'History in the Making...'

Some phrases have become so prone to misuse that they almost don't mean anything anymore.

'History in the making right here in the Acer Arena!' was the hyperbolic declaration of dismay made by the Australian broadcast team in the wake of Garth Wood's 5th round knockout of top ten middleweight contender Anthony Mundine. The problem is that there was nothing really special about the fight but the ending. Australians use English differently than we Americans. Maybe the broadcasters just meant Mundine was history. I hope so but I doubt it. Since becoming perhaps the only person to be laid out by a single punch from former 168 lb alphabet titlist Sven Ottke, Mundine's only fight outside the friendly environs of Australia has been a brave journey to that hostile and faraway land of New Zealand.

While Mundine did take the risk of fighting a New Zealander in his own country, however, it was a very calculated risk. Sean Sullivan was 35 years old and had a record of 50-13, including a loss to Shannan Taylor at welterweight.

Wood, on the other hand, had already defeated once-hot Victor Oganov in the semi-final round of the Australian incarnation of The Contender at 168 lbs. Despite having faced the arguably more talented Oganov, Mundine was the most accomplished fighter the 32 year old late bloomer had ever faced.

The fight started according to the Mundine camp's script. For two rounds Wood showed wild shots and sloppy technique while Mundine boxed, moved, and clinched. Mundine even appeared to score a knockdown in a savage flurry after the bell ended the second round. It was wisely waved off.

Unfortunately for Mundine, Wood was already beginning to figure out the formula to beat the veteran's clinches in the third round: use his size advantage and the loose ropes to make Mundine wrestle while hammering the veteran in the back of the head with rabbit punches. Mundine's answer? Respond in kind and butt heads. The latter tactic badly sliced open Wood's eye by the end of the third round. Despite the third round having taken on the character of a sloppy brawl, it still looked good for Mundine. He had arguably won all three of the rounds fought so far and his opponent was badly cut.

Wood kept it a brawl, though he also showed flashes of good boxing instincts in the manner he used his hands to confuse Mundine on the outside and the way he tried to move his upper body on the way inside. The fourth went steadily worse for Mundine from the opening bell and Wood had several good moments. By the end of the round he was beating the veteran up.

He kept brawling, kept fouling, and kept fighting in the fifth round. It paid off, largely thanks to Mundine's willingness to let Wood dictate the kind of fight it would be. Wood landed several good shots, cluminating in a left hook that put Mundine down for the count.

If Mundine has sense then he will retire. I expect him to go on another 13 or 14 fight win streak against a crew of no-hopers until someone with less talent than Wood gets as lucky. After that I am sure he will take the task of trial-horse on rather than retire.

Wood now has a big platform in Australia on which to build. He's a big, strong guy who has fought at super-middle but came down to middleweight to fight Mundine. He tries to move his upper body and he tries to use his gloves to confuse his opponent as he works his way inside but that is probably the extent of his boxing ability. He threw very wide shots early in the fight but was able to tighten them up when it counted. Still, someone better than Mundine would have knocked him out early given the same opportunities to counterpunch.

Even if he isn't really that good, I hope Wood makes it to America. I loved watching this fight on YouTube and Wood is the kind of fighter Americans would buy HBO to see if he can be moved properly. He can fight, he is rough and tough, and he bleeds. Even if wouldn't make the middleweights boxing's glamour division again, he could certainly help make it a lot more fun.

Though his nickname, 'From the Hood', would probably get a lot of laughs in Detroit, Miami, LA, and Brooklyn.

Still, comedy sells.