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Former world middleweight champion Daniel Geale admits Wednesday’s bout with Jarrod Fletcher in Sydney could make or break his career.
Geale (33-3) returns to the ring at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion for the first time since being outclassed by the unbeaten Gennady Golovkin in New York last July.
The outstanding Kazahk fighter, who holds the highest knockout ratio in middleweight championship history, became the first man to stop the Tasmanian inside 12 rounds with a brutal three-round demolition at Madison Square Garden.
Golovkin, who currently holds the WBA and IBO belts is considered the world’s best pound for pound boxer and Geale said the experience of stepping into the ring with him was invaluable.
“Fighting the best fighter in the world shows you where you are at and even though it only went a few rounds I learnt a lot from it,” Geale told AAP.
“I’ve been in there with the best and although Jarrod is not the best fighter in the world, he is a very good one and I’ve got my work cut out to beat him.
“I’ve got to go out there and make a statement and show the world that I am still about – defeat isn’t really an option for me.”
The Golovkin loss capped off a tough 18 months for the 33-year-old Tasmanian since beating Anthony Mundine to retain his IBF crown in January 2013.
After outpointing Mundine he lost a controversial split decision to Darren Barker seven months later, despite putting the Englishman on the canvas in the sixth round.
Victory against Fletcher, 31, who is also coming into the fight on the back of a failed world title tilt, could put Geale in line for a potential rematch with Golovkin.
A fight with WBC champion Miguel Cotto or unbeaten Chicago-based Cuban Peter Quillin could also be on the horizon if he beats the Queenslander.
“I am not looking further than this fight,” Geale said.
“Once you start taking your eye off what’s ahead mistakes happen. But doors will start to open if I win.
“Once I’ve beaten Jarrod I’ll start looking ahead to winning back my title.”
Fletcher (18-2) didn’t turn pro until 2009 following an outstanding amateur career during which he won Commonwealth gold in 2006 and competed at the 2008 Olympics.
He was stopped in the fifth round by big-punching American Danny Jacobs in August for the vacant WBA title and admitted another defeat would could spell the end of his career.
“It’s massive fight, a must-win fight that will get my career back on track if I win,” Fletcher told AAP.
“It puts me back in line for another world title fight and if I lose it’s going to be a long road back for me.
“I know it’s going to be hard. Daniel is always super fit and ready, but I am only thinking about winning and I am ready for what he has to throw at me.”
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