Daniel Geale has hit back at rival Sam Soliman’s threat to the IBF world champion’s next title defence, asking simply: Who does he think he is?

Announcing a double-header of world title defences with fellow Australian Billy Dib for Hobart on March 7, Tasmanian Geale said he was unconcerned by a potential legal stoush with the No.2 middleweight challenger.

Soliman’s management have called on lawyers in an attempt to stop Geale’s bout with Osumanu Adama, threatening an injunction within 14 days, as of last Thursday.

They claim Geale broke an agreement and that Soliman was disadvantaged because he was unable to find a promoter to complete an IBF-ordered box-off to determine Geale’s challenger.

“It’s their fault that things didn’t work out the way that they want there,” said Geale, who claims he had to confirm his mandatory defence by February.

“They’re sort of crying about it now and carrying on about it now.

“Who do these guys think they are to be able to say that?

“They’ve got to go through the right avenues if they want to fight me. They’ve got to get their rankings right if they want to fight me and then we’ll consider that option.

“At the moment we’ve got options coming from everywhere.

“I’ve had to work so hard to get into this position as well and these people want to jump the queue and just fight me whenever they feel like it.

“It’s just not the right way.”

Geale (26-1) has again shunned more lucrative offers to defend his middleweight title at home, inviting former amateur team-mate and IBF featherweight champion Dib along to defend his belt against Mexican Eduardo Escobedo.

Two world title defences on the one bill is thought to be a first for Australian boxing.

“This sort of stuff sometimes happens in Vegas so to bring it down to Tassie, it’s a pretty decent thing,” Geale said.

“To have him on the same card as myself, it’s a smart option and it’s definitely going to help us both.”

The 30-year-old has seen several fights fall through in the US and Europe since injuring his hand in the first defence of the title against Eromosele Albert in Hobart last year, but says with offers flooding in, this could be his swansong in Australia.

Geale said Ghana-born American Adama (20-2) would be a tougher proposition than Albert.

“He can punch harder, he’s probably a little bit faster and he’s definitely stronger,” Geale said.

“He thinks he’s just going to walk through me and just sort of knock me out.

“That’s not going to happen.

“I’m going to be physically at my best for this next fight.”

Dib (33-1) said Escobedo (32-3), who is undefeated since 2007, would also be tough.

“(The Mexicans) come to fight, they’ve got that warrior mentality,” Dib said.

“But unfortunately for him, he’s coming up against somebody who’s willing, determined and I’ve got the title and he’s not taking it anywhere.”