SYDNEY - IBF middleweight boxing world champion Daniel Geale says he will defeat Anthony Mundine convincingly in tonight's world title clash, believing his hunger for more success and desire to get better will prove decisive.
Challenger Mundine, 37, insists he is still at the peak of his powers despite being the betting underdog for the Sydney Entertainment Centre clash.
Mundine (44-4, 26 KOs) scaled 71.95 kilograms at yesterday's weigh-in.
Tasmanian Geale (28-1, 15 KOs), making his fourth defence, scaled 72.50kg, just inside the limit of 72.57kg.
Geale's trainer, Graham Shaw, said the closer you can get to the limit the better, ``he's timed it pretty much to perfection''.
Mundine was in a typically confident mood as he left the weigh-in at the Star Casino.
``I'm the best ever, the number one, the best athlete ever, you can't mess with me,'' Mundine declared.
Mundine was responsible for inflicting the only professional loss on Geale's record, taking a split points win in Brisbane in 2009.
Since then, Mundine has won an interim light-middleweight title and gone 8-1, losing to Garth Wood, winner of the TV reality show The Contender .
Geale, 31, has won seven straight since losing to Mundine and has accumulated plenty of big-fight experience, taking world titles off Sebastian Sylvester and Felix Sturm in Germany.
``Anthony talks like he wants it, but he's sort of finishing up - he knows he's towards the end of his career,'' Geale said.
``I'm still hungry, I'm motivated. Every day I still want to get better.
``I'm not at the top. I still believe I've got a lot more to improve.''
Geale stopped short of predicting a KO win, but Shaw said he wouldn't be surprised if his charge won inside the distance.
Conventional boxing wisdom has it that Geale's renowned work-rate over 12 rounds will eventually wear down the older challenger in a classic battle between two quick-handed boxers.
However, Mundine was adamant that the bout wouldn't come down to him trying to match the champion's output.
``There are many ways to skin a cat - that's the game plan. I can adapt, I'm very adaptable,'' Mundine said.
``I believe I'm at the peak of my powers - that's what I'm going to show on Wednesday.
``Because I've been through all the scenarios and I'm starting to pay attention to detail now in my art. I never used to.''