Townsville Bulletin

MUNDINE DRAWS FIRST BLOOD

- GRANTLEE KIEZA

JEFF Horn has already conceded the first round to Anthony Mundine ahead of their November 30 fight at Suncorp Stadium with his team admitting that “The Man” is a far superior natural athlete.

In a stunning admission Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton says Mundine is one of the most gifted athletes ever in Australian boxing and that he holds all the physical advantages going into the biggest all- Australian fight of all time.

Rushton says Horn must rely on a grinding work ethic to overcome Mundine’s advantages in size, speed and movement.

Horn is preparing for a fierce, physical fight and plans to slow Mundine with constant aggression and unrelentin­g pressure. He admits Mundine’s speed is still in abun- dance even though “The Man’’ is 43 and in his 19th year as a profession­al boxer.

“He’s excelled in rugby league and then boxing, becoming a champion in whatever sport he chose,’’ Rushton said.

“Jeff doesn’t have that same natural athleticis­m. He played soccer in Brisbane for 12 years without reaching any great heights and everything he has achieved in boxing is through sheer hard work, grinding out one victory after another.

“That’s what we see in this fight; Jeff grinding out the rounds early, wearing Mundine out and then scoring a spectacula­r knockout.’’

Brisbane’s former world welterweig­ht champ knows Mundine is fired up like never before, psyching himself up for a spiteful showdown that revolves around Mundine as the oppressed, the underdog.

 ??  ?? GRINDER: Jeff Horn at his Brisbane gym and ( inset) Anthony Mundine.
GRINDER: Jeff Horn at his Brisbane gym and ( inset) Anthony Mundine.

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