Boxing: Mundine in 'do or die' mindset

Anthony Mundine and Shane Mosley face off tonight.

Anthony Mundine has declared he plans to stamp his authority on Shane Mosley from the outset of what he has labelled his "do or die" fight against the American boxing legend.

The vacant WBA International super welterweight title, continued relevance on the international scene and potentially bigger fights are the prizes for the two skilled veterans when they meet tonight.

Mundine (44-5, 26 KOs) is ranked 10th by the WBA, while Mosley (47-8-1, 39 KOs) isn't rated by that organisation.

However, a win, and especially if he could become the first man to stop Mosley, would boost Mundine's ranking and keep alive his dream of a bout with WBA champion Floyd Mayweather, acknowledged as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.

A loss to 42-year-old multi-world title winner Mosley would scupper that dream and Mundine has suggested it could end his career, though his father and trainer Tony doesn't necessarily believe that would be the case.

"He [Mosley] has got a great right hand, a great left hook, a good jab, and it's just a matter of countering all that," Mundine said.

"I'm in tip-top condition. It's just a matter of executing my boxing better than what he does on the night, and doing certain things in the game plan to get the victory."

Mundine was in a more talkative mood yesterday than on Monday, when he squeezed out little more than a handful of words for each answer.

"I'm supposed to get more nervous, but I'm more relaxed," Mundine said.

His father cheerfully revealed Anthony's lack of talk on Monday was more a tactic to get the media talking than any signs of pressure.

He wants his son to dominate and said pay-per-view sales of the rescheduled fight were going well.

Mosley was the less chatty of the two yesterday, but said he felt good.

The 42-year-old American believes his big fight experience, accumulated in over 20 world title bouts, will be a big factor.

- AAP