By Brendan George: It is expected to be announced tomorrow that former 2 time WBA Super Middleweight Champion Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine will fight for the IBF North American Middleweight title in his scheduled bout with Bronco ‘The Superman’ McKart on July 14th 2012. The promotion dubbed “When Worlds Collide” is promoted by Vlad Warton of Millennium Events and will be held at the Palms Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, USA.
Mundine, (43-4 -25 KOs) won the WBA Interim Light Middleweight title in November last year and was expected to fight WBA Light Middleweight Champion Austin Trout this summer. Negotiations have deteriorated between the Trout and Mundine camps, with both parties going their own way. The interesting factor is Mundine’s decision to fight for an IBF Middleweight regional title, and in this writers opinion, that decision points squarely to achieving a ranking at Middleweight with the IBF and challenging fellow countryman/ IBF Middleweight Champion Daniel Geale.
The question regarding a Geale vs. Mundine rematch was directed to the Australian agent of Millennium Events, Brendan Bourke. While being candid about his replies, Mr Bourke did offer the following comments: “Millennium Events is proud to be promoting Anthony Mundine in Las Vegas on the 14th of July at the Palms Resort and Casino. While the fight is at Middleweight and possibly sanctioned for an IBF regional title, it’s drawing a long bow associating the sanctioning of this title belt with a future Geale rematch”. While Mr Bourke has attempted to distance the Mundine camp from any concept of a rematch with team Geale, he did concede the following: “Millennium Events and Team Mundine are focused on getting a World Title shot in Las Vegas late this year, however if Geale was to unify the WBA and IBF Middleweight titles come September, that could be something Team Mundine might be interested in.”
As for the author, I stand by my speculation that Anthony Mundine is positioning himself for a shot at fellow countryman and Middleweight IBF champion Daniel Geale end of 2012. Meanwhile Anthony Mundine has arrived in Las Vegas in preparation for his upcoming bout with Bronco McKart (54-9 -32 KO’s). Millennium Events Promoter Vlad Warton stated “ Everything is ready for a great fight night on July 14th. Two former World Champions meet head to head at the Palms Resort and Casino and we are proud to be helping Anthony Mundine achieve his dream of fighting in America”. Mr Warton continued, “The main event is USA vs. Australia and in the co feature USA vs. Russia. This will be a great night of international championship boxing”.
In what will be an action packed fight card, the main support bout will be contested over 12 rounds for the IBF International Light Heavyweight title between IBF #11 Dmitry Sukhotsky 18-1 (13KO) and Cornelius White 19-1 (16 KO).
Screening Live on Wealth TV USA and Main Event PPV in Australia
Tickets are available through Ticketek or The Palms Resort and Casino
Order viewing on Main Event PPV in Australia through this link http://www.mainevent.com.au/boxing/mundine-vs-mckart-1298/