Mundine Up To Speed For Green

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Mundine up to speed for Green
By Grantlee Kieza
April 1, 2004

AS Anthony Mundine prepares to face the biggest threat to his world boxing title, he has gone back to the man who have him one of his hardest fights to help him prepare.

Sam Soliman lost a controversial 12-round decision to Mundine in Wollongong in 2001, but this week the pair staged a six-round rematch at Mundine's Redfern gym that was just as thrilling.

Soliman, 30, who still maintains he was robbed in their fight three years ago, came away from the sparring session amazed at Mundine's improvement to the extent he now tips The Man to out-punch arch-foe Danny Green.

"Mundine has improved out of sight since we fought," Soliman said.

"I thought our sparring was 50/50, he dominated with his hand speed on the outside but I could out-fight him on the inside.

"But he is so quick at long range that I really feel Danny Green would be battling to get close enough to trade punches with him.

"Danny is very strong and rugged but I believe Mundine will be too fast for him."

Soliman has won 12 straight fights since dropping the split decision to Mundine and is now the No.4 contender for the IBF middleweight title, positioning himself for a shot at veteran champ Bernard Hopkins.

Mundine fights hard-hitting but lead-footed Puerto Rican Manny Siaca at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on May 5.

"If Siaca is a slow, strong kind of fighter Mundine will have a field day," Soliman says. "I couldn't believe how fast Mundine's hands are now.

"I still think I can beat him because I can get in close and outwork him.

"But at long range he is dynamite, even quicker than Kostya Tszyu."

Soliman was the chief sparring partner for Tszyu before the world junior-welterweight king had to withdraw from his scheduled February 7 fight with old rival Sharmba Mitchell in Moscow and says sparring Mundine and Tszyu has given him a great insight into the styles of both world champs.

"Kostya is still the better all-round fighter," Soliman said.

"But Mundine has that freakish speed and he's learning all the time.

"I thought his ego would get in the way but in the gym he was a real listener and I was showing him different things I'd picked up over the years and he was all ears,

"I think it's going to take someone really special, a really great fighter, to end Mundine's title reign."

The Daily Telegraph


cheers bryan..!!