Michael Zerafa vs Anthony Mundine Preview March 13, 2021
There’s a domestic bout down under this Saturday, March 13 as former world champion Anthony Mundine will be taking on Michael Zerafa in Bendigo, Australia for the vacant WBA Oceania Middleweight title. Mundine’s last outing was a 10-round split decision loss to John Wayne Parr in November, 2019 while Zerafa last saw action in December, 2019 when he lost a majority 10-round decision to Jeff Horn in their rematch after stopping him in the ninth round four months earlier.
Zerafa vs Mundine Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Anthony Mundine +800
- Michael Zerafa -1500
My Pick
The 28-year-old Zerafa of Melbourne was a relative unknown until stepping into the ring with former world champion Kell Brook in December, 2018. He showed a lot of heart but dropped a 12-round unanimous decision in England. Zerafa was also stopped by former world champ Peter Quillin in the fifth round in September of 2015 on a nationally-televised bout in North America.
He climbs into the ring with a mark of 27-4 with 16 Kos and has fought 195 rounds since turning pro back in 2011. He’s not a huge puncher and owns a current knockout ratio of 51.6 per cent. He gained a lot of worldwide recognition with his two bouts against Horn and is hoping to land a world title shot but he’s basically in a no-win situation here with Mundine. Zerafa stands 5-feet-11-inches tall with a 71.5-inch wingspan. His other loss was a unanimous decision at the hands of Arif Magomedov in October, 2014.
Zerafa has won several regional and minor titles as a pro, but other than Horn, Quillin and Brook it’s pretty hard to recognize any of his other opponents. As a pro, he’s captured several regional titles including the WBA Oceania Light Middleweight Title, the Commonwealth (British Empire) Light Middleweight Title, the IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight Title, the WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental Light Middleweight Title, and the the Australia – Victoria State Light Middleweight Title.
Mundine is now 45 years old and owns a mark of 48-10 with 28 Kos and is a former three-time world champion at junior middleweight and super middleweight. However, he’s also fought as heavy as cruiserweight. Mundine has pretty good speed even at his advanced age and is also defensively sound. He turned pro in 2000 and has 470 rounds under his belt.
He stands 5-feet-11-inches tall and has a 70-inch reach, giving him a 1.5-inch reach disadvantage against Zerafa. He possesses average power with a current knockout ratio of 48.3 per cent. Mundine definitely has the edge in experience as well he’s taken on some good opposition over the years. He’s beaten the likes of Danny Green, Shane Mosley, Bronco McKart, Rigoberto Alvarez, Xavier Toliver, Daniel Geale, Shannon Taylor, Kevin Pompey, Garth Wood, and Antwun Echols, as well as beating Sam Soliman three times.
Mundine’s losses have been against Green, Parr, Jeff Horn, Sven Ottke, Manny Siaca, Mikkel Kessler, Garth Wood, Daniel Geale, Joshua Clottey and Charles Hatley with Horn, Wood, Ottke and Hatley all stopping him. He’s getting long in the tooth now though and has lost four of his last five fights and five of his last seven.
Prediction…
Mundine is a former professional rugby League player but nobody really knows why he’s fighting again, especially after losing his last two fights and getting blasted out of the ring by Jeff Horn in just 96 seconds in November, 2018. Zerafa is 17 years younger and has a lot of heart and a pretty good chin. He’s expected to win but is risking a lot if he should lose to a 45-year-old. I’m expecting Zerafa to win this and send Mundine to retirement for good. Still, he needs to be aware of the old guy’s power.
The younger Zerafa should pull this out.
Play: Zerafa -1500 @ BetOnline.ag
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Anthony Mundine betting • Michael Zerafa betting