SYDNEY, Australia -- Former Australian rugby league player Anthony Mundine won the vacant WBA super middleweight title Wednesday with a unanimous decision over Antwun Echols of the United States.
Mundine said after the bout he fought despite breaking a rib more than a month ago.
"I knew if I didn't fight a lot of questions would have been asked," he said.
Judges Pinit Prayadsab of Thailand and Michael Lee of South Korea had Mundine ahead 117-112 while Finland's Eraki Meronnen scored it 115-114.
Mundine's only loss in his 20 fights was to Germany's Sven Ottke in a title challenge in December 2001. Echols (29-5-1) twice lost title fights against undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins.
Mundine's father and trainer Tony, lost a world middleweight title fight to Carlos Monzon of Argentina in the mid-1970s.
Echols entered the ring carrying small Australian and American flags but had virtually no support from a crowd of 7,000 to 8,000 at the Sydney Entertainment Center.
Mundine weighed in Tuesday at 167.6 pounds while Echols was at 166.7. Mundine rarely allowed the American to land more than one or two good blows at a time during the 12 rounds.
Echols and Mundine were first scheduled to meet Aug. 6 but Mundine had to postpone the fight because of a virus. Mundine said after the bout he felt Echols deserved a rematch.
"I had to duck him and dodge him and sometimes hold him because he is so dangerous," Mundine said.
Neither boxer was seriously hurt, though Echols began to swell under his left eye in the eighth round.
"Maybe you didn't understand me and thought I was a bit cocky when I was playing football and came to boxing," Mundine said.
"Everyone said I couldn't do it, everyone said it was a dream. I know my first shot at it was unsuccessful. I am humbled in my achievements tonight and I want to thank every single human being."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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