ANTHONY Mundine is planning a shock return to rugby league when he finishes his boxing career.
Mundine, who will fight fellow Australian Sam Soliman for the WBA super-middleweight title on March 7 at the Entertainment Centre, says he plans to remain in boxing for another two years.
And while his immediate goal is to defeat Soliman in their much anticipated rematch, he then wants to take on the world's top middleweight, Jermain Taylor, and former junior-middleweight champion Ronald "Winky" Wright.
He then plans to make another assault on the league world.
"Definitely, I have a two-year plan," Mundine said. "I want to fight the best of the best and get as far as I can.
"All going well that's something I want to do, come back [to rugby league] and get that elusive premiership that I had in the grasp of my hands twice."
Mundine quit football in mid 2000 to pursue his boxing career but admits he has unfinished business in rugby league.
The 31-year-old believes a higher being will decide if he will win an elusive NRL grand final.
"It's God's will - he willed it away. But he may want me to come back and win a premiership, he may not.
"Right now I'm trying to be the best boxer I can be. I want to be one of the best boxers in the world pound for pound."
The former NSW five-eighth said he was confident he could return to his best despite a long absence from rugby league.
"No doubt football is my bread and butter, I've been playing it since I was four years old, I've been playing it for 20 years," he said.
"I was one of the premier five-eighths in the world, I've played Origin. All I need is a good off-season and some games under my belt."
Mundine said his most likely destination at the completion of his boxing career would be either the Dragons or South Sydney.
"I've played with St George for all of my professional career ... but I'm involved with Souths now and I'm a Souths junior, that stuff will work itself out down the track," Mundine said.
Mundine is also hopeful of a re-match with WBA super champion Mikkel Kessler if he can dispose of Soliman. He realises, however, that he needs an emphatic performance in what he describes as the most important fight of his life.
"I don't think Kessler is afraid of me or anything like that, but his managers are [dodging me], that's because they know I'm a threat to them," Mundine said.
He believes he is a far superior fighter to the Anthony Mundine who won a dubious points decision over Soliman five years ago.
"There's no doubt I'm a better fighter, a lot more superior and more complete, but Sam Soliman is a better fighter as well."
Mundine is ready to take the step down to middleweight to ensure he gets to fight the world's best boxers.
"I want to win more world titles - this would be my second one - I want to go to middleweight, beat the best there and then beat the best at light-heavyweight and be a multiple world champion."
