A DECISION on whether world boxing champion Daniel Geale puts his IBF title on the line against Victorian challenger Sam Soliman could be made within a few days.
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Reports that a fight between Geale and Soliman had already been agreed to were denied by Geale's camp yesterday but the 31-year-old Tasmanian should know his next bout by the end of the week.
His manager, Bill Treacy, is planning a telephone hook-up with Geale and his US-based promoter tomorrow to decide whether Geale fights Soliman or looks overseas.
Soliman claimed he had been given the green light by Geale for an IBF world title fight, most likely in May, but Treacy denied any contracts had been signed and has indicated a decision would be made after the telephone hook-up.
Soliman confirmed he was the number one contender to Geale's title after he won a unanimous points decision over Felix Sturm in Germany last weekend.
It came four days after Geale's domination over Anthony Mundine in a IBF title defence in Sydney.
``We're going to get the shot, and we've locked it in on contract,'' Soliman told SEN radio yesterday. ``We're just waiting for the date and we'll be fighting.''
Before Soliman's tough win in Germany, Geale had been considering a rematch with Sturm or looking towards the US where some lucrative pay-days await him.
But Soliman is now clearly in the picture with the 39-year-old Victorian claiming Geale would not risk losing another belt for not fulfilling a mandatory defence against him within the next 90 days.
Late last year Geale was stripped of his WBA belt when he decided to fight Mundine in preference to mandatory challenger Gennady Golovkin, of Russia.
``Having the title gives you leverage to negotiate other fights so how will he get a shot at them if he relinquishes,'' Soliman said. ``It's a no-brainer and not only that, how bad would it be for him when the whole world wants to see us go at it.''
