Geale’s Toughest Test Against the Formidable Karmazin in an IBF Middleweight Title Eliminator-
Australian boxing has been in the limelight a number of times this year. Danny Green has made the headlines with 2 quick, controversial wins. Michael Katsidis takes on lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez on November 27th and Vic Darchinyan is all set for his fight with Abner Mares in the first round of the Showtime bantamweight tournament.
On October 31st in New South Wales, Australia a lesser known Australian fighter gets his chance to arrive on the world scene when Daniel Geale faces the veteran Roman Karmazin in an IBF Middleweight elimination bout. The winner will earn the right to take on reigning champion Sebastian Sylvester and in turn put themselves into the mix for some big fights.
Geale was a talented amateur fighter, representing Australia at the 2000 Olympic Games and winning a gold medal in the men’s welterweight division at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Although it’s a well worn cliche, he does have a style far more suited to the professional game. Geale is a pleasing fighter to watch. He likes to work in close and fire in hooks and uppercuts from close range.
Although amassing a record of 23 (14)-1, for years Geale’s career has ambled along in the shadow of fellow Australian middleweight Anthony Mundine. Mundine’s brash, outspoken manner and willingness to mix at a high level have seen him become the major draw in Australia. Geale needed a breakthrough fight and he finally got it when the Australian rivals met in May 2009. Although he came out on the wrong end of a close split decision after their back and forth battle, Geale performed very well.
Mundine was a major step up in competition for the Tasmanian born fighter and had it not been for a knockdown he suffered in the second round he could well have come away with a shock victory. Frustratingly, Geale hasn’t capitalized on the promising performance and has dropped back down to his previous level of opposition.
Karmazin, on the other hand, has been mixing at the highest level for years. Whilw Geale was wearing the Australian amateur vest at the Olympics, Karmazin had already claimed the European belt at 154lbs. He has been there, seen it, and usually done it exceptionally well. A former IBF World champion at Junior Middleweight, the 37 year old Karmazin knows every trick in the book and although his body may be slowing down, he still retains the pure fighting instincts and sheer toughness to give anyone a hard nights work.
Karmazin is coming off a June draw with Sylvester for the title. Karmazin gave Sylvester all he could handle over the course of 12 rounds and although the German champion seemed to land the better quality, cleaner shots throughout, Karmazin never gave him a moments rest. The scoring was very strange, with 1 judge giving Sylvester the verdict 118-111, another going for Karmazin by 117-111 and the third scoring a 114-114 tie. Most feel that the fight should have gone in Karmazin’s direction, and that he performed very well and deserves another chance at the title strap.
Karmazin vs. Geale Preview
So, we might as well just cut straight to the prediction right? After all we have a relatively unknown challenger whose only previous outing in world class ended in defeat, facing a proven veteran who gave the champion all he could handle in his last bout. Surely, it’s an easy choice to make? Well, not quite.
Although Karmazin has been a rock solid professional throughout his career, this could be the perfect time for Geale to take him on. The last 3 years have seen major cracks appearing in the tough Russian. He has had to climb off the canvas to win 2 of his last 5 outings and prior to that suffered a heavy 10th round KO defeat at the hands of the inconsistent Alex Bunema.
One could have been forgiven for thinking the Bunema fight was the beginning of the end for Karmazin. He was caught with right hands throughout the fight and eventually knocked cold by an opponent he was favored to beat. Karmazin rebounded from the defeat with a clear points victory over the veteran Brock McKart but then had to drag himself up off the floor to stop the still big punching but always fragile Antwun Echols.
Another straightforward victory, this time a 4th round TKO of Luiz Agusto Dos Santos was followed by a torrid battle with Dionisio Miranda. After a close fight, Karmazin was floored in the 9th and was as close as you can possibly get to being stopped. To his eternal credit, he came back out for the 10th round and turned the fight around by stopping Miranda with a series of right hands. It was the most spectacular turnaround of the year so far and earned Karmazin his shot at Sylvester.
While Karmazin has recently been a frequent visitor to the canvas, Geale has also shown vulnerability. The shot Mundine floored him with didn’t look particularly hard, although as it came at the end of an unusual combination (a triple jab – left hook) maybe Geale was caught a bit unaware.
Geale also suffered a knockdown in a fight with the tough but overmatched Daniel McKinnon. He got up to put McKinnon down 4 times in return but couldn’t put him away and had to settle for a points victory. Geale’s 14 stoppage victories have come at a much lower level than he is now competing at. He is a pressure fighter and gives the impression that he wears opponents down with his work rate rather than hurting them with single shots. Although Karmazin is looking increasingly fragile, it is hard to see Geale stopping him.
Karmazin vs. Geale Prediction
I get the impression Karmazin is the right opponent at the right time for Geale. Providing he can keep his concentration and maintain his usual high workrate he should prove too young and quick for the veteran Russian.
Geale needs to fight a smarter fight than he did against Mundine. He missed with far too many punches and in turn left himself open to Mundine’s counter punches. Karmazin knows every trick in the book and should Geale become careless Karmazin still retains the skills to make him pay.
Geale needs to employ ‘educated pressure’. While on the outside he needs to avoid Karmazins slower shots, close the distance and once inside choose his punches wisely and get out again. Although Geale lacks the pop to cause a stoppage, Karmazin is reaching the stage where he could grow old in the ring before our eyes.
There may be one two scares along the way for Geale but ultimately he should prevail with a unanimous points decision.
