By Adrian Warren

Anthony Mundine has binned his traditional trash talking and says he can find no reason to belittle his next boxing adversary, Joshua Clottey.

Mundine, recently elevated to No.2 in the WBA rankings, will make his first defense of that organization's International super welterweight title against 14th rated New York-based Ghanian Clottey in Newcastle next Wednesday.

Clottey 36, (37-4, 22 KOs) briefly held the IBF welterweight title in 2008-09 and all four of his losses were to other world champions.

"This guy is a beast, I want to tame the beast and be my own beast in order to get the victory," Mundine said.

"It's probably one of the toughest fights of my career.

"I can't belittle this man and get in his face because he's a man of honor and a man of integrity.

"His accomplishments and his credibility speaks for itself, so I don't need to say nothing."

Clottey said managerial problems and promotional issues were responsible for fighting just twice in the past two years, but he was fit and expected to beat Mundine.