madjack
12-11-2002, 02:32 AM
Mitchell camp eyes Mundine
By Grantlee Kieza
November 10, 2002
ANTHONY Mundine has taken a giant step toward his dream of a world boxing title with WBA champion Byron Mitchell ready to fight him in Australia.
And Don King, the world's most powerful promoter, is so excited by the prospect of matching his man with The Man that his hair is standing on end as he waits for Mundine to talk terms.
Although King's company would not reveal the purse they would want for Mitchell to fight in Australia, insiders say the WBA titleholder has never received more than $400,000 for a fight.
That is in contrast to champions Sven Ottke (IBF), Joe Calzaghe (WBO) and Eric Lucas (WBC), who fight for purses above $1 million.
Mitchell, regarded as the least dangerous of the four world super-middleweight (76kg) champions, had to climb from the canvas twice in the first round of his last bout, against former world middleweight champ Julio Cesar Green, before winning by KO in round four.
The world champ is managed by King's son, Carl, and if Mundine were to get a title shot he would probably have to ditch his manager Khoder Nasser in favour of the American.
King's matchmaker Bobby Goodman said Mitchell had a mandatory title defence against Frenchman Mehdi Sahnoune in February and then would be available for an optional defence against Mundine or any other contender in the world top 15.
"Mundine has contacted this office about a fight with Byron," Goodman said. "He has not yet made a firm offer to bring Byron to Australia, but we are very interested in seeing what he proposes.
"Mundine would be well advised to join the Don King stable of fighters because no one has a record of producing world champions like we do."
Goodman, who is also negotiating with Solomon Haumono and Paul Briggs for fights in the US, described Mundine as a big drawcard and said he would make an exciting, competitive fight with Mitchell.
He said he would welcome bringing the world champ Down Under -- he helped stage the Joe Frazier-Jimmy Ellis battle of former world heavyweight champs at St Kilda in 1975.
Mitchell has been a professional since missing a place at the US Olympics in 1996.
The father of five first won the WBA title with an upset over fellow American Frankie Liles in 1999.
He lost it on points to Frenchman Bruno Girard in Paris in 2000 but won it back in a close battle with Puerto Rican Manny Siaca last year.
He is tough, aggressive and hard-hitting, but slow. He is easy to hit and has trouble with fast boxers.
Mitchell is a noted puncher and says his power improved when he was a sparring partner for Poland's German-based WBO light-heavyweight champ Dariusz Michalczewski.
In the best performance of his 17-fight career, Mundine stopped Ricky Thornberry in 11 rounds at Carrara on the Gold Coast a week ago last night.
Thornberry went the distance with Ottke and Calzaghe but could not survive the 12 rounds against the explosive Mundine.
The Sunday Telegraph
By Grantlee Kieza
November 10, 2002
ANTHONY Mundine has taken a giant step toward his dream of a world boxing title with WBA champion Byron Mitchell ready to fight him in Australia.
And Don King, the world's most powerful promoter, is so excited by the prospect of matching his man with The Man that his hair is standing on end as he waits for Mundine to talk terms.
Although King's company would not reveal the purse they would want for Mitchell to fight in Australia, insiders say the WBA titleholder has never received more than $400,000 for a fight.
That is in contrast to champions Sven Ottke (IBF), Joe Calzaghe (WBO) and Eric Lucas (WBC), who fight for purses above $1 million.
Mitchell, regarded as the least dangerous of the four world super-middleweight (76kg) champions, had to climb from the canvas twice in the first round of his last bout, against former world middleweight champ Julio Cesar Green, before winning by KO in round four.
The world champ is managed by King's son, Carl, and if Mundine were to get a title shot he would probably have to ditch his manager Khoder Nasser in favour of the American.
King's matchmaker Bobby Goodman said Mitchell had a mandatory title defence against Frenchman Mehdi Sahnoune in February and then would be available for an optional defence against Mundine or any other contender in the world top 15.
"Mundine has contacted this office about a fight with Byron," Goodman said. "He has not yet made a firm offer to bring Byron to Australia, but we are very interested in seeing what he proposes.
"Mundine would be well advised to join the Don King stable of fighters because no one has a record of producing world champions like we do."
Goodman, who is also negotiating with Solomon Haumono and Paul Briggs for fights in the US, described Mundine as a big drawcard and said he would make an exciting, competitive fight with Mitchell.
He said he would welcome bringing the world champ Down Under -- he helped stage the Joe Frazier-Jimmy Ellis battle of former world heavyweight champs at St Kilda in 1975.
Mitchell has been a professional since missing a place at the US Olympics in 1996.
The father of five first won the WBA title with an upset over fellow American Frankie Liles in 1999.
He lost it on points to Frenchman Bruno Girard in Paris in 2000 but won it back in a close battle with Puerto Rican Manny Siaca last year.
He is tough, aggressive and hard-hitting, but slow. He is easy to hit and has trouble with fast boxers.
Mitchell is a noted puncher and says his power improved when he was a sparring partner for Poland's German-based WBO light-heavyweight champ Dariusz Michalczewski.
In the best performance of his 17-fight career, Mundine stopped Ricky Thornberry in 11 rounds at Carrara on the Gold Coast a week ago last night.
Thornberry went the distance with Ottke and Calzaghe but could not survive the 12 rounds against the explosive Mundine.
The Sunday Telegraph