"Geale rejected a $US150,000 ($A192,100) offer to meet Abraham last year after his management decided to negotiate for a bout against Mundine. "We told the Mundine camp we'd reject the Abraham offer if they would fight us," said Geale's manager Bill Tracey." Got this from an Aussie website. After figuring out that Pavlik's last (mandatory) opponent got about US $250k, I think that $150k for Geale is an ok offer nowdays for a voluntary defence at 160... ...In late February, SE still couldn't tell us who AA is going to face as he might have very well had prepared for Geale in first place who then got replaced by an absolute opposing stylist in Simon. Ulli Wegner might have very well underprepared AA for that style just 3-4 weeks before the fight. It could show us that AA needs at least 7-8 weeks to fully prepare for the opponent he faces next...
I thought Geale's team said he wasn't ready for AA, and I believe I got that from you Tom. Now matter how you spin it Simon was a club fighter, ranked #43, and had been living off Bronco McKart's left overs.
That's not the point but I believe that AA is very condingent upon his coach Ulli Wegner and him preparing his fighter...AA wouldn't be in the position he's now without his coach, not even close...
Having seen 8 or 9 of Abraham's fights, I can't say I've ever seen him come in with a different gameplan for different styles of fighters. He fights exactly the same no matter who he's facing. He shells up, postures, and throws big shots when the other guy wears out. Someone who has a chin and applies a lot of pressure will always give Abraham trouble because he's completely unwilling to throw back when someone is punching at him.
Maybe I am watching his fights a bit more in detail but I guess noticing that Wegner prepares Abraham for his opponents style - not that AA changes his of delivering but he knows due to his preparation when to punch and when not and that is Wegner's accomplishment...
Sorry to sound ignorant, Tom, but is the bottom line of what you are saying is AA was originally to fight Geale, but for whatever reason ended up in the ring with Simon??
Not sure it matters that much. Geale would have done worse, Simon was limited but game. Geale couldn't punch his way through a wet paper bag no doubt. I'll be interested to see how far gone Mundine is. He really should win but based on his recent "efforts" I wouldn't be at all confident.
I agree with you as far Simon is concerned, the guy came to fight. His ranking is nowhere near what he is capable of, coming to fight and try to win.
I can roll with that.... Simon, at # 43, from the perfomance he put on (AA weight troubles or not) he is surely a little underated, if not underated a good bit. His jab was really good, and the way he caught AA a few times as AA was "getting out" from the ropes. Simon managed to snag AA a few times when AA was sliding laterally to get "out".:yep
Geale fights Mundine tonight in Aus. No one except the total Mundine haters are really expecting Geale to win, but Mundine has been on the slide so anything could happen. Mundine generates good coin here in Australia by swindling unaware casual fans, so Geale probably liked the idea of a decision loss to a lazy Mundine and better coin, as opposed to a potentially serious beatdown from AA for less, one that would limit his future career options greatly.
So the upshot to this is that AA can't adjust if need be? Not like he hasn't been in a few fights at this point......
I'm gonna say this ONE TIME, and ONE TIME only. After that if you ever mention it I will tell you to STFU! LuJaun Simon at #30 is under-rated. Head to head I think he's better than several guys who are ranked higher.
Some times fighters do not give us all they could have. Often it is because of their managers or promoters (see Calzaghe, RJJ, Michalewski, Erdei, Dawson (still young so I hope he will break out from the old-man circus), Kessler (legal issues) and many others. But - Mundine! He is master of his own destiny like few fighters and still does not challenge himself. It seems Kessler ruined his self-confidence ... which imo. is dumb. Mundine is a really good fighter and could get many great international fights - and could probably win many of them. He should not let a defeat to Kessler demotivate him. Move on and stop wasting your talent!