By Chris Cella
In what is already being deemed as one of the biggest fights in Australian boxing history, on January 30, 2013 in Sydney, Australia, Daniel “Real Deal” Geale (28-1, 15 KO) will be putting his IBF middleweight title on the line in a rematch to avenge the only loss of his career against Anthony “The Man” Mundine (44-4, 26 KO).
Back in 2009, these two middleweights collided and fought a war for the IBO title, with Mundine escaping with a controversial split decision. Since then, Mundine has gone 8-1, while avenging the only loss at the hands of Garth Wood.
For Geale, the loss to Wood was quite the eye opener, as the middleweight has won his seven fights since, while in the process capturing the IBF belt and successfully defending it three times, most recently against former WBA super world middleweight Felix Sturm.
“I’m happy we are able to move forward with the promotion now that we have a date and venue sorted,” said Geale.
“The Sydney Entertainment Centre is a fantastic place to hold this fight. The whole country is talking about this fight and I can’t wait to put Mundine in his place after all the trash talking he’s been doing. I encourage everyone to get their tickets now because January 30th will be a night to remember.”
Geale has progressively grown as a fighter since the first loss of his career to Mundine, and doesn’t plan on leaving any room for error when he again steps between the ropes against his foe. Though Mundine has the edge in regards to previously being victorious against Geale, he knows the man standing across the ring will be one of his toughest tests to date.
“I’ve had some of my best fights in this venue and I can’t wait to get back here again on January 30,” Mundine said.
“I made my pro debut and won my first world title here, it’s a special place for me and in January I’m going to write another chapter in my legacy by stopping Daniel Geale.”
Look for Geale to get to work on the older Mundine early and try to wear him down, making him fight and pushing him against the ropes. Geale hasn’t touched the canvas in four years, so he won’t be weary of getting caught by a bomb from his 37-year-old opponent, and if he is able to establish the pace of the fight early, he will be able to control the rounds. But Mundine has shown perseverance and his ability to stay strong late in the fight, winning two of his last three by seventh round knockout.
These two warriors left it all in the ring in their first encounter three years ago, and this time Geale is hungry to keep the belt he has fought so hard to win, while Mundine will be looking to show that the judges got it right the first time around, and that it’s time for him to add another piece of hardware to his collection.