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Real Geale takes out The Man

Tasmanian Daniel Geale has retained his IBF middleweight world title belt and avenged the only loss of his professional career with a unanimous points victory over arch-rival Anthony Mundine at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

In his fourth title defence since defeating Germany's Sebastian Sylvester in 2011, Geale was dominant from the opening bell in arguably the finest performance of his career.

The 31-year-old combined superior speed and work-rate to totally outclass Mundine in what will likely be the 37-year-old's final professional fight.

Judge Charlie Lucas scored the fight 116-112 to Geale while Ray Reed and Tony Marcatta both saw it 117-111 in the champions' favour.

The win improves Geale's professional record to 28-1 while Mundine's third career loss in 47 fights will almost certainly send the former rugby league star into retirement.

Geale, who thought he won the first bout in 2009, entered the ring determined to make a statement and silence his outspoken opponent.

With the raucous crowd firmly behind him, Geale landed the first telling blow of the fight, a sharp left hook that caught Mundine flush on the right cheek in an otherwise even opening round.

Both fighters had their moments in a frenetic second round and the intensity went up another notch in the third when Mundine was warned by referee Robert Byrd twice for an alleged head-butt.

Geale vented his frustrations with a vicious straight right that rocked Mundine, but the challenger quickly regained his composure.

The next three rounds were hard-fought but Geale's superior speed and slick combinations ensured it was his fight to lose at the midway point.

Momentum stayed with Geale until a rare flurry from Mundine in the dying stages of round eight gave his supporters some hope.

But the champion continued to be far more productive, outworking his older opponent to take a commanding lead with three rounds remaining.

He rammed home his advantage in the 10th and 11th rounds and put an exclamation point on his victory in the final round with a final flurry as he came close to finishing the fight early.

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