SYDNEY - World Boxing Association super middleweight world champion Anthony Mundine has announced he will step back into the ring next month for the first time since a serious eye problem nearly ended his career.
Mundine will fight Argentinian Jose Alberto Clavero, who is ranked 15th in theWBA, at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on December 10.
A two-time world champion, Mundine says he was advised to get a cornea transplant which would have ended his career after picking up serious infection in his left eye during a trip to New Zealand earlier this year.
But, against the advice of doctors, his family and management and with the acknowledgement his vision will never return to normal, Mundine has decided to return to boxing.
"It's not going to be 100 per cent but I haven't been 100 per cent for any fight," he said.
"We always strive to be perfect but the fact of the matter is you're never perfect.
"This is probably the biggest adversity I've faced in my life."
If he gets passed Clavero, Mundine is confident of organising a mega-money fight against the winner of this weekend's title unification showdown between unbeaten super middleweights Mikkel Kessler and Joe Calzaghe.
"We think the fight will go ahead," Mundine said.
"The winner of that fight, I'll take them on in the next nine months."
