That's how you fight like a man

Daniel Geale finally gets the last word as he proves too fast for Anthony Mundine, winning by a unanimous decision.

Daniel Geale retains his title. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph

DANIEL Geale brought respectability back to the circus last night.

An Australian flag over his shoulder, a salute to the crowd that was largely in his favour, and an exit with the IBF middleweight belt around his waist.

Geale won the fight but even he would be hard-pressed this morning to say he won it the way he wanted to.

Best put it in the bank and move on.

"He came prepared and he gave me a hard, hard fight," Geale said.

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Mundine was brave and surprised many, except the judges.

Judge Charlie Lucas scored it 116-112, Ray Reed 117-111 and Tony Marretta 117-111, all to Geale.

Rather than sounding the death-knell for Mundine's career it might have invigorated it. If anyone could stand another pre-fight build-up like this one - and that is a very, very big "if", for who really could - could there be a third?

Daniel Geale lands a heavy shot to Anthony Mundine's head. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph

For one, when Mundine tried to apologise to Geale's wife Sheena in the ring after the fight, she politely turned her head.

By then Mundine had already fallen into another Muhammad Ali impersonation - this time after Ali beat Sonny Liston the first time - by yelling at his critics ringside.

"I'm talking to you," he said, I believe to somebody behind me.

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It wasn't so scary.

No, it was a contest deserved of the build-up, Sometime ago, who knows when, the fight shifted territory. It went from a fight to an event, that boundary that all the big fights cross.

It crossed over, and so the likes of NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and Sports Minister Grahame Annesley were ringside. NRL players were speckled throughout the crowd. A-League boss David Gallop.

And given the lead up it was only natural there were small controversies.

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The national anthem was sung and done before either fighter had entered the ring. It was the apparent solution to Anthony Mundine's protest threat.

Instead, Mundine came to the ring with the anthem of his career. Didgeridoos kicked it off, boos and cheers cancelled each other out, and as the music stepped up into a hip-hop mixture Muhammad Ali, the soundtrack to Mundine's life, started chanting "The champ is here".

Then came the true champ.

Anthony Mundine enters the ring. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph

Geale, reclaiming his heritage, came in to nothing but the haunting sound of didgeridoo.

What a pity with two proud men, two proud Aboriginals fighting for a legitimate world title for the first time in history, that the national anthem was forced to be played before both men entered the ring to avoid Mundine's planned protest.

An opportunity gone.

But hey, they were here to fight.

The fight started nervously, carefully, for both men. Geale landed the first heavy shot, a left hook over Mundine's right temple.

But whatever Mundine had left, possibly mystique, Geale was respecting.

Anthony Mundine makes a quick exit after the judges award a unanimous points decision to Daniel Geale in their IBF middleweight title bout.

And while it was always clear Geale was going to press the pace from the start, Mundine showed he was more than willing from the first bell.

The first two rounds were sharp and cautious. Both wary of what the other was capable of.

Barriers began breaking down in the third, though. A Geale left hook, overhand right combination sprayed water from Mundine's head, a heavy thud coming from the gloves.

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Mundine was warned for a headbutt at one point. Referee Robert Byrd giving him a sharp warning.

By the fourth, the fight was on.

The anxiety was punched out of both men and, from here, they fought. Nerves were no longer a factor.

The crowd was clearly in Geale's favour. For what protests Mundine raised during the lead-up, for the role he sees himself, the When a "Mundine ... Mundine ..." chanted started in the fifth it was drowned out by boos.

Later he landed an elbow flush. He rabbit punched after the break. He landed another elbow. He did what he could to win.

Daniel Geale rocks Anthony Mundine with a straight left. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph

As the rounds wore on, Mundine was proving more resilient In a way, he hoodwinked Geale. He did not throw the overhand right nearly as much as he worked on for most of his camp, wary of Mundine's left hook counter.

And where he planned to stick to Mundine's chest, forever pressing the pace, Mundine was surprisingly resilient. His sharp counter punching was slowly taking a toll and, with it, Mundine's confidence was growing.

Still, Geale was winning the fight. He claimed the early rounds and even in the mid-to-late rounds he stood Mundine up with solid shots.

He was landing the great majority of heavier blows, thumping shots high on Mundine's head.

Yet Mundine was going nowhere. He shimmied and shifted, and always came back.

Anthony Mundine walks out in disgust after his loss. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph

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