BoxRec

Anthony Mundine wants to fight Daniel Geale

By Josh Massoud
February 21, 2009 12:00am

ANTHONY Mundine is targeting a surprise opponent for his next bout - Australia's most-unknown world champ Daniel Geale.

The Daily Telegraph has learned Mundine's camp visited Geale's gym in Sydney's south west on Thursday to discuss a fight between the two middleweights.

Although Geale (20-0-0, 12KO) is the reigning IBO World Middleweight champ, he is hardly a household name and would receive unprecedented exposure by accepting Mundine's challenge.

It is understood the 28-year-old Tasmanian has been offered around $200,000 to take on Mundine, with talks set to continue between the camps on Monday.

Mundine successfully dropped a division with his scrappy win over middleweight veteran Shannon Taylor in Wollongong last week.

Mundine emerged from his win over Taylor as the No. 1 WBA middleweight contender and was expected to gun for that category's champ - German Felix Sturm.

The recent overtures to Geale, however, surprised many.

It is understood the fight could take place in Geale's home town of Launceston, but negotiations are far from finalised.

Gary Franciscas, a member of Geale's management team, refused to comment about the talks when contacted by The Daily Telegraph last night.

"We can't say anything at the moment," he said.

AntonS wrote:Can't see Geale fighting Choc while he ain't got a world title and can't see Choc fighting Geale for his IBO title, which would stuff-up his WBA #1 rating once he steps in the ring for another entity.

adamheight wrote:

AntonS wrote:Can't see Geale fighting Choc while he ain't got a world title and can't see Choc fighting Geale for his IBO title, which would stuff-up his WBA #1 rating once he steps in the ring for another entity.

You have a short memory anton.
You're forgetting choc fought a 127th ranked uruguyan plumber 3 fights ago...theres only one reason he wouldn't fight geale,and it's coz hes afraid.

AntonS wrote:

adamheight wrote:

AntonS wrote:Can't see Geale fighting Choc while he ain't got a world title and can't see Choc fighting Geale for his IBO title, which would stuff-up his WBA #1 rating once he steps in the ring for another entity.

You have a short memory anton.
You're forgetting choc fought a 127th ranked uruguyan plumber 3 fights ago...theres only one reason he wouldn't fight geale,and it's coz hes afraid.

Oi!
Choc fights nothing but the BEST. Nothing wrong with my memory
Can't wait for Gerrard Zohs rematch @ 49.95 ppv - Mandatory defence of his WBA International title

kellie Carlson wrote:i heard on the gold coast has anyone heard the same!

adamheight wrote:

kellie Carlson wrote:i heard on the gold coast has anyone heard the same!

I aint heard shit. But i'm there if it is

Jason77 wrote:Is this a warm up for Sturm? Tough opponent, similar straight-up-and-down style to Sturm, makes sense IMO. I see Mundine out boxing a courageous Geale over 12 rounds.

Hope the fight goes ahead for both their sakes. Mundine needs to start stepping up in opponents yesterday and Geale has a decent chance of an upset.

Liver Crusher wrote:If Mundine is not switched on in this fight he will be picked off and broken down like Daniel Dawson was.

Jason77 wrote:

Liver Crusher wrote:If Mundine is not switched on in this fight he will be picked off and broken down like Daniel Dawson was.

And if the Man loses to Geale, how does that affect the WBA ratings? Will Geale pay a WBA fee hoping to beat Mundine and get a crack at Sturm?

As AntonS posted above, it does seem a bit risky for Choc to fight Geale now when he already has a shot at the WBA title. The only thing I can think of is that the Mundine camp are very confident of a win over Geale, and that it would put them in good stead conditioning wise for a tough fight in Germany.