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ANTHONY MUNDINE BEATS GUNNAR JACKSON ON POINTS

31/01/2014 - 9.01.57

 

Anthony Mundine beats Gunnar Jackson on points decision

•Fighter still hopes for Floyd Mayweather bout
•Says Australian boxers 'not on my radar'

It would hardly have made Floyd Mayweather sit up and take notice.
But Anthony Mundine (46 wins, 27 KOs, five losses) believed his unanimous points decision victory over Gunnar Jackson, who had less than a week to prepare for their 10-round fight, was a step toward achieving boxing greatness in 2014.

Anthony Mundine 

Anthony Mundine, left, on the attack against New Zealand's Gunnar Jackson during their light middleweight bout in BrisbanePhotograph: Tertius Pickard/AAP Image

"I regained my killer instinct. I had bad intentions when I hit him. I wanted to hurt him," Mundine said. "In the [Daniel] Geale fight last year I wasn't right mentally. But Gunnar made me switch on straight away because I knew this guy meant business. I put pressure on him at a world class pace. All I need to do is switch on mentally. Mind over matter, that is how it happens."
Mundine lowered his sights somewhat by claiming post-fight that Cuba's Erislandy Lara, the WBA superwelterweight world champion, was a better bet than Mayweather in the near future.
But he still appeared at long odds of facing off against Lara any time soon after being forced to battle manfully by Jackson (18 wins, six knockouts, five losses, three draws) – albeit at 27 a rival 11 years Mundine's junior.
Mundine had hoped his last win two months ago – sealed when Shane Mosley was forced to retire with back spasms – would be a stepping stone to the big leagues.
At 38, Mundine believes staying active in 2014 and notching wins every 10 weeks at least will force the likes of Lara or Mayweather's hand by year's end.
But even the most rabid Mundine supporter would have been hard pressed to find positives from the win over Jackson - not that it stopped "The Man" from trying.
"I told you this was more of a risk than Mosley," he said. "I had everything to lose and Gunnar gave his heart and soul - and I applaud him. He hung tough, he had never been stopped before which is another thing. He's 27 and I am supposed to be old."
Mundine said he wanted his next fight in April but warned locals need not apply.
"All the Aussie fighters calling me out, you are not on my radar," he said. "If I wanted the money I could fight Geale, I could fight [Danny] Green. But I am chasing the dream."

Sourcewww.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/30/anthony-mundine-beats-gunnar-jackson-points-decision

Mundine eyes prize despite long odds

By all accounts, Floyd Mayweather loves a flutter

He is nicknamed "Money", after all.
But even the world's best pound-for-pound boxer would not gamble on a bout with Anthony Mundine judging by the ex-NRL star's unconvincing performance against Gunnar Jackson in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
Mayweather is no stranger to placing huge bets - he added to his reputation by outlaying almost $A15 million on next week's Super Bowl.

Anthony Mundine (pic) is convinced his win against Gunnar Jackson is a step toward boxing greatness.

AAP   Anthony Mundine (pic) is convinced his win against Gunnar Jackson is a step toward boxing greatness.
 
However, even he would baulk at the odds of facing off against Mundine by year's end as predicted by the ex-Dragons playmaker after the Australian's unanimous points win over plucky Kiwi Jackson.
Still, Mundine (46 wins, 27 KOs, five losses) believed his victory over the drain digger who had less than a week to prepare for their 10-round fight was a step toward achieving boxing greatness in 2014.
"I regained my killer instinct. I had bad intentions when I hit him. I wanted to hurt him," Mundine said.
"In the (Daniel) Geale fight last year I wasn't right mentally.
"But Gunnar made me switch on straight away because I knew this guy meant business.
"I put pressure on him at a world class pace.
"All I need to do is switch on mentally.
"Mind over matter, that is how it happens."
Mundine lowered his sights somewhat by claiming post-fight that Cuba's Erislandy Lara, the WBA superwelterweight world champion, was a better bet than Mayweather in the near future.
But he still appeared at long odds of facing off against Lara any time soon after being forced to battle manfully by Jackson (18 wins, six knockouts, five losses, three draws) - albeit at 27 a rival 11 years Mundine's junior.
Mundine had hoped his last win two months ago - sealed when American legend Shane Mosley was forced to retire with back spasms - would be a stepping stone to the big leagues.
At 38, Mundine believes staying active in 2014 and notching wins every 10 weeks at least will force the likes of Lara or Mayweather's hand by year's end.
But even the most rabid Mundine supporter would have been hard pressed to find positives from the win over Jackson - not that it stopped "The Man" from trying.
"I told you this was more of a risk than Mosley," he said.
"I had everything to lose and Gunnar gave his heart and soul - and I applaud him.
"He hung tough, he had never been stopped before which is another thing.
"He's 27 and I am supposed to be old."
Mundine said he wanted his next fight in April but warned locals need not apply.
"All the Aussie fighters calling me out, you are not on my radar," he said.
"If I wanted the money I could fight Geale, I could fight (Danny) Green.
"But I am chasing the dream."
 
 
 

Anthony Mundine holds out a plucky Jackson

LAINE CLARK
 
It would hardly have made Floyd Mayweather sit up and take notice.
But Anthony Mundine still hoped he had taken the first step towards challenging the world's best pound-for-pound fighter with a unanimous points decision over Kiwi Gunnar Jackson in their WBA light middleweight bout in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
Mundine could have been forgiven for simply being happy that Jackson had turned up after a chaotic lead-up to what the former NRL star dubbed a "fill-in fight".
However, Mundine at times may have regretted that he had as the plucky Kiwi went down swinging in the 10 round bout.
Mundine (46 wins, 27 KOs, five losses) hopes the fight will lead to a match-up with the renowned Joshua Clottey, who has gone the distance with Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.
At 38, Mundine hopes remaining active in 2014 and racking up wins over the likes of Clottey will force Mayweather's hand by year's end.
Still, staring down Mayweather appeared a world away after he held out Jackson, a 27-year-old drain layer who agreed to fight barely a week ago.
Initial opponent Carson Jones last week pulled out due to the 'flu and his replacement - American journeyman Billy Lyell - failed to sign his contract on time.
That forced Mundine to ask Jackson (18 wins, six knockouts, five losses, three draws) if he was doing anything this week and wanted to visit Queensland for the first time.
"Gunnar the Stunner" - named by his parents after 80s thoroughbred "Go Gunnar" - had not trained in four weeks and had just days to prepare for the biggest fight of his unheralded career.
His trainer Chris Walker said ideally Jackson would have needed a six week lead-up but had kept his fingers crossed for a boilover after his charge had "remained reasonably active over December".
Still, Jackson ensured a solid workout for Mundine on Wednesday night.
Mundine eventually outpointed his rival 100-90, 100-90, 100-90.
Mundine had rated Jackson "more dangerous than Mosley" ahead of the bout due to the Kiwi's desperation to register a huge notch on his belt.
And Mundine was proven right as the Kiwi ensured the former NRL star was on the back foot from the outset.
Mundine met Jackson's ferocity but was never able to put the plucky Kiwi away.
- AAP