Former WBA super-middleweight champion Anthony Mundine has become the first man in 11 years - and the first Australian - to stop tough New Zealander Sean Sullivan.
In his first fight since losing the WBA title to Manny Siaca last May, Mundine punished the durable Kiwi until referee Brian McMahon stopped
the bout 47s into the 10th and final round in Sydney early yesterday.
Several other Australians, including Danny Green, Shannan Taylor, Nader Hamdan and Sam Soliman, had all been taken the distance by Sullivan, whose only previous stoppage loss in 66 professional fights was in 1993.
The Australian led by seven, nine and 11 points on the judges' cards when the bout was halted.
Mundine, recently returned from a stint training with American superstar Roy Jones, looked sharp and was too quick and strong for his opponent.
Mundine was more assertive this time than when he outpointed Sullivan over 12 rounds in Auckland 19 months ago.
Sullivan was pummelled with jabs, hooks and body rips, and was on the receiving end of numerous hurtful flurries.
The two fighters, good friends outside the ring, embraced before the final round.
But one could have been forgiven for thinking Sullivan was Mundine's worst enemy as the Australian smashed him mercilessly with a fusillade of blows.
McMahon gave Sullivan a standing eight count early in the final round, but another flurry of blows from the No 2-ranked WBA super-middleweight contender prompted the referee to halt the bout, much to Sullivan's disappointment.
Sullivan's face bore the marks of Mundine's speedy and accurate handiwork from as early as the second round, with bruises appearing on his forehead and under his left eye.
Mundine improved his record to 21-2 and Sullivan's dropped to 51-16.
Mundine will fight Australian super-middleweight champion Juarne Dowling on the Gold Coast on October 13. A win then will set him up to face the winner of next month's world title fight between Siaca and Denmark's Mads Larsen.
- NZPA
