Anthony Mundine believes he can become one of the world's best pound-for-pound boxers in the next 18 months.

"The Man" has his sights set on regaining the WBA Title he lost last year and then an eventual rematch with the man who took it, Mikkel Kessler.

But first, Mundine has to deal with Argentine Ruben Acosta, who will be his opponent in Newcastle on Wednesday night.

Mundine said he would knock out his opponent and predicted: "He won't last six rounds."

Little-known Acosta, who has a 12-1-4 record, is expected to provide little competition for Mundine, who is clearly already thinking ahead of the fight.

"I'm giving Ruben all the respect, but at the end of the day he's going to see that I'm the best," Mundine said.

"He's going to see that I'm the man and I'll move on to the world title in February or March which will be the big fight."

By winning on Wednesday night, Mundine would set up a match with Sam Soliman or American Jeff Lacey for the vacant WBA Super Middle Weight Crown.

But fellow-Australia Soliman said the former world WBA champion Anthony Mundine won't have "the balls" for a re-match with him.

Mundine beat Soliman in a controversial points decision in 2001 and says he isn't a threat and nobody would want to seem them fight because he "fights like an orangutan".

But Soliman recently jumped up from middleweight and will fight Mexican Enrique Ornelas this weekend in Los Angeles with the aim of earning the right to face Mundine for the WBA title.

"When you get through your spar (against Acosta) uninjured this week and I am victorious we will be straight onto the WBA to see if we can make this fight happen," Soliman said.

"Once the WBA approves of this bout and you don't take the challenge, it will prove you can't possibly be "The Man" cause you ain't got no balls."

Kessler, the new super champion of the division, avoided a bout with Mundine this year, instead forgoing his WBA title for a chance at Marcus Bayer's WBC belt.

Kessler subsequently dominated the German, knocking him out in three rounds on October 14.

Mundine desperately wants a rematch with Kessler and feels he will "checkmate" the Dane and force him into a fight if he can regain the WBA title.

"I really feel I (could) take on anyone in the world today," Mundine said.

"I just have that belief and confidence in myself that I can do big things in boxing and become one of the best pound-for-pound (boxers) in the next 18 months."

Mundine has not fought since out-pointing Danny Green in May. Since then he has had foot surgery, forcing him to miss three months of training.

Mundine defended his decision to take on a lesser-ranked opponent.

"I know what the people want, I know what the media want, and that's to put me in with a lion every fight," he said.

"Being out six months, I'd be stupid to come back and fight another big fight.

"I need this under my belt, especially the preparation."

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