Tony Nobbs: Anthony Mundine retained his WBA regular 168 pound strap with an effortless fourth round knock out of limited Argentine Jose Clavero at the Sydney Entertainment Center on Monday night. Clavero was cut over the left eye by a sharp Mundine right hand , one of many that got through. In round four the predictable end came from a left hook-right hand, Clavero taking the full count from Raul Caiz Jnr. Time 2:14. Clavero was gritty enough but lacked the speed or skill to cope for long..
Father of eight Clavero,32, a former WBC Mundo Hispanic titlist entered the ring rated number 15 by the WBA. He has now lost five of his last eight (with one draw) after going 25-1 at the start of his career. Mundine, also 32, goes to 30-3 with 23 knockouts.
In the main support Australian number three Heavyweight Solomon Haumono scored a spectacular second round KO of Seia Mailata. The Samoan born Mailata had recently gone eight rounds with faded American Ed Mahone and had a draw with capable Washington State and ex WBC Fecarbox champ Chauncey Welliver in his previous two starts. A good win for the lovable Sol, a class act. Two devastating right hands, the final busting the visitors nose, ended the fight. Sol is the son of Tongan born Maile Haumono, a former Australian and OPBF heavyweight champion of the 70’s and is capable of doing some big things in boxing. He’s trained by the legendary Johnny Lewis. Sol, 32, is now 13-0, 13 KO’s, Seia 8-7-1, 8 KO’s. Mailata also lost in 3 rounds for the OPBF 175 lb belt to Paul Briggs in 2001.
Heavyweight John Hopoate (ANBF # 9) got revenge over Brian Fitzgerald (ANBF # 8) scoring a five round TKO. No knockdowns. “Hoppa”, like Mundine and Haumono is a former rugby league star. This time around he punched too hard and persistent for Fitzgerald, a recent NSW state title challenger who took a disputed verdict over Hopoate early this year.
In the best fight of the night, Mundine sparring partner Daniel Baff (ANBF # 7 at 175 lb) and Victorian Kane McKay (unrated by ANBF) battled it out to a six round majority draw (one judge favoring the visitor McKay) at light heavyweight.Last time out McKay was ko’d in two by Australian number five Wayne Parker for OPBF 168 lb belt.
Former world amateur champ Ercument Aslan out pointed regular loser Paz Veijo, a late sub, over six rounds at super middleweight. A difficult night for Turkish born Aslan, 31, now training out of Kostya Tszyu’s Academy, in his first bout since an opening round knockout loss to Joy Ali in 2004. The quintessential “have gloves will travel” type Paz, from New Zealand, tried hard in his sixteenth fight for the year and knows how to survive and make decent opponents look very average.
Peter “Baby” Mitrevski, (ANBF # 4 at 160 lb) who lost for the Australian middleweight title last month, scored a unanimous four round decision over often beat Bigshotcamp from Thailand, at light middle poundage. Peter is hoping to challenge for the 154 lb strap next year. The Thai proved a tough and entertaining opponent, as he fell over the top rope entering the ring, missed the stool coming back to his corner following round two and escorting th ring card girl around the ring between the third and fourth stanza’s. In between, he took some solid punches and never looked like wilting. He received a large applause on his way back to the dressing room.
There were five other under card bouts to start the night. For full results check www.anbf.org
Promoter Tony Mundine Snr.
Main Event Commentators: Clinton Gybras, Barry Michael and Paul Briggs.