By Jake Donovan

Daniel Geale cruised to a 12-round decision over Jarrod Fletcher in a matchup of Australian middleweights on the rebound Wednesday evening in New South Wales, Australia. 

Scores were 119-108 across the board for Geale in a headliner that became a rout by the midway point.

Both fighters were in desperate need of a win after falling miserably short on the global level in separate title fights in New York over the summer. Geale landed on the wrong end of a highlight-reel 3rd round knockout at the lethal hands of Gennady Golovkin at Madison Square Garden in July, just two weeks before Fletcher was thoroughly outclassed and stopped in five rounds by Daniel Jacobs in their August title fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Overall, it's been a forgettable year for Australian boxers beyond the domestic scene. Still, Geale offered hope for a career turnaround following a dominant performance on Wednesday. The former middleweight titlist overcame a significant height and reach disadvantage to put his superior skill set to use. 

The action was relatively competitive early on, but swung in Geale's favor for good following a knockdown in round five. A right hand put Fletcher on the canvas, with the fringe contender never able to punch his way back into the fight after that. 

Geale picks up his second win of 2014, improving to 31-3 (16KOs). The 33-year old reigned as a middleweight titlist for more than two years, including a title unification win over Felix Sturm on the road in Germany in Sept. '12. 

His reign came to an end last August, dropping a debatable split decision at the hands of Darren Barker in Atlantic City. Geale returned with a 6th round knockout of Garth Wood in February to begin the year on a high note, but was brought crashing back to reality against Golovkin, believed by many to be the best middleweight in the world.

Fletcher also saw his 2014 campaign jump off to a promising start. It was to begin with a showdown versus Martin Murray, who abruptly pulled out of their scheduled February bout in Monte Carlo. Fletcher eventually faced Max Bursak, overcoming a cut to take a competitve but clear decision. 

The win put the Aussie middleweight in position to challenge for a version of an alphabet title, but was made to look like a sparring partner against Jacobs over the summer. The loss to Geale is now his second straight as the 31-year old contender falls to 18-3 (10KOs). 

UNDERCARD

In the evening's chief support, Jake Carr barely outlasted Renold Quinlan to take a well-earned decision in a 10-round war between unbeaten super middleweight prospects. 

Scores were 96-95 (twice) and 96-94 in favor of the 23-year old Carr (9-0, 3KOs), who continues to fight at an accelerated pace after barely two years in the pro ranks. Quinlan falls to 8-1 (4KOs), but the 25-year old prospect showed plenty of promise in his first true step up in competition.

Mark Flanagan proved to Shane Quinn (10-2-1, 8KOs) that there's no substitute for experience, riding a pair of knockdowns to the finish line in scoring a close-but clear unanimous decision. Flanagan (17-4-1, 10KOs) dropped Quinn in rounds three and five in claiming victory by scores of 97-92, 96-94 and 95-93, having now won six straight.

The show aired live on Australia Main Event pay-per-view. 

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of krikya360.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox