Boxing: Mundine praises Sullivan's grit

By PETER JESSUP

Superb athletes, a great contest, a great show - and an entirely predictable outcome.

That was the Anthony Mundine circus in Auckland as the Australian ground out a unanimous points win over a brave, tenacious but out-boxed local hero, Sean Sullivan.

Mundine recorded his seventh straight win since his world title loss to Sven Ottke and goes to 17-1, but the veteran Sullivan taught him plenty about ring-craft and exposed the younger, faster fighter to analysis by those he'll face in future.

Sullivan worried Mundine for the whole of the 12 rounds. The Aucklander landed far fewer clean blows, was forced to go for the body because he couldn't execute the pre-fight plan to catch his opponent's head, and fought dirty on the ropes when Mundine tried to rest there.

But he was never cowed by the visitor's punches and kept advancing throughout, often through flurries of blows that would have sent most others to the canvas.

Mundine admitted as much afterwards and paid tribute to Sullivan's gritty determination. "He's one of the very few fighters in the world who could sustain that pressure against me," Mundine said.

"They said he was fit - I didn't know he was that fit. I sparred with guys who kept coming forward but I didn't know he [Sullivan] would be so full-on.

"The courage that he showed tonight wasn't human. I caught him with some great upper-cuts. I thought they'd stop the fight. I was fighting Rocky out there," Mundine said, crediting Sullivan with a Stallone-like performance.

"It's what I needed before I fight for the world title again."

Mundine held onto his Pan Asian Boxing Association belt and World Boxing Association No. 2 ranking, officials indicating he'll need one more victory over a ranked opponent before getting another shot and that they expected that to happen this year.

The judges scored Saturday night's fight at the ASB Stadium 120-109 (Derek Milham, Australia), 119-108 (Ivan Zonich, New Zealand) and 116-112 (Oetjo, Indonesia). Oetjo was cornered by Mundine afterwards with, "What fight were you watching, man? Where'd you get that score from?"

Both fighters rated their performances eight out of 10.

"When I boxed he couldn't come close," Mundine said. "They [his corner] kept telling me to jab and get away from him, but I'm stubborn, I like to mix it up sometimes."

Sullivan caught him flush only twice, Mundine reckoned. "He didn't really hurt me."

Then he contradicted himself.

"I showed I could take a punch tonight," he said. It was only the second time in Mundine's career he's been taken the distance.

He forgave Sullivan for his fight tactics.

Mundine said he had taken "head-butts, elbows, every trick in the book. He frustrated me. But I have no bad words about him. I've learned a lot from him and he's helped me towards my dreams."

Sullivan, his right eye a pulpy bruise, his nose smashed, was all praise for his opponent. "Anthony has put boxing on the map here and I thank him dearly for that," he said, indicating he would use the exposure to push for further chances against ranked Australian fighters.

Mundine had said before the fight that he wanted to hear Sullivan admit afterwards that he was the best he had faced in his 11-year career. Sullivan, 54-11 after the loss, gave it to him, admitting the plan to go for the head was defeated by Mundine's upper-body movement and footwork.

"He's fast, all right. Without a doubt he has a great skill level."

Mundine entered the ASB Stadium in wrap-around reflective shades and shadow-boxed as Sullivan supporters performed the haka. None in the crowd of around 4000 - which included Auckland mayor John Banks ringside with TV presenter Paul Holmes and numerous Warriors who had played against Mundine - cheered him.

In early rounds he danced away from the advancing Sullivan, feeling him out and staying out of trouble. Sullivan repeatedly backed him up but could not land telling blows, his attacks ending in clinches, with Mundine bent staple-like around or through the ropes.

In round two came the first of many warnings from New Caledonian referee against Sullivan for use of the forehead.

In round four Mundine called time-out and went to his haunches in a neutral corner after adjusting his shorts, the suggestion he had been dealt a low blow bringing a bagging from the crowd.

In rounds five, 10 and 11 Mundine rolled backwards out of the ring.

By round three he clearly felt more confident, moonwalking Michael Jackson-style, waving to the crowd after it cheered Sullivan's connections to show them he wasn't hurt.

Afterwards, he first said the trouble he had getting bent over was because he'd ducked to evade a punch and Sullivan would push him down. Later in the interview he admitted there were times he had needed a rest.

Sullivan's trainer, Alex Sua, who took a points decision from Mundine's father, Tony, at Carlaw Park in 1983, was moved close to tears by the performance of his charge.

"That guy is No. 2 in the world and look at the effort from our man," Sua said. "Anthony showed plenty of skill but our man always paid him back. I'm proud of him, he was so brave."