Thank you Anthony Mundine, but it’s time for another Australian boxer to shine

OPINION: AUSSIE boxing is in a strong place. Sam Soliman won a world title and Daniel Geale earned another title shot. Yet Anthony Mundine and Danny Green want to fight again?

Anthony Mundine at yesterday's press conference ahead of tonight's junior middleweight showdown at Newcastle Entertainment Centre against Joshua Clottey. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

AUSTRALIAN boxing is in a strong place.

Sam Soliman won a world title on Sunday, defeating Germany’s Felix Sturm to be crowned IBF middleweight champion.

It emerged in the past 24 hours that another unsung hero of Australian boxing, Daniel Geale, had earned a world title shot against WBA and IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin on July 26.

Geale, a former IBF and WBA middleweight champion, will fight out of one of sport’s grandest arenas, Madison Square Garden, in a bout that will be screened on HBO.

It’s a big deal.

“I am pleased to be making my way back to HBO against Gennady Golovkin, a fighter who everyone thinks is invincible,” Geale said.

“A victory will get me back to where I want to be. The people of Australia believe in me and that’s what drives me, my countrymen.

“I want to show them they have a great champion. On July 26th the world will see me back on top.”

Australia’s Sam Soliman celebrates with the IBF world middleweight championship belt following his win on Sunday.

Despite it all, the fight that is making the most headlines is a potential grudge match between fading veterans Anthony Mundine and Danny Green.

And “Grudge Match” is a fitting way to describe it if you know of the recent movie of the same name in which screen legends Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro duke it out in their late-60s.

Mundine’s landslide loss to Joshua Clottey in April should have marked the end of The Man’s career.

He was demolished, knocked down five times in a unanimous points loss in Newcastle. Mundine was courageous, lasting the distance despite copping the beating of his life.

But the loss proved once and for all that Choc will not get that elusive dream fight with Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.

So what exactly is the point of taking on Green?

Daniel “The Real Deal” Geale.

Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech says you’d have to be “crazy” to pay to watch it.

“One guy’s fighting at light middleweight, another guy’s fighting at cruiserweight,” Fenech said.

“It would be an injustice to the sport. It goes against everything that we’re supposed to represent.

“Hopefully the fight won’t go ahead.”

Full credit to Mundine. He has had a brilliant career and carried Australian boxing for the best part of a decade.

He was a two-time WBA super middleweight champion and an IBO middleweight champion.

But that was five years ago.

Thanks, Choc. Now it’s time to let someone else enjoy the limelight.

Keep the conversation going. Should Mundine hang up the gloves? Tweet @cam_tomarchio