from local businesses in Perth (his hometown) Australia. With Danny's awesome performance against Beyer in Germany last year you can bet there will be a lot of interest in a world title bout in Perth against Beyer.

Jeff Fenech has stated publicly that rumors of Beyer making a voluntary defense on December 18 are false and that he must face Green next. Mikkel Kessler did everyone except Manny Siaca & Anthony Mundine a favor when he opted out of the WBC sanctioned official eliminator with Danny Green. Kessler has picked up the WBA Super Middleweight title and at the same time avoided one of the most dangerous opponents in his division.

Nedal Hussein

Nedal "Skinny" Hussein faces WBC Super Bantamweight champion Oscar "Chololo" Larios on the undercard of Erik Morales-Marco Antonio Barrera III. Larios will be in for a hard night because Hussein is a very tough and skilled boxer. He dropped and hurt Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines a few years ago, apparently he had Pacquiao badly hurt but the local hero was given some questionable extra assistance by the referee. Pacquiao eventually scored a late round stoppage due to a cut, I think off memory Jeff Fenech claimed to be caused by a head butt. Anyway, that happened a fair while ago and I can tell you that Hussein has scored some impressive knockouts including quite a large number of body punch knockouts. I'm expecting "Skinny" will put up a very good showing and has a good chance of returning to Australia with the WBC strap.

Paul Briggs

Paul "Hurricane" Briggs has been let down by Antonio Tarver when Tarver decided to take a bout with Glen Johnson, a match pitting the only two men to convincingly beat Roy Jones Jnr. against each other.

The positive thing for Briggs is that he will probably now face an easier opponent for the vacant WBC 175 pound title; the downside is that he did not want the easy option. If Briggs wins the vacant WBC belt he will be labeled a paper champion through no fault of his own. Perhaps the winner of Tarver-Johnston will give Paul Briggs his due and eventually fight him.  

Darren Yates

Questions? Comments? Email Darren Yates

11-15-2004