The Australian boxer Anthony Mundine has avenged his shock loss to compatriot Garth Wood, claiming victory with a unanimous decision in a gritty and controversial fight in Brisbane last night.
After a cagey opening four rounds, the contest eventually heated up and went the distance with a few vital punches in the last two rounds sealing the win for Mundine.
Controversy reigned in the ninth round when the referee appeared to award a knockdown when Wood grazed the canvas after taking a Mundine left hook.
But the referee did not step in immediatley to stop the fight to the confusion of Mundine and then Wood when he was finally pulled away.
Mundine was penalised a point in the final round for continual holding but it did nothing to change the judges scores which finished 96-92, 96-92, 95-93 in his favour.
According to Mundine, his re-match win would herald his boxing resurrection.
But critics will call it a reprieve, after Mundine postponed retirement talk by drawing on all his reserves to avenge last December's shock loss.
While Wood immediately called for another re-match, Mundine - boasting a nasty cut above his right eye - appeared to cling to a belated overseas move for big money fights after the middleweight bout.
