Mundine vs. Rabchenko confirmed for November 12th

 
ANTHONY Mundine will roll the dice on his professional career when he takes on unbeaten and big-punching Belarusian Sergey Rabchenko for the WBC silver light middleweight title on November 12th at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena in one of the most anticipated events to be staged in Australia’s sporting capital this year.

 
The winner will earn the mandatory position for the prestigious WBC light middleweight world title, currently held by the five-division world champion and prominent face of boxing – the pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather.

 
Leading Australian boxing promoter Brian Amatruda of Big Time Boxing, who will promote the event, believes the card will bring much deserves publicity to both the domestic boxing scene as well as Melbourne’s sporting landscape.

 
“For some time, Melbourne has been the home for higher end professional boxing in Australia,” said Amatruda. “For Mundine, a fighter who has predominately fought interstate to return to Melbourne as the headline act, speaks volumes about the strength of Australian boxing.”

 
“With that said, it is make or break time for him. If he wins, he’s effectively redeemed himself against a universally respected opponent in a fight he doesn’t have to take. If he loses, well, it looks as if he’ll hang up his gloves.”

 
Rabchenko, 28, is trained and managed by legendary English boxer-turned-promoter Ricky Hatton, who is best remembered for ending the decorated career of Australian boxing icon Kostya Tszyu.

 
The affable Hatton, known for both his amicable character and sense of character outside of the ring, was strictly business in speaking about Mundine.

 
“Mundine is known for having beat some decent fighters and picking up some belts along the way, but in Rabchenko, he’s fighting a fighter who arguably hasn’t hit his straps yet, but is still rendering fighters unconscious.” Hatton explained.

 
“Mundine is looking to earn some respect by taking on a fighter like Rabchenko, who is struggling to land bigger fights – which I respect him for – but this doesn’t end well for Mundine.”

 
With a professional record that presently stands at 46-6, Mundine holds a resume that stands out as one of Australia’s best, statistically speaking. Mundine is a talented and outspoken athlete that polarizes opinions of Australian’s alike.

 
In Rabchenko, Mundine at the ripe old age of 39, knows he is facing potentially the toughest fight of his life. He will be battling for his future against the formidable Belarusian, who is undefeated in 25 fights and hasn’t looked close to dropping a fight in his budding professional career.

 
At this point, Mundine realizes that a loss could end his colourful career, while a victory would propel “The Man” to the biggest fight in Australian boxing history.

 
Often maligned for handpicking soft opponents, Mundine would need to beat one of the most avoided fighters in the light middleweight division if he is to become the first Australian to win legitimate versions of the world championship across three descending weight divisions.

 
Rabchenko is the reigning WBC Silver titlist as well as the European champion – both at light middleweight – while becoming renowned for his power-punching. Mundine knows he faces his greatest test yet.

 
Hatton Promotions have agreed to travel to Australia to fight Mundine, after many of Europe’s best-credentialed boxers refused to step into the ring with the feared Belarusian, citing the high risk versus low reward scenario that a fight with Rabchenko represents.

 
Mundine has lost only three fights over a nine year course in his professional career, having defeated a handful of marquee Australian world champions including former multi division world champion Danny Green, current IBF middleweight champion Sam Soliman on three separate occasions as well as former unified middleweight world champion Daniel Geale.

 
He is about to leave Australia to train in the US, where he will mix it with the world’s best. Mundine has vowed to leave no stone unturned as he plans to upset the undefeated champion in front of his home crowd.

 
 
Tickets are available from Ticketek and will start from $39.95.