Boxing: Questions over Mundine future after Geale unanimous points win

Daniel Geale (R) lands a right on Anthony Mundine (L) during the IBF Middleweight Title bout. Photo / Getty Images

IBF middleweight world champion Daniel Geale earned revenge for his only professional loss and raised questions over Anthony Mundine's boxing future with a unanimous points win.

The fight in front of what appeared to be a full Sydney Entertainment Centre featured numerous quickfire inside exchanges between the two fast-handed fighters. Ultimately Geale, 31, outworked 37-year-old Mundine, who landed several right-hand shots during the bout, but couldn't match the champion's work rate. Two judges scored it 117-111 and the other 116-112.

It was Geale's fourth successful title defence and sets up the possibility of more unification bouts down the track.

Mundine was competitive but lacked the explosive advantage in speed that enabled him to beat opponents in his prime and it remains to be seen whether he can, or wants to, stay in a game he has graced for close to 13 years.

The packed crowd provided a stirring vocal backdrop as the two highly skilled fighters each strove to gain an advantage.

Geale was the first to land some shots, though Mundine did briefly back him up against the ropes and caught the champion with a good right to the head in the closing seconds of a cagey opening round. By the 10th round, Geale pressed the pace and maintained his edge through to the end.

The suggestion Mundine would snub the national anthem was averted, as it was performed before both men entered the ring.

- AAP