FORMER Tasmanian IBF world middleweight champion Daniel Geale will fight former Contender series winner Garth Woods in a non-title fight next month in Sydney while he waits on a bigger fish to fry hopefully mid-year.
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It will be the first fight for the 32-year-old Geale since he lost his IBF middleweight crown to Englishman Darren Barker in the US last August.
The 35-year-old Woods, of New South Wales, earned a fight against Anthony Mundine for his Contender win, sensationally knocking him out in his first professional bout, in December 2010.
He subsequently lost a unanimous points decision in a rematch in April the following year.
Geale is set to fight Woods on February 19 at the Horder Pavilion.
``The opportunity came up to fight Garth and unfortunately it has been very difficult trying to find an opponent,'' Geale said.
``We have a big fight coming up just after mid-year and I needed to get a fight in badly.
``I didn't want to be sitting around and obviously I would love to be fighting for a world title again but it doesn't always work out that way.''
Geale said Woods would be a dangerous opponent and he would not be taking him lightly.
``We never take it easy with anyone and it is going to be a good fight against Garth because he is wild and dangerous.
``He does cut a bit but he can bang and can punch and it is always exciting being part of a fight in Australia.''
Geale has his sights set on regaining his IBF title and has been in negotiations to fight German Felix Sturm again after he knocked out Barker in their title fight in December.
``We know Sturm is keen on fighting me again and now he has the title again they want me to go back to Germany.
``My management had been working hard on him but there were a few obstacles.
``We also have another option with the Kazakhstan fighter Gennady Golovkin, who holds the WBA title, who is keen on fighting me in April or May.
``I'm trying to not get ahead of myself but there are definitely a couple of big things on the horizon and I can't sit around until April or May or later waiting to get those fights and get stale and bored.
``I'd rather keep training and get back in there and make a statement as well to show these IBF and WBA champions that they are in for a tough fight when I get in there with them.''