11.03.05 – By Matt Clark: Controversial boxer Anthony Mundine will challenge unbeaten Dane Mikkel Kessler for the WBA super middleweight title in Sydney, on May 11. Kessler is yet to taste defeat in 35 professional fights, with 27 of those wins by KO and represents the biggest challenge in Mundine’s career. It will be only the second occasion that Kessler has fought outside of Denmark and “The Man” has called the bout, which will be held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, as his “Everest”.
“I’m back in the lion’s den but this time I’m with the most ferocious and hungriest lion out there. He hasn’t eaten for a long time, he hasn’t fought for six months, so he’s going to be ready for a kill!”
As usual, talk of the all-Australian ‘super fight’ between Mundine and his rival Danny Green was never far away. Green fights for the WBC super middleweight title against Germany’s Markus Beyer on Sunday morning (AEST).
“I’m here to fight and I fight the best, he (Green) hasn’t fought the best and he still won’t have fought the best. He’s fighting a blown-up lightweight and amateur in Markus Beyer.
“With all due respect to Markus, he’s probably the least to worry about amongst the (super middleweight) champions. He’s not better than (IBF champion) Jeff Lacy and he’s definitely not better than Kessler.
Mundine said he will be cheering on his fellow Australian come Sunday, if for no other reason that to set up the bout with Green.
“That’s why I want him to win because he’s got to come to the table with something,” Mundine said. The best case scenario would be that we both win but I’m the money puller, I’m the power, so it doesn’t matter what happens to me. I will give him his highest pay day ever. I offered him more
than he’s getting against Beyer and that purse bid went to $2 million.”
Mundine however, is well aware of the sizeable challenge that meets him in the power punching Kessler.
“This is going to be a defining moment in Australian sport,” he said.
“With this victory I’m going to shock the boxing world and this is going to be a big part in my legacy.”