Boxing: Mundine streak continues

Anthony Mundine (right) hits Rob Medley with a right during last night's bout in Sydney. Photo / Getty Images

Three-time world champion Anthony Mundine continued his five-year unbeaten run with a comfortable victory over Rob Medley in their non-world title fight at the Sydney Entertainment Centre last night.

The bout was originally scheduled for the IBO light middleweight world title but eventually it was only Mundine's WBA International middleweight title that was on the line.

Mundine dominated his largely unheralded opponent, setting the tone throughout and showing more size, speed and strength than the heavily-tattooed Medley to win on a unanimous points decision.

Mundine's last defeat came against Mikkel Kessler in Sydney in 2005, although he has rarely fought fighters of the Danish superstar's calibre since.

Hopefully mooted fights against the likes of world class foreign pugilists Kelly Pavlik or Felix Sturm can soon become a reality for the 34-year-old.

The judges scored the bout 117-113, 117-115 and 117-112 in Mundine's favour, scores that seemed a little closer than the fight appeared.

"I knew I was the superior fighter," Mundine said.

"I don't know what the judges were doing.

"He never hurt me, I wanted to knock him out, but he showed his fitness and preparation."

Medley had the odd moment and won some admirers, catching Mundine with a nice right to the temple in the fifth round, but The Man never lost his composure and was a class above.

A huge right hand to the abdomen rocked Medley one minute into the sixth round as the challenger crumpled into the ropes and appeared to be finished, but the son of a long line of coalminers survived.

Medley proved he has some skill with the gloves, landing some solid blows in the ninth and tenth rounds and again in the final round, but Mundine would respond in kind on every occasion and there was only ever going to be one winner.

Mundine has improved his record to 38 wins and three losses, although he hasn't knocked an opponent out since stopping Jose Alberto Clavero in 2007, while Medley dropped to 27-3.

"I haven't had one for a while. I tried to look for one tonight," Mundine said of his lack of knockouts in recent years.

"There's nothing wrong with my strength and my power. I think I tried a little bit too hard tonight."

Medley enjoyed plenty of support, but in the opening round the fight looked like a boy taking on The Man as the challenger showed signs of nerves and seemed intimidated by the more physically imposing Mundine.

But Medley grew in confidence and soon settled and the fight went the distance, which appeared an unlikely prospect early on.

Mundine's next fight will be against another former rugby league player in Garth Wood, who earned a shot by beating Kariz Kariuki in the final of reality television show The Contender.

- AAP