MELBOURNE - A showdown between world middleweight champion Daniel Geale and No.1 contender Sam Soliman is expected later this year after the IBF ordered both fighters' camps to start negotiations.
Geale made a successful fourth defence of his IBF title against compatriot Anthony Mundine last Wednesday before Soliman earned a shot at the Tasmanian when he outpointed former world champion Felix Sturm in Germany on Saturday (AEDT).
No deal has yet been made between the Geale and Soliman camps, though Geale, his manager, Bill Treacy and his American-based promoter Gary Shaw will have a phone discussion later this week.
"The notification from the IBF to commence negotiations directly (with Soliman's management) only came out at four o'clock this morning," said Garrie Francisco a member of Geale's management team on Tuesday.
"At this point in time we haven't heard boo from Soliman's camp, we haven't even made step one on the ladder of negotiations."