KG: If you've been wondering why you haven't heard much from Anthony 'The Man' Mundine of late, it's because he's been recovering from an injury that threatened to derail his career. Video journalist Kris Flanders caught up with The Man to see how he's getting himself ready for a return to the boxing ring.

VO: 'The Man' is back. After time off to recover from what was a career-threatening eye infection, Anthony Mundine is preparing to defend his WBA super middleweight title.

ANTHONY MUNDINE, WBA SUPER MIDDELWEIGHT CHAMPION: The last month I've been really training and man, I tell you, it felt like I was never going to get fit again. I'm starting to get back to where I want to be and by the time the fight comes I'll be pretty much in peak condition and ready to retain my title.

VO: Mundine's title defence, to be staged on December 10 in Sydney, will be against Jose Alberto Clavero who is ranked number 15 in the super middleweight division.

ANTHONY MUNDINE: This guy is obviously South American, he's Argentinean, and they always come to fight, they always give you a tough fight, they always seem to have a lot of durability about them. He's had some stiff opposition.

VO: If Mundine retains his title next month it could set up a showdown with Joe Calzaghe, the boxer to beat in Mundine's division.

ANTHONY MUNDINE: I would love to have an opportunity to fight Joe Calzaghe, I think it'd be a great stylistic match-up and I think it'd be a great boxing event. I'll always be here, willing to fight.

VO: But in August this year, The Man's fighting career almost came to an end. After a routine eye operation, Mundine was required to wear protective contact lenses, but he says he wasn't given proper care instructions and an unfortunate incident led to a serious eye infection.

ANTHONY MUNDINE: My eye got irritated. My eye was in pain, some bad pain. I must have pushed the contact lens out of place and I wanted to take the contact lens out and I went to the bathroom, and it was like unisex bathroom. And the girl there said she'd worn contacts for years and she said you have to clean it. I knew not to put it under tap water but she told me to put it in my mouth, your own saliva is alright. “Put it in your mouth and put it back on your eye," and that's what happened. That's where the infection went straight into the cornea because I had no protection. The doctors were fearful that I was going to lose my eye. It was pretty bad.

VO: With his career on the ropes, Mundine began to re-evaluate his life.

ANTHONY MUNDINE: At one stage I didn't even really think about boxing, I just thought about my life and I just thought that I want my eye back to just continue life, to see my kids grow. I was willing to accept the fact that maybe it was all over.

KRIS FLANDERS, VJ: Choc may have almost lost the vision in his left eye but there is no mistaking that the confidence and his lightning-quick jabs haven't been lost.

ANTHONY MUNDINE: I've been sparring in the gym, I've been dealing with it. My sparring partner is still getting a beat down so I mean, I'm really feeling confident with it. I can still see. As long as I can see a silhouette on this side and I can see something coming, then this eye will make up for it, the good eye.

VO: Choc was given a boost last month by winning an award at the Deadlys.

ANTHONY MUNDINE: It hits home when I get nominated and then actually win prestigious Indigenous awards like that because I see that I'm doing the right thing.

VO: Choc's legion of fans mean the world to him and he has a message for them all.

ANTHONY MUNDINE: We're going to go on and continue to win more titles and win more belts and it all starts on December 10. And to all the kids and the youth and anyone that's got a dream - don't drink, don't smoke, no drugs, because it's tearing us up. Go for your goals and go for your dreams and live your dreams. I'm living proof, so don't say I didn't tell you. That's my secret.