Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Liberal Member for Bass

Sunday 13th December 2009

O'Byrne should get in the ring to ensure Mundine holds a rematch with Geale

Reports that Anthony Mundine would rather give up his IBO Middleweight belt than fight a rematch against Daniel Geale are not surprising.

Anyone who attended the recent boxing extravaganza at the Silverdome would have left firmly of the opinion that Daniel Geale was in a class of his own and it is no wonder that Geale believes that 'Mundine is deliberately ducking him'.

The Sports Minister Michelle O'Byrne should contact the camps of both boxers to gain an understanding of what might be done to encourage the rematch to take place sooner rather than later, and importantly what needs to be done to hold it in Tasmania.

This rematch would be one of the most eagerly awaited rematches in Australian boxing history and the State Government should not sit idly by and let the Mundine camp dictate if, when and where the fight may be held in the future.

Daniel Geale is a Tasmanian and we should do what we can to assist him whilst at the same time ensuring that all Tasmanians can benefit from the economic benefits to the State if the rematch were held here in Tasmania.

Ms O'Byrne must not lazily sit back and allow Queensland or NSW to profit from the State Governments inaction.