Boxing: Sullivan sneaks in by seat of his pants

By PETER JESSUP

Sean Sullivan's boxers weigh exactly 100g. We know because that was the difference between making the grade for his super-middleweight fight with Anthony Mundine tonight - or not.

Sullivan, as challenger for the Pan Asian Boxing Association title, weighed in first at the Warriors gym Mundine has used during the week. He was 76.4kg - 200g over.

While Mundine stepped up to record 76.1kg, Sullivan stripped off his shirt and shorts, went to the urinal and tried again: 76.3kg.

Off came the boxers, with New Zealand Professional Boxing Association president Lance Revill and PABA Australian judge Derek Milham holding up a T-shirt for modesty's sake.

Amid some big talk, "The Man" threw in more interjections than anyone. When Sullivan's cornerman and Mundine's last victim, Ricky Thornberry - beaten on a technical knockout in the eleventh round last November - was asked what the local hero had to do to win, Mundine broke in with "get a gun".

He was all cock-sure.

Sullivan was cool. He would leave his talking to the ring at the ASB Stadium tonight, he said.

When the two stood for the obligatory millimetres-apart face-and-fist-off, Mundine turned Sullivan's baseball cap peak-backwards and spoke quietly at him.

"He kept telling me he's The Man, that he's going to do me over," Sullivan said afterwards. "I gave him this in the stomach [a straight-fingered jab] and told him to expect a lot more on Saturday."

Sullivan, rating himself as fit as he has ever been in a 64-fight career, said little.

Mundine started respectfully, recognising Sullivan's experience and tenacious approach with one sentence. Then he said, at various times: "I've got speed, power and footwork on him, so basically I'm the superior one," and "If I'm on top of my game, he can't stop me," and "Sean Sullivan will be saying 'he's the best fighter I've ever faced'," and "if they don't stop the fight he could be seriously injured".

"If he wins I'll live in New Zealand and play for the Warriors," Mundine said, having earlier been presented with a team jersey emblazoned with his name and carrying the number six - his favoured position in the game. Warriors club captain Monty Betham had one for Sullivan with his name on it too, and the number one.

"I'm going to give him a good retirement fund," Mundine said of his opponent.

Mundine will earn anywhere from A$120,000 to A$300,000 thanks to pay-TV deals; Sullivan might get $30,000.

But the 54-10 veteran is happy to be doing so much to promote the sport.

"I'd liked to have seen this years ago," said Sullivan of all the attention at the Warriors gym. "Anthony's certainly good for the game."

Thornberry, who has helped Sullivan with sparring in return for work the South Aucklander did in the lead-up to Thornberry's world title fight against German Sven Ottke, backed the local to "give 110 per cent".

"I've never seen anyone who trains like Sean. When he's sitting in front of the TV he's rolling and doing abs work - you have to put a chain on him to slow him up."

But can he win? "One punch can change everything," Thornberry said.

Mundine would be fast and dangerous early on. Sullivan's chances would improve late.

Queenslander Thornberry says he has no fear of a re-match with Mundine and the two exchanged taunts yesterday. Both would like to take on Ottke again and each concedes the other would beat the German champ.

PABA officials said Mundine, whom they rank second in the world, would probably get another title shot if he beats Sullivan and one other.

The sparring continued after the boxers were gone yesterday. Mundine's manager, Khoder Nasser, and New Zealand PABA rep and fight judge Ivan Zonich exchanged unpleasantries in an argument over who would keep time and collect score cards.

Revill called Zonich, Milham, the third judge, Oetjo, from Indonesia and WBA NZ rep Frank Martinez into a huddle and told them to sort it out.

Asked later if there would be a fight, Martinez replied "I guess so."

* The fight will be live on TV2 tonight. The coverage starts at 8.30.