Boxing: Mundine 'a legend' after Wood win

Anthony Mundine. Photo / Getty Images

Former toilet cleaner and garbage collector Garth Wood's boxing resume may not be the best in the world.

But Anthony Mundine believed he had lifted himself into legendary status by avenging last December's shock loss to Wood with a unanimous points decision in Brisbane on Wednesday night.

Barely a year ago Wood was working three jobs to support his two daughters.

But he has not looked back since earning a shot at Mundine last December as a reward for winning the Australian version of "The Contender" TV reality program in 2010.

His modest record stands at 10 wins, two losses and one draw.

Before the middleweight fight, critics believed Mundine was at a career crossroads.

But Mundine (41 wins, four losses) believed he had not only silenced critics calling for his retirement - he was now a "legend".

"He was probably more desperate in this fight than the first one just to prove he can beat me (again)," Mundine said.

"But I rose to the occasion. That's not just a sign of a champion - it's the sign of a legend."

Boasting a nasty cut above his right eye from a head clash, Mundine said he had to counter "dirty" tactics to overcome Wood and win over the judges 96-92 96-92 95-93.

Yet Mundine was the only one deducted a point - for holding late in the bout.

"I am a bit upset that he takes a point off me for holding but he can't take a point off him for headbutting, holding, and hitting below the belt," Mundine said.

"(But) to adapt to his style is phenomenal.

"People have to understand I am fighting a guy who is as desperate as an Ethiopian for dinner.

"That's a bad way to put it but that's how desperate he was.

"And he was dirty. I didn't expect it in the first fight and that is probably why he came out on top.

"But I was prepared for this one. It was still hard to deal with."

Wood's manager Michael Karagiannis made the extraordinary pre-fight threat that he was planning civil action against organisers should the bout end with "a stench".

In the past, Mundine has been accused of receiving preferential treatment from officials in Queensland - the only Australian state without a government legislated boxing authority.

Wood said he would cop the result, but did not believe he would fight in Queensland again.

"I may have lost the fight but I don't think it was unanimous," Wood said.

"I am a good sport and I will cop defeat but no way in the world was I given a chance to fight my style of fight.

"Every time I was trying to make a good go at it he (Mundine) complained to the ref and the ref jumped in.

"I would love for there to be a third fight but there is no way I would be coming to Brisbane."

Wood belatedly received a standing count in the ninth round but later denied he was knocked down, calling it a slip.

But he conceded he was caught flush by Mundine early in the 10th, prompting a second count.

- AAP