Anthony Mundine plans to play the role of matador to Joshua Clottey’s bull next week and insists his boxing career could last for two more years.
Mundine, recently elevated to No.2 in the WBA rankings, will make his first defence of that organisation’s International super welterweight title against 14th rated Clottey in Newcastle next Wednesday.
Clottey, 36, (37-4, 22 KOs) briefly held the IBF welterweight title in 2008-09 and all four of his losses were to other world champions.
Mundine came face to face with the New York-based Ghanian in Sydney on Wednesday.
“This guy is a beast, I want to tame the beast and be my own beast in order to get the victory,” Mundine said.
“It’s probably one of the toughest fights of my career.
“I want to be strong, I have to be strong because this guy is a bull and I want to be the matador.
“This guy is deceptively quick, he’s got all the tools.
“He’s a counterboxer, he can walk forward, he can punch. I’ll have my hands full.”
At 38, Mundine insists he is still getting better and won’t confirm he will retire if he loses to Clottey.
“I feel the best that I’ve ever felt as far as mentally, physically and belief-wise,” Mundine said.
“I feel as though I’m at my peak right now.
“It’s the stability, the desire and the ambition in the person and I feel I have that.
“I feel I’ve got a plan for the next couple of years.”
The noted trash talker said he had no reason to belittle Clottey, describing him as a man of honesty and integrity.
Clottey said managerial problems and promotional issues were responsible for him fighting just twice in the past two and a half years, but he was fit and expected to beat Mundine.
“I wanted to get the opportunity to fight one of the best at super welterweight,” Clottey said.
“So when I got a call that I’m going to fight Mundine this is a chance for me to go back to the top.
“I really have to thank Anthony for this opportunity.
“Of course I’m going to win because I’ve trained a lot for this fight.”
Let’s get ready to rumble! Pick a fighter and place your bets with PlayUp for great odds. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Nikita Tszyu defended his Australian super welterweight crown. But a fightback from opponent Danilo Creati threatened to spoil everything in the sixth round.
Nikita Tszyu has overcome a nasty mid-fight moment to score a unanimous points win over Danilo Creati and retain his Australian super welterweight title…
A bloodied Tim Tszyu has been cruelly denied in his quest to emulate his legendary father Kostya and become a unified world boxing champion…
Liam Wilson has suffered further heartbreak in Arizona, the Australian boxer losing his super-featherweight world-title fight against Mexican Oscar Valdez. In front of a…
Tim Tszyu has the chance to emulate his legendary father as a unified world boxing champion after the stakes were dramatically raised for his…
Australia's Alexander Volkanovski has lost his UFC featherweight title to Ilia Topuria, with the Spaniard scoring a stunning second round knockout in the main…
