I recently saw Mundine's win over Danny Green. Highly impressive. I dunno how much his eye will effect him now, but how would this fight play out? One thing, Taylor has fast hands, but Mundine's are faster.
Mundine was pretty much exposed by Mikkel Kessler as well as (a very green version of him, admittedly) being KTFO by Sven Ottke some time back. I'm hardly a fan. I think Taylor would have a decent shout of beating Mundine, to be honest. In fact, I'd give Taylor a fighting chance of beating most at 168- the division is very top heavy, with Calzaghe and Kessler MILES above anything or anyone else there. Lucian Bute is decent but unspectacular, Miranda is making a bit of noise at the higher weight, Green was pretty much exposed by Mundine who, along with Andrade, are decent gatekeepers but no more. Even Lacy, whatever Jeff ever was, is now done and dusted. I see nothing in this little lot for Taylor to be frightened of, though he'd do well to stay well out of Mikkel Kessler's way...
How was Mundine exposed by Kessler? Have you even seen that fight? Kessler won, and won very clearly, but Mundine had his moments and gave a good account of himself.
Of course I've seen the fight...:nono: By exposed I mean as a top-class fighter. As you say yourself, Kessler won 'very clearly'. Having a few 'good moments' isn't good enough, surely? Mundine is a good fighter, sure, but he is not world class. Taylor certainly was world class at 160, and providing he can acclimatise as would appear from last night, I don't see any reason why he should be concerned about Mundine, who I repeat, is essentially a gatekeeper at 168.
Based on what? Taylor's devastating KO power? Or Mundines tendency to get KO'd so often? :notallthere:
Hard to refute, based on the Ottke KO...but considering he stood up to Green, Echols and Kessler, I'd say his chin is hardly suspect. Ottke caught Mundine on the temple.
As I've said elsewhere, the Ottke KO was an anomaly rather than the rule, but would you agree that Mundine is a 'gatekeeper' at 168 rather than a world class guy Tam? For all that he 'stood up' to Mikkel, he won no more than a handful of rounds...
I dunno. A mate and I argue about Mundine all the time. I'm not a fan, he is. Still, I can see the guys talent. He's learning and only getting better. The eye injury was a kick in the balls, but it's all there for him. A gate keeper for mine, is a guy who's a full level below the contenders, but who never has a bad night and will make you beat him. To me, Mundine is more contender/threat, than he is a gatekeeper. He hasn't hit his prime. Sure he got beat easy by Kessler. But Mundine has but a fraction of the experience of basicaly all the ranked fighters @ 160-175. It shows through every so often.
Taylor would have his hands full with Mundine...who imo is faster and stronger than he is. Don't let the KO to Ottke fool you. Mundine is amatuerish at times, but a solid fighter with heart, guts and determination. Fantastic athlete.
Maybe it's a definition thing. For me, a 'gatekeeper' is a guy who has skills, but isn't ever going to be top class. That sums up Mundine for me perfectly. He definitely has skills. People need to get perspective sometimes. To be a top ten contender means that you are an excellent fighter. But... ... he is never going to be a legitimate champ IMO. Ottke KHTFO (the perfect shot it may have been, but Ottke???), Kessler toyed with him, Calzaghe would hammer him and as I've said already here, I think Taylor would also beat him. Ditto Miranda. That's why I would call him a gatekeeper. He'll keep the pretenders/contenders like Green very, very honest, but he is NEVER going to be one of the very best. To get to the best, you need guys like Mundine on your resume. You always will have to go through Mundine (and Andrade, for that matter) to get to Mikkel and Joe at 168. IMO, that makes a 'gate keeper'...
Nah- he might be better (I wouldn't argue) but the principle is the same- neither will be a legitimate champ IMO, ever, but to be one, you have to beat one or the other, or at least beat the guy who beats them...
The only reason Mundine lasted the distance with Kessler was because, like Fraud, he twisted his back during all the crucial moments where he was under fire, sure Mundine can be the American definition of a 'force' if he's allowed to impliment that illegal tactic. He talks like an obnoxious brash young American too, funnily enough :stir: , .....:doh: and then cries about people being 'un-Australian' for thinking he's an awful, pretentious fuckwit of a person who wont cough up money for his mismatches on ppv, ...you can't have it both ways my dearest racial catalyst, you just keep concerntrating on civil unrest to live out your fantasy as a young Mohammed Ali, fighting for the rights of 'his people' .
