Mundine vs Ottke - Anotoiny Mundine -Too Much Too Soon?

By Tony Nobbs

29.11.01 - Unbeaten Australian Anthony Choc Mundine (10-0, 8ko's) gets the oppurtunity to shock the boxing world and prove that he is the "supreme athlete " that he has said he is when he challenges Sven Ottke (24-0, 4ko's) for the IBF Super Middleweight Championship in Dortmund, Germany on Saturday night. The 26 year old self proclaimed "Man", who only 20 months ago was one of the World's elite Rugby League players (earnig A$600,000 per season)goes into the fight having fought only ten professional contests and four amatuer bouts compared to the Champion's 24 profesional (12 Title fights) and over 300 as a World Championship amatuer (lilly white record 285-23 off the top of my head).

Most experts beleive it is a case of "Too Much Too Soon" for the IBF #14 contender who has not yet faced one serious opponent with the possible exception of awkward Sam Soliman (12-7) on September 3. He won that bout by a close and very unpopular split decision and tired badly over the last few rounds. This writer had Mundine winning 115-113 but am definetely in the minority. Mundine scored a three round stoppage of outclased US veteran Kevin Pompey in Montreal in July. An impresive result considering the fading Pompey went ten round distance last November with Jamacian Richard Grant, who easily outpointed Ottke's last victim, the infamous James Butler on Friday night. Pompey also lasted ten rounds with WBC 168 lb Champ Eric Lucas in November 1997. Mundine's last fight was a two round knockout over Guy Waters on October 20, a fight that he did not look impressive in until landing a devestating right hand.

Adhering to the belief that "Women weaken legs" Mundine has at least been preparing like a would be Champion,going without sex for the past ten weeks. "I will need every atom of strengt to knockout Sven Ottke.It helps. You go into the late rounds and your legs are as strong as at the start of the fight".

While many modern day trainers feel that no sex before a fight is simply a myth, the thinking here is that if it was good enough for legends like Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta to abstain for six weeks before an important fight it is good enough for todays Champions, and anyone who has seen photo's of Vicki LaMotta know what a Herculean sacrifice "The Raging Bull" made. My first teacher, veteran trainer Bernie Hall, a world class featherweight in the 1950's put it this way "Any woman having sex with a fighter a month before a fight should go find a street corner to work from".He had also been training for 45 minutes straight, another old school technique, before tapering down this week.

Mundine will need more than strong legs though to dethrone the 34 year old Title holder. After Ottke's most recent defence, an easy 12 round unanimous decision over big punching (but very overated) "Harlem Hammer" on September 1, Butler's trainer Don Turner described the German as "the most technically brilliant fighter in the world". Not a bad compliment from a man who has worked with Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield and Saoul Mamby to name a few. Ottke also possesses a World Class chin. With the apointment of three European judges, incliuding one German (referee will be no nonsense American Wayne Kelly) the chances of a Mundine decision victory are remote, particularly after his disgraceful and offending statements on October 22.

Since ariving in town two weeks ago, the outspoken Australian has done his best to build up the fight and has impressed in public workouts with the German camp being more than a little surprised with his blinding hand speed. It is these fast hands and his ability to rise to the occasion that make me feel an upset is not impossible. If Ottke has treated this fight as the walk n the park he has said it will be,branding the Challenger "a novice with a big mouth and average ability" he might just find Mundine a very hard proposition.Ottke has been sparing with Sam Soliman who has ben baiting the challenger and calling for a rematch. "Ottke can have 2000 Sam Solimans and it will not bother Choc.Choc will beat him again if he has to. No worries.They ned more than Soliman to get to Choc" said 5o year old Tony Mundine Snr who works as his sons Trainer and Sparring Partner. At yesterdays press conference,Mundine said "People down home know I don't say, I do. I don't talk, I walk. And I'm gonna walk all over him." He is also unconcerned with the judging as he says"It won't go the distance. I'm gonna knock this cat Ottke out". He had words with Nigerian Middleweight Jerry Elliott who fights on the undercard on Saturday night and is his confidence has been boosted with the arrival of twenty family and friends on the weekend. "It's great to have my peole around me and we are gonna shock and rock on Saturday night.

It is my belief that Mundine needed at least another five or six fights against quality journeyman/contenders to prepare him and expect a comfortable Ottke victory. In saying that, Mundine should not be written off completely. He is inexperienced but good, and physically very strong. Maybe because I'm Australian?

Australian trainer Noel Thornberry, brother of Ricky, who challenged Joe Calzaghe in 1999, rates Mundine jnr a better fighter than Mundine Snr, (I disagree) but one thing is for sure. If indeed Anthony Mundine is as good as his illustrious father at his best, Sven Ottke can kiss the IBF Super Middleweight Championship of the World goodbye. To win on Saturday night and become the second Aboriginal Australian to win a major World Title (Lionel Rose won 118lb Title in 1968) Mundine will need to improve more than 50% on what he has previously shown but as Kostya Tszyu says" Ottke is a different class but in boxing,anything is possible"

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