Another Green-Mundine boxing rivalry in the making

The Advertiser

3 days ago

A third instalment of the Mundine-Green boxing rivalry is on the cards after Rahim Mundine scored an impressive second-round stoppage in Sydney.
With his father and former world champion Antony in his corner, 25-year-old Rahim carried too much power for his Fijian opponent Joe Vatusaqata (1-5, 1 KO) on Wednesday night.
Super middleweight Rahim (2-0, 1 KO) was having his first fight in more than three years after injuries derailed his promising rugby league career.
He floored the Fijian halfway through the second round and dropped him a second time with a right hand, prompting the corner to throw in the towel.
Rahim was on the verge of making the South Sydney NRL side a few years ago but suffered a dislocated hip after being tackled by Joseph Suaalii, who has gone on to star in both league and union.
"In hindsight it was a blessing. It made me stronger mentally to be honest," Rahim Mundine said.
"I was probably a bit of a softy at the time when it happened, I felt sorry for myself."
Anthony Mundine, who won his first fight with arch adversary Danny Green and lost the second, was adamant their sons would meet even though Green's son Archie has yet to have a professional fight.
"I'm sure Archie is going to do well, he looks good," Anthony Mundine said.
"Danny is talking about him being five times better than him.
"It's got to be built up, they've both got to get experience, we want to get them both at their peak."
He described Rahim's performance as beautiful, adding he always knew his son had talent.
Alex Leapai Jr, another son of a famous fighting father, improved to 5-0-1 (4 KOs) with a first round KO of Herve Silu Mata 3-4 (2 KOs).
Leapai's father, also named Alex, unsuccessfully challenged former IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 and was renowned for his power.
"Just growing up always watching dad, I always wanted to be like dad, tough like that, knocking people out," Leapai Jr said.
He was coming off the first slight blemish of his professional career, a draw in his last bout.
"I've had a long time since February to think about all the stuff I did in that fight and what I didn't do," Leapai Jr said.
"Today I made sure that I did it and one of those things was to let my hands go."
Another winner on the undercard was New Zealander David Nyika, who bounced back from his loss to cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia with a fifth-round stoppage of fellow Kiwi Nik Charalampous.
Nyika (11-1,10 KOs), the self-confessed nice guy who says he doesn't enjoy confrontation, said he had overcome the mental roadblock of his fourth-round KO loss to Opetaia in January and the win was a first step towards a second world title challenge.
"I'd never lost like that in the sport of boxing, I credit Jai for whatever success I have in the future because he put me through that test," Nyika said.
A third instalment of the Mundine-Green boxing rivalry is on the cards after Rahim Mundine scored an impressive second-round stoppage in Sydney.
With his father and former world champion Antony in his corner, 25-year-old Rahim carried too much power for his Fijian opponent Joe Vatusaqata (1-5, 1 KO) on Wednesday night.
Super middleweight Rahim (2-0, 1 KO) was having his first fight in more than three years after injuries derailed his promising rugby league career.
He floored the Fijian halfway through the second round and dropped him a second time with a right hand, prompting the corner to throw in the towel.
Rahim was on the verge of making the South Sydney NRL side a few years ago but suffered a dislocated hip after being tackled by Joseph Suaalii, who has gone on to star in both league and union.
"In hindsight it was a blessing. It made me stronger mentally to be honest," Rahim Mundine said.
"I was probably a bit of a softy at the time when it happened, I felt sorry for myself."
Anthony Mundine, who won his first fight with arch adversary Danny Green and lost the second, was adamant their sons would meet even though Green's son Archie has yet to have a professional fight.
"I'm sure Archie is going to do well, he looks good," Anthony Mundine said.
"Danny is talking about him being five times better than him.
"It's got to be built up, they've both got to get experience, we want to get them both at their peak."
He described Rahim's performance as beautiful, adding he always knew his son had talent.
Alex Leapai Jr, another son of a famous fighting father, improved to 5-0-1 (4 KOs) with a first round KO of Herve Silu Mata 3-4 (2 KOs).
Leapai's father, also named Alex, unsuccessfully challenged former IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 and was renowned for his power.
"Just growing up always watching dad, I always wanted to be like dad, tough like that, knocking people out," Leapai Jr said.
He was coming off the first slight blemish of his professional career, a draw in his last bout.
"I've had a long time since February to think about all the stuff I did in that fight and what I didn't do," Leapai Jr said.
"Today I made sure that I did it and one of those things was to let my hands go."
Another winner on the undercard was New Zealander David Nyika, who bounced back from his loss to cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia with a fifth-round stoppage of fellow Kiwi Nik Charalampous.
Nyika (11-1,10 KOs), the self-confessed nice guy who says he doesn't enjoy confrontation, said he had overcome the mental roadblock of his fourth-round KO loss to Opetaia in January and the win was a first step towards a second world title challenge.
"I'd never lost like that in the sport of boxing, I credit Jai for whatever success I have in the future because he put me through that test," Nyika said.
A third instalment of the Mundine-Green boxing rivalry is on the cards after Rahim Mundine scored an impressive second-round stoppage in Sydney.
With his father and former world champion Antony in his corner, 25-year-old Rahim carried too much power for his Fijian opponent Joe Vatusaqata (1-5, 1 KO) on Wednesday night.
Super middleweight Rahim (2-0, 1 KO) was having his first fight in more than three years after injuries derailed his promising rugby league career.
He floored the Fijian halfway through the second round and dropped him a second time with a right hand, prompting the corner to throw in the towel.
Rahim was on the verge of making the South Sydney NRL side a few years ago but suffered a dislocated hip after being tackled by Joseph Suaalii, who has gone on to star in both league and union.
"In hindsight it was a blessing. It made me stronger mentally to be honest," Rahim Mundine said.
"I was probably a bit of a softy at the time when it happened, I felt sorry for myself."
Anthony Mundine, who won his first fight with arch adversary Danny Green and lost the second, was adamant their sons would meet even though Green's son Archie has yet to have a professional fight.
"I'm sure Archie is going to do well, he looks good," Anthony Mundine said.
"Danny is talking about him being five times better than him.
"It's got to be built up, they've both got to get experience, we want to get them both at their peak."
He described Rahim's performance as beautiful, adding he always knew his son had talent.
Alex Leapai Jr, another son of a famous fighting father, improved to 5-0-1 (4 KOs) with a first round KO of Herve Silu Mata 3-4 (2 KOs).
Leapai's father, also named Alex, unsuccessfully challenged former IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 and was renowned for his power.
"Just growing up always watching dad, I always wanted to be like dad, tough like that, knocking people out," Leapai Jr said.
He was coming off the first slight blemish of his professional career, a draw in his last bout.
"I've had a long time since February to think about all the stuff I did in that fight and what I didn't do," Leapai Jr said.
"Today I made sure that I did it and one of those things was to let my hands go."
Another winner on the undercard was New Zealander David Nyika, who bounced back from his loss to cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia with a fifth-round stoppage of fellow Kiwi Nik Charalampous.
Nyika (11-1,10 KOs), the self-confessed nice guy who says he doesn't enjoy confrontation, said he had overcome the mental roadblock of his fourth-round KO loss to Opetaia in January and the win was a first step towards a second world title challenge.
"I'd never lost like that in the sport of boxing, I credit Jai for whatever success I have in the future because he put me through that test," Nyika said.