It may look like a blowout on paper, but this fight could shape as an intriguing tactical match-up. Click on the owl for the tale of the tape. 

In the red corner, the iron man from Saint Petersburg – Vladimir ‘The Sickle’ Putin. In the other, Australia’s pugnacious PM, Tony ‘The Rhodes Warrior’ Abbott.

Let’s not forget, our PM was once the heavyweight boxing champion of Oxford, with three KOs from as many fights.

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We know he’s motivated, after he had this to say on Monday: “I am going to shirtfront Mr Putin, you bet I am, I am going to be saying to Mr Putin ‘Australians were murdered’.”

He softened that a touch on Tuesday, now he’s more in the mood for a “robust discussion”.

He still likes to stay trim, so we know he can go the distance.

Abbott would be best advised to use his reach, listen to what his trainer Barack Obama says, and follow his instructions to a tee.

He needs to use his reach to keep Putin at a distance.

Vlad, meanwhile, needs to get on the front foot early – get inside Abbott and hope to get him on the ground. In a grapple, the former KGB judo merchant will be the only winner.

If that happens, Abbott’s only course of action will be to get on his bike – perhaps literally.

Putin’s become a little bull-headed in his old age, however, and his trainers are having a hard time getting through to him.

Putin doesn’t seem to mind.

“Sometimes it is necessary to be lonely in order to prove that you are right,” he once said.

Our prediction if these two get bilateral? Putin by fourth round TKO.

See it on pay per view:-

Abbott vs Putin
November 15, Brisbane
$49.99

Great undercard featuring David Cameron, Xi Jingping and Angela Merkel.