“It’s still a challenge. Mentally you have to be very strict on yourself, you have to very strong. There are a lot of sacrifices along the way you have to make and I’ve found over the years if you persist and stay strong, these sacrifices do pay off.”
Daniel Geale has been boxing for the past 23 years but still loves the sport deeply.
Ahead of his debut in America against Englishmen Darren Barker on August 17, I spoke to the humble Tasmanian about his career, the upcoming fight, his clashes with ‘The Man’ and his future plans.
There’s probably not another high-class athlete in Australian sport that is as quiet and as anonymous as the IBF middleweight world champion. But ignore him or underestimate him at your own peril.
Opponents have doing that for the years as the 32-year-old has patiently built an impressive record in the ring.
An amateur star from Launceston, a 2000 Sydney Olympian who claimed welterweight gold at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, Geale won his first major belt with the IBO strap in 2007.
In 2009 he crossed paths with Anthony Mundine for the first time, suffering a close and controversial split decision, the only loss of his professional career.
The western Sydney-based boxer went back to the gym, rebuilt his career and earned a shot at IBF champion Sebastian Sylvester in Germany in 2011.
In Neubrandenburg he did what many think is unthinkable – he won a decision against a German fighter in Germany.
A year later he did it again – defeating Felix Sturm by split decision in Nordrhein-Westfalen to add the WBA title to his IBF belt.
Geale then avenged his only loss with a high-profile tussle with Mundine earlier this year.
At the Sydney Entertainment Centre, after a contentious lead-up that saw Mundine criticise he and his family’s background, Geale dominated the 38-year-old.
In a vintage performance, the ‘Real Deal’ beat Mundine in a one-sides contest by unanimous decision.
Known by boxing purists but largely unknown by the wider Aussie sporting public, this was the fight where Geale really caught the eye at home.
The softly spoken fighter admits the Mundine win has lifted his profile.
“Yeah it has expanded. It definitely lifted my profile, a lot more people know me now. I believe while this next fight [with Barker] it is going to take another jump, that’s not really what I care about too much,” he said.
As Geale dismantled Mundine over 12 rounds, you could see him relishing the battle as it progressed.
“It was an enjoyable one,” Geale said.
“From all the talk before hand, I did enjoy it. A lot of people asked me to knock him out and all of that stuff, but I was more than happy to take it to 12 and take pride in every punch that I landed.”
Immediately after the bout Mundine claimed he had been robbed and angled for a re-match to set up Geale v Mundine III.
Since then the former NRL star has secured a match-up against ageing American legend Shane Mosley.
Geale said there is little chance of another battle with ‘The Man’.
“Mundine had mentioned something about a third, but he’d need to prove himself, go out there and do something pretty big for us to take a look at him now,” he said.
“He always creates an interest because he can say those stupid things. It would possibly be a money fight but I’ve been saying I want to fight the best fighters around, so for me it would be a backward step.
“If he does get out there and challenge one of the top middleweights in the world, and puts on a great performance, there could be another chance for something else. But, up until then, we’re looking at other fighters.”
Since we spoke Geale has come out and slammed Mundine’s choice of Mosley.
But the IBF champ is right, there are bigger and better fights out there for him.
The middleweight division is arguably boxing’s most competitive right now with the hard-hitting Gennady Golovkin, number one Sergio Martinez, WBO belt holder Peter Quillin, Julio Cesar Chavez, fellow Aussie Sam Soliman, Sturm and the Brit brigade of Martin Murray, Matthew Macklin and Barker.
“There’s a lot of great middleweights out there. It is very exciting,” he said.
“I’ve been saying for a while that I want to challenge myself against the best fighters in the world, and there are some great fighters, at this stage management have got a hard job in picking and managing these fighters because there are some great fighters out there.
“My main concern is maintaining my IBF title, whether defending it against my optionals or my mandatory. That’s the first thing we’re looking at, and potentially winning other world titles as well down the track.”
First up is this title defence against Barker. Geale is not overlooking the plucky Pom, who has lost just once in his pro career, to middleweight kingpin Martinez.
“Darren’s a very smart fighter, a very skilled fighter. He’s got a bit of height and reach.”
Geale heads to the US for the first time knowing he has to get a win and to win well, to convince American fight fans of his ability and talent.
“I definitely do need to make a bit of a statement. I’ve been asked a few times ‘when are you going to be fighting over there?’ and I think it gives it that little bit of interest because they see me as someone who’s defended the title,” he said.
“I haven’t been there yet so there’s a bit of a question mark over my name so, I have to go over there and look strong and do my thing.
“I don’t have to go over there and try and knock the guy out in the first round, I have to go over there and do what I usually do, be very smart, be very skilful and get my job done.”
A fighter who is rarely ever out of the gym, if not training then teaching kids the art of the sweet science, Geale has put in the required hours.
Arriving in the United States 10 days before the fight, he has been sparring the likes of super middleweight Ben McCulloch and middleweight Rob Medley.
Geale knows Barker will be no pushover and is ready to out-work and out-think the Londoner.
“If we need to go out and pressure from round one, then I’m more than willing to do that,” he said.
“I’ve got the fitness and I’ve definitely got the strength now to be able to do that. If he wants to go with me then I’ll be more than happy.”
With a good showing in the US Geale could line-up a blockbuster shot at Golovkin, who he fought in the amateurs, or Martinez.
He is on the cusp of greatness and knows he cannot afford a slip up. After beating German world champions in Germany, a clash in America is not fazing him.
“It makes things better that we’re fighting on neutral ground. A lot of people do look at the US, if you get over there and do it; you’ve sort of really made it,” he said.
“I look at it like it’s another step for me. It’ll probably improve my profile a little bit but I don’t have to worry too much about that, I just have to worry my job and that’s perform on the night.”
Geale might only be coming in to proper prominence now, but one of Australian sport’s best-kept secrets has been in the fight game since he was nine years old.
Now 32, he has 30 fights in a professional journey that kicked off at the Southport Sharks AFL Club back in 2004.
That is a lot of mileage in what is a brutal sport. As he enters the high point of his career, Geale said he has talked about retirement and it seems unlikely that we will see the father of three in the fight game for more than a few more years.
“I did make a decision pretty early, when the time came I was going to be very strong with my decision when it was time to hang up the gloves,” he said.
“In my 30s, if I haven’t achieved what I want to achieve then I’d move on to something else. I haven’t made a big decision on that at this particular moment, because things are pretty good at the moment. I’ve got to take things fight by fight.
“When I do decide the time is up I won’t look back, I guess I can hold my head up high and say I gave it a pretty decent crack.”
Maintaining his involvement and love of the sweet science is something he sees in his future after he eventually hangs up the gloves.
“I think I want to stay in boxing, helping amateur kids; it is something that interests me. I always had a dream of one day owning my own gym so, that’s something I’m definitely still looking at,” Geale said.
For now destiny, and a date with ‘Dazzling’ Darren Barker for the three-time world champion, awaits.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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