What: WBC silver light middleweight title fight
Who: Anthony Mundine v Sergey Rabchenko,
When: Wednesday, November 12 – from 7.30pm (AEDT)
Where: Hisense Arena
I Can Watch It On: Main Event
What did they do last time?
Mundine suffered a unanimous points loss to impressive Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on April 9.
Rabchenko won a unanimous points decision over Bradley Price in November, 2013.
Things You Need To Know:
Mundine was knocked down five times in the loss to Clottey to drop to a 46-6 professional record. It was his second loss in his last four fights. He suffered a unanimous points loss to Daniel Geale in January, 2013 but bounced back with a seventh-round stoppage of legendary American Shane Mosley and a unanimous points win over Gunnar Jackson. He was no match for Clottey but has ignored widespread calls to retire as he clings to his dream of fighting Floyd Mayweather. The winner of this fight earns the right to fight the pound-for-pound king for his WBC light middleweight title.
Rabchenko has stopped six of his last eight opponents inside the distance but he was unable to stop Wales journeyman Price in his most recent fight 12 months ago. He scored a unanimous points victory that night but it was the least impressive performance of his 25-0 career. He had a third-round TKO against Gary Abajyan and a second-round KO of Adriano Nicchi in the lead up to the Price fight. The 28-year-old is trained by legendary English fighter Ricky Hatton.
Reason To Watch:
If you're a Mundine fan your 'Man's' career is on the line and he'll need all of your support against a bloke who can really fight. And if you're not a Mundine fan this could be your last chance to see him get punched in the face.
Reason To Turn Away:
If you don't like watching a bloke's career come to an end, possibly with a heavy concussion.
Say What?:
"He's a good, young strong kid but I just feel I have the skills, the experience and seasoning to beat him and maybe even stop him. When I'm mentally there it's not just Rabchenko, I'll take on anybody and give him a hell of a fight," – Mundine fancies his chances of pulling off an upset.
"A man who is fighting for his career is probably the most dangerous man on earth. He is fighting for his career and that makes me, as Sergey’s trainer, very, very cautious," – Rabchenko's trainer Ricky Hatton on Mundine.
Final Word:
Rabchenko is the heavy favourite with the bookies and for good reason. He is 11 years younger than Mundine, has more power and hasn't lost in 25 professional fights. But the Belarusian has never fought someone of Mundine's experience and 'The Man' is always at his most dangerous when backed into a corner. Both men have the extra motivation of knowing a win could set up a fight with Floyd Mayweather, with the winner to become the mandatory challenger for the American's WBC light middleweight belt. Mundine has the extra incentive of knowing a loss will spell the end of his 15-year boxing career. The Australian showed his toughness against Clottey when he went the distance despite being knocked down five times, but the road ends here for the former rugby league star. Rabchenko by unanimous points decision.