Mundine hires Brissie tough nuts for sparring

ANTHONY Mundine is assembling five of the toughest fighters in Brisbane to prepare his body for a brutal assault from Danny Green in his rematch at Adelaide Oval on February 3.

Mundine arrives home in Sydney next week after three weeks of sparring in America and has a ferocious five ready to start preparing him for what could top the first Green-Mundine fight in 2006 as the biggest grossing bout ever in Australia.

The five Brisbane fighters are Aaron Russell and his twin brother Daniel, heavyweight Adam Lovelock, world No.12 light-heavyweight Trent Broadhurst and star amateur Adam Copland.

Aaron Russell, a former national champ, fights for the Australasian cruiserweight title against Kiwi Asher Derbyshire at the Mansfield Tavern tomorrow night while Daniel Russell faces kickboxing star Ben Kelleher on the undercard.

In a shock move Green is planning to hire Charles Hatley, who stopped Mundine in 11 rounds last year, as one of his sparring partners.

He has already recruited American light-heavyweight Cedric Agnew who helped him prepare for his victory over alltime great Roy Jones in 2009.

“Cedric’s a very good boxer,’’ Green said.

“And I’m looking at hiring some smaller, faster guys. We’re looking at Charles Hatley. I’m glad Choc (Mundine) is sparring all those big, powerful guys up in the Brisbane heat. I hope they all really rough him up and I’ll finish off what’s left.’’

Mundine’s sparring team is being organised by his Brisbane cornerman Chris McCullen, who trains the Logan Boxing Team.

“Choc is training very well in America,’’ he said.

Latest UBET odds have Green a solid favourite at $1.58.