Anthony Mundine is open to fighting IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale but would prefer a rematch with long-time rival Danny Green.
Mundine fought Geale in May 2009 and defeated him in a somewhat controversial split decision. That is the only professional loss Geale, who defends his title against Osumanu Adama this Wednesday, has suffered in his career as he has a record of 26 wins from 27 fights.
Mundine defeated Green back in May 2006 in a unanimous decision. The fight, which had been built up for years, was held in front of an Australian record size attendance crowd.
“I made Daniel Geale’s career,” Mundine said. “I made Danny Green’s career.”
Mundine said he is “open” to the idea of another bout with Geale.
“He wants the redemption, where I want to show it was no fluke,” he said.
“But it comes down to the numbers and getting the right deal. But I’d prefer Green…. Green wants it. If I was to fight Green and Geale, I’d prefer to fight Green first.”
Since their first fight in 2006 Green has gone up the weight divisions, fighting at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. For his last fight against Krzysztof Wlodarczy in November 2011, Green weighed 89.5kg.
Mundine has gone the other way, dropping down divisions with his last fight against Rigoberto Alvarez at light middleweight where he weighed 69.6kg. He said there would have to be some common ground for a Green bout to happen.
“I wouldn’t come over 75 kg,” Mundine said.
Green has been beaten in his last two fights, against Wlodarczy and Antonio Tarver, and is reportedly contemplating retirement.
“Green fought the best in his division,” Mundine said. “They’re big boys.”
Mundine said a Green rematch is what most people come up to him and ask him about in the street.
“I want to give the people what they want to see,” he said.
However, for now the 36-year old is setting his sights on fighting in the US.
“The first thing is to go abroad,” he said.
“I want to branch out in America. The last three, four years of my career I want to fight the best. I want names. Fighters who are going to make me money. But the money doesn’t drive me, the success does.”
Despite both Mundine and Austin Trout being classified as WBA light middleweight champions, a bout with Trout seems unlikely at this stage. Possible opponents include WBA super champion Miguel Cotto, WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (younger brother of his last opponent Rigoberto) and WBC middleweight titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Twenty-six year old Chavez Jr is the son of a legendary fighter, his namesake, and is undefeated from 47 fights. The talented Mexican seems to be Mundine’s preference.
“I’m in line for Chavez Jr,” Mundine said.
“I’m ready to fight him. I’m waiting on a call. He’s the best young champion out there.”
aaron
Guest
i agree steve. i believe geale would wreck mundine at this day and age. i belive he should of won their first fight....
Tuapou
Guest
Lol!!! How many people has geale fought who are noteworthy?? Definitely not more than mundine percentage wise. He is nowhere near. People dont support geale because of his "credibility". They support him purely because he is the mundine-haters "answer" to choc. You would be surprised how many people love someone else out of hatred for another: history never changed.
howard
Guest
Who are we kidding if it wasn't for Mundine, Geale would be just another unheard of Aussie IBF champ like Robbie Peden, Garry St. Clair or Barry Micheal, he's riding Mundines coat tails just like Danny Green did and good luck to him.
steve b
Guest
aint no crawling happening Geale does not need mundine however after the last fight it would be good to see mundine stop the rot and agree to fight someone with some cred instead of duckiung and diving all over the place and Geale would be what the boxing public would love to see
casey
Guest
Can't see Chavez jr stepping up in class and fighting Mundine. He's been sheltered his entire career and never fought anyone near Mundines ability, hope it happens though. Geale has been challenging Mundine all week trying to drum up interest in tomorrows fight, maybe hell has frozen over. What could Danny Green possibly do different after being totally outclassed, it will be another shut out and the heavier they fight the more chance of Green being KO'd again. Good luck Daniel tomorrow night hoping for Mundine Geale II.
steve b
Guest
SEEING THE ROAR WOULDNT PUT MY FIRST COMMENT IN HERE GOES MY SECOND DANIEL IS ONE OF THE NICEST GUYS IN BOXING HE DOES AUSTRALIA PROUD UNLIKE SOME OTHERS HE IS AN ASSET TO BOXING HE WOULD NEVER DODJE MUNDINE OR ANYONE ELSE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AS FOR CRAWLING BACK TO MUNDINE HELL WOULD FREEZE OVER FIRST GOOD LUCK TOMORROW DANIEL AND GRAHAM
Simo
Guest
Mundine will duck and dodge geale and green as he has every other decent fighter that he's had an opportunity to fight. Green has bucketloads of courage something mundine has none of. I cant wait for him to reitre or get knocked out.
Simo
Guest
What a load of garbage, Geale and Green have showed 10 times more courage and heart then mundine. Mundine is not going to the US and never was, it should be illegal to talk so much rubbish. JCC would destroy mundine in his days as a super middleweight, and wouldnt break out a sweat in dispatching of the weight drained weak 2012 version of mundine.
rex
Guest
Mundines right Geale was a nobody before his gutsy loss to Mundine, he was fighting at leagues clubs bowling clubs and the catholic club and he was in his late 20's. Geale had his chance when he won the IBF belt but just fights the bare minimum to keep the IBF off his back. The only footage of his next opponent is filmed on a mobile phone at a wedding reception hall. Mundines at top rank with the big boys, the U.S. aren't interested in Geale, his name never comes up when they talk of possible middleweight match ups. Geale and Green will both come crawling back to Mundine looking for a big payday knowing full well they will be beaten again.
Al
Guest
Mundine is a joke. Geale already had a great career before he made the mistake of fighting mundine. If anything it lessens geales cred. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
ronald
Guest
MUNDINE VS CHAVEZ JR JUNE 10 MGM GRAND LAS VEGAS ITS OFFICIAL...100% THATS THE FIGHT TO PROVE YOURSELF MUNDINE
Jacko of Perth
Guest
Mundine has effectively ruled out a fight with Green by stipulating that the limit must be 75KG. He knows full well that Green would never be able to get down to the Super Middleweight limit. If he is dinkum Mundine would agree to a catchweight of about 82KG - 83KG in which Mundine can come in at any weight he likes up to those figures whilst Green could come in bang on the catchweight limit. Not going to happen of course because he knows Green would be to dangerous at the heavier weight.
steve b
Guest
mundine and green thats never going to happen mundine wont go up in weight and green has trouble getting down but i would like to see mundine and Daniel again i think Geale would be to good for him next time around
Jeremy
Guest
This is all old news. Mundine has never ruled out a rematch with either Danny Green or Daniel Geale. What we want to know is who and when Mundine will be fighting in the US.