Barring a bad loss, 40-year-old Anthony Mundine believes he'll be boxing for up to three more years and still craves one massive bout.
Australian boxer Anthony Mundine. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Australian will fight for the first time in a year when he defends his WBC super welterweight title against American Charles Hatley in Melbourne on November 21st.
Elbow and eye problems and contractual issues have conspired to cause the longest break of his boxing career.
The former rugby league star said he never imagined, when he switched to boxing in 2000, he would still be fighting 15 years later.
Although Mundine has had a number of high-profile world title bouts, he still yearns for one more before finally hanging up his gloves.
"I just want a massive fight. I want to get one shot like Australian middleweight Daniel Geale did against Miguel Cotto," Mundine said.
"My plan is to go out and fight the best and beat the best."
Mundine is ranked number four by the WBC, 11 places higher than Texan Hatley who has a record of 25-1-1 (17 KOs).
A victory over 29-year-old Hatley, who hasn't fought the same level of opposition as the Australian who described him as a boxer and counterpuncher, would put Mundine within reach of a mandatory shot at the WBC title owned by American superstar Floyd Mayweather.
Although Mayweather was adamant he would not fight again after his recent win over Andre Berto, Mundine wasn't convinced.
"I believe he (Mayweather) will fight again," Mundine said.
Asked if he thought he still had some chance of fighting the unbeaten American, Mundine said: "Other people might not believe so, but I do."
Mundine said he hadn't watched the recent comeback bout of old adversary Danny Green and would want a 60-40 split of the purse for a rematch.
He defeated Green on points in 2006 in Sydney.
Green, 42, is campaigning as a cruiserweight, four divisions above Mundine who isn't prepared to go up any further in weight than somewhere between super middleweight and light heavyweight.
