Mundine takes aim at big-name fighters

A shot at redemption looms for Anthony Mundine - but not a re-match with Danny Green.
After claiming Daniel Geale's IBO world middleweight crown in Brisbane on Wednesday
night by a split points decision, Mundine looks set to return to the scene of his
biggest disappointment - Germany.
Mundine, 33, took the biggest chance of his then-fledgling career in 2001 when he
had a crack at German veteran Sven Ottke's IBF super middleweight title in Dortmund.
History shows he was knocked out cold in the 10th round.
After holding out Geale, Mundine (36-3 win-loss record) claimed he now wants to take
another chance in Germany.
He only wants to consider big name overseas fights in the future - and in his eyes a
re-match with Green doesn't quite fit that bill.
That puts him firmly on course with WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm, who
rarely fights outside of his German homeland.
While he claimed he was set to face WBC and WBO champion Kelly Pavlik "at the end of
the year", Mundine is ranked the No.1 contender for Sturm's WBA crown after claiming
his third world title.
Of his 36 fights, Sturm has only fought outside of Germany three times - and outside
Europe once.
Whoever he fights, Mundine surprisingly claimed they would not come tougher than
Geale, a 28-year-old armed with just 22 professional fights.
In contrast, 30-year-old Sturm boasts a 32-2-1 (win-loss-draw) record and has
successfully defended his world title six times since first securing it in April
2007.
Asked if Geale marked his final fight in Australia, Mundine said: "It's a possibility.
"(I am) looking at Pavlik at the end of the year. I think Pavlik will be a lot
easier fight than what Geale gave me.
"He (Geale) was more of a boxer while Pavlik is there to be hit.
"(But) I will take any champion on."
But if Mundine is going to accept a challenge from Green, it won't be any time soon.
After coming out of retirement to thrash South African Anthony van Niekerk in Perth
last month, Green is negotiating a bout with legend Roy Jones Jr in his hometown in
WA.
Green made no secret that he ended his 16-month retirement in order to avenge his
2006 loss to Mundine.
But asked about Green following his Brisbane victory, Mundine said: "C'mon man, tell
him to register on the map.
"Tell him to beat somebody. Who did he beat? That fool wouldn't be my sparring
partner."
Mundine wasn't keen on facing Geale again either.
"He was the champ and I took his belt. I want to do bigger and better things, I want
to conquer the world," he said.
"I have beaten everybody here. I am the best. I want to show the world my story.
"I am the best athlete ever, period. Do your research. Is anyone better than me?"
Geale wasn't surprised when told that Mundine had baulked at a chance to defend his
title against the Sydney-based Tasmanian.
"If there was a re-match I would be there for sure," Geale said.
"Fighting a guy like Anthony is only going to help me. Next time he knows I am going
to be better, that's why he is hesitant.
"I am still learning, that was only my 22nd fight.
"I will be better.
"I will be in there fighting the best guys in the world."