Australian World Title Challengers Caparello and Geale Have Bad Luck on American Soil
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Australia’s two best world ranked and regarded boxers, Daniel Geale and Blake Caparello,
made three trips combined to the United States of America in an attempt to win world titles and international recognition. Instead, Geale and Caparello bombed big time in highly promoted televised world title attempts and Madison Square Garden in New York City and in events held at the Revel Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Geale, now 30-3, 16 knockouts, Launceston, Australia, traveled to Atlantic City in June 2013 and dropped Darren Barker of Great Britain in the sixth round, only to lose his international Boxing Federation Middleweight title by split decision in 12 rounds.
Geale who also held the World Boxing Association Middleweight title when he beat Felix Sturm in Germany in September 2012 and subsequently relinquished it, failed to win the WBA title back against Gennady Golovkin at The Garden this past July. Instead, Geale was on the canvas in the second and third round. Hitting Golovkin in the head full blast with a power shot in the third round, Geale got dropped with a counter anyway, and upon getting up nodded no to referee Mike Ortega, quitting and giving up.
The light heavyweight southpaw Caparello, 19-1-1 with six knockouts, Greenvale, Australia, tried his luck at The Revel last night, dropping Sergey Kovalev in the first round, then getting dropped three times and knocked out in the second round. Caparello had beaten Elvir Muriqi by 10 round decision in West Orange, New Jersey, in January 2014, with one judge giving Caparello every round. Perhaps Caparello thought his second trip to America would repeat his earlier success. Muriqi lost his next bout by decision as well. However, Caparello joins Darnell Boone as the only two fighters with the unique distinction of having knocked Kovalev down.
Giving Geale and Caparello going 0-3 in world title bouts on American shores, it seems unlikely either of these fine fighters will return again. On Australian turf, their records and opponents are well fed or selected carefully, leaving them very protected, and always favored to win on the three scorecards when it does go that far (to a decision). From Sugar Shane Mosley to Azumah Nelson, few foreigners have won on Australian territory. Jack Johnson, DuJuan Johnson, Antonio Tarver and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk are among the few foreigners who have won world titles on Australian territory. They needed to knock out their opponents to win, which is how it’s done when a boxer is on the road.
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