Anthony Mundine vs Sergey Rabchenko at Hisense Arena in Mebourne. Source: News Corp Australia
IT’S a testament to The Man.
In the 10th round, Sergey Rabchenko landed a brutal right upper cut but Anthony Mundine held on as if his career depended on it.
Which it did.
Rabchenko, the previously unbeaten Belarusian, followed the blow with a flurry of punches that left Mundine groggy and struggling to stay on his feet.
Mundine somehow recovered to finish with an impressive final two rounds and win by split decision.
The two Australian judges, Andrew Campbell and Malcolm Bulner, gave it to Mundine 115-113 and 116-112 but Switzerland’s Fabien Guggenheim had Rabchenko the victor by two points.
It has been described as one of the finest performances of Mundine’s career.
Watch the punch that should have floored Mundine. Go to the 45-second mark in the video above.
The punch that should have floored Mundine. Source: FoxSports
A groggy Mundine. Source: FoxSports
Rabchenko follows it with a mean left. Source: FoxSports
The punishment continues. Source: FoxSports
Mundine holds on for his life. Source: FoxSports
Mundine wound back the clock to outclass Rabchenko and keep alive his dream of another world title.
The victory gave the 39-year-old the WBC silver light middleweight title and moved him closer to a fight with American pound-for-pound king and WBC light middleweight title holder Floyd Mayweather.
The victory gave 39-year-old Mundine the WBC silver light middleweight title and made him No.1 challenger to WBC title holder American superstar Floyd Mayweather.
Whether that fight ever happens is up to Mayweather but Mundine showed he wasn’t past his prime.
Mundine said he hadn’t fought anyone during his long career who body-punched as hard as the previously undefeated Rabchenko.
“He’s a young lion,” Mundine said.
“The man can punch and he’s probably the best body puncher I’ve ever faced.
“But I outboxed him.”
With his career on the line following his heavy loss to Ghana’s Joshua Clottey in April Mundine looked sharp from the outset with the big-hitting Rabchenko unable to penetrate his tight defence.
After four rounds two judges had Mundine ahead.
He copped plenty of punishment in the seventh round from Rabchenko, who had 25 wins, with 18 by knock out, in 25 fights before encountering Mundine.
It was all tied up at the end of the eighth with one judge picking Rabchenko, one Mundine and one scoring it a draw.
The three-time world champion Mundine dug deep.
“It was do or die,” he said.
“He had a couple of great rounds but I thought I won the last two rounds and got the victory.
“I proved everybody wrong again — it’s not about the age.
“It’s about the mind, my seasoning and my experience.”
SOURCE: news.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 