Daniel Geale says Billy Dib and himself will be looking to make a statement to the world when they defend their IBF boxing world titles in mandatory defences in Hobart on March 7.
Middleweight Geale will put his belt on the line against American-based Ghanaian Qsumanu Adamu (20-2, 15 KOs), the IBF No.1 contender.
Featherweight Dib, who like Geale will be making his second title defence, will be up against Mexican Eduardo Escobedo (32-3, 23 KOs), the IBF rated No.3 and the highest available contender, with the top two spots currently vacant.
“This is going to be massive exposure, we’re going to be seen around the world,” Geale told AAP.
“We have to perform. Both of us have got to make statements to the rest of the world.”
Geale thought it could be his last bout in Australia for a while, with plenty of interest from overseas promoters in his services.
He felt the experience of IBF No.2-ranked middleweight Sam Soliman could be decisive against Garth Wood in the all-Australian middleweight clash in Sydney on Sunday, but expressed no interest in fighting the winner.
“We’ve been having huge offers from fighters overseas. My goals are to travel overseas and fight and win over there,” Geale said.
Geale has prepared by sparring rounds with former The Contender TV show winner and super middleweight world title contender Sakio Bika.
“I’ve done three or four sessions with Sakio now, so that probably equates to about ten sessions with normal people,” Geale quipped.
In Dib’s case, his acclaimed trainer Billy Hussein will be locking wits with famed Mexican “Nacho” Beristain, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame this year following his work with legends like Oscar de la Hoya and Juan Manuel Marquez.
“He (Escobedo) has got a master trainer in his corner and I’ve got a master trainer in my corner,” Dib said.