Anthony Mundine

At 48 years old, Anthony Mundine has this physical status:

Anthony "The Man" Mundine (born 21 May 1975) is an Australian professional boxer and former rugby league footballer.

He has competed from 2000 to 2008, won the WBA middleweight title twice, as well as the IBO middleweight title from 2009 to 2012, as well as the WBA interim super-welterweight tournament from 2011 to 2012.

Mundine is well-known for his ferocious rivalries with fellow Australians Danny Green and Daniel Geale. Mundine was the highest-paid player in the NRL before his switch to boxing.

He considers himself to be Australia's best all-round performer.

In 2000, Mundine was named the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of the Year, and he hails from the Bundjalung people of northern coastal areas of New South Wales.

He was the first boxer in history to have every one of his professional fights televised for television and has more pay-per-views than any other Australian boxer since turning pro.

"Undoubtedly the greatest crossover celebrity in boxing history," Steve Bunce has described him as "arguably the greatest crossover celebrity in boxing history."

Mundine has had a turbulent relationship with the media since 1999: his conversion to Islam in 1999, self-promotion, and outspoken views have all contributed to a love-hate relationship with the Australian public.

Mundine has been dubbed "the most polarizing celebrity in Australian sports history."

Early life and education

Mundine was born in Newtown, Sydney's inner west, in 1975. Both of his parents are Aboriginal. Mundine was born as a Christian but in the late 1990s, she converted to Islam.

Mundine competed in junior rugby league for Hurstville United and, while attending Kingsgrove High School, Mundine played for the school in the 1993 and 1994 teams that captured the University Shield both years. In 1993, he appeared for the Australian Schoolboys team for the first time. Mundine made his St. George Dragons debut as an eighteen-year-old this year. Mundine has also attended Canterbury Boys' High School and Cleveland Street High School.

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Boxing career

Mundine's father, Tony Mundine, was a middleweight contender in the 1970s, has influenced him.

Mundine defeated him in his first competitive boxing match in July 2000, aged 25, at the age of 25. After a brief amateur career (he had four amateur fights when he was 17), his first professional match was against Gerrard Zohs, a New Zealander. Mundine fought for his first world title against long-serving IBF supermiddleweight champion Sven Ottke in January 2001. Only ten professional bouts later.

Anthony Mundine was up on points before being knocked out by a right hand to the temple in the tenth round in 2001 when taking on then Super Middleweight champion Sven Ottke for the IBF Super Middleweight belt. This was the first time Mundine lost.

Ottke's WBA and IBF super middleweight titles had been unified by Sven Ottke, and the WBA and the WBA's "regular" super middleweight category was proclaimed vacant (see undisputed champion). Mundine carried out his undefeated WBA Middleweight title with a unanimous points vote over Antwun Echols on September 3, 2003, in front of his home crowd at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

Mundine lost in a 12-round split points decision after winning the vacant WBA title and defending the title once.

After losing by default to Mikkel Kessler at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on 6 August 2005, Mundine failed in his attempt to win the WBA super middleweight championship.

Danny Green, who lives in Perth, is Mundine's most notable Australian rivalry. Danny Green "a bum" in reaction to Green's use of Mundine's name in the media, and Mundine said Danny will be a "no believer" against him. Green wagered a regular media war with Mundine, utilizing the internet to establish his reputation and pride in the case of a potential confrontation with Mundine. The two boxers finally met on May 17 in Sydney, after much anticipation. When Jeff Fenech fought Azumah Nelson in their rematch in 1992, it was one of the most anticipated in Australian boxing history, and it was expected to beat the attendance record of 37,000. Michael Schiavello, the fight was broadcast on Main Event. It was the biggest Pay Per View event in Australian television history. About two hours before the match, Green became the marginal favorite. Green had no response to Mundine's quick speed and jab, giving Mundine the upper hand. Judge Michael Lee 116–113, Judge Pinij Prayadsub 118–1112, and Judge Derek Milham 118–112.

Soliman and Mundine will meet again for the second time, this time in the world's coveted WBA "regular" super middleweight championship. Unlike the first match, Mundine controlled the proceedings, knocking his opponent down once in the second round and three times in the ninth, resulting in a referee's dismissal decision.

Mundine defeated then-undefeated International Boxing Organization middleweight champion Daniel Geale (21–0–0) on May 27, 2009). Mundine's win was decided by split decision, with two judges scoring it 116–113 and 114–113 in favour of Mundine, the third judge scoring 115–113 for Geale. Mundine admitted that he had barely researched Geale prior to the war. Sonny Bill Williams, Mundine's close friend and league-turned-rugby player, made the debut undercard.

Garth Wood, the winner of The Contender Australia boxing series, met Mundine on December 8th. Mundine was on his way to a wide decision after an uncomfortable first four rounds of grappling. Wood knocked Mundine out in the 5th round of the Mundine. Wood managed to land a flush left hook on Mundine's chin, bringing him to the canvas. The result was reported to be one of Australia's biggest upsets ever.

Mundine gained revenge for his defeat in a rematch that was favored every round and then triumphed by a 10-round unanimous points decision on April 13, 2011.

Mundine defeated Rigoberto Alvarez, the former WBA champion, for the interim WBA Light Middleweight world championship on October 19th. Mundine was ruled unanimously, and as a result, they became the primary challenger to Austin Trout, the full belt holder.

Trout was previously in talks with Mundine, but when Trout's leadership opened new options in the work, Mundine's team decided to press the fight through a mandated position that allowed for more favourable negotiations. Mundine declined to face Trout in March 2012. Mundine did not pursue a purse bid, which Mundine did not pursue. Mundine was stripped of his title in May 2012 for failing to fulfill the WBA's rules regarding the mandatory fight. Mundine has signed a short-term contract with American promoter Cameron Dunkin.

Mundine met American Bronco McKart on July 14, 2012, on July 14th. Mundine's first match in the United States, with the aim of seeing undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight the bout by seventh-round TKO. McKart's defeat was his first stoppage defeat since 2006, when he lost to Kelly Pavlik and was his third TKO loss in 65 fights.

Mundine defeated Daniel Geale for the second time on January 30, 2013, with Geale's IBF crown on the line. It was the first time two Australians had competed for the IBF world middleweight title. Mundine was looking forward to his ultimate goal, defeating world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., while Geale was aiming to salvage his only professional victory, which was to Mundine in 2009. This was the biggest boxing festival in Australia since Mundine defeated Danny Green in 2006. Kimbo Slice and Joel Brunker, among other things, were among the undercards on the undercards. Mundine carried on the fight by unanimous points decision 112–116, 111–117, and 111–117. However, he refused to accept the verdict, and Mundine and his entourage stormed out of the ring and left the arena shortly after ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. announced the result. Denis Fitzgerald, the chairman of the New South Wales Combat Sports Authority, is seeking legal help to determine whether Mundine will be sued for his outburst following Mundine's assault on the fight judges and their scoring.

Mundine was supposed to face American boxing hero Shane Mosley at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on October 23, 2013; however, Shane Moseley, who had demanded $1 million before entering the ring, called the match off at the last minute. On Mosely's arrival to Australia, Mundine had sent $300,000 of his own money, as well as a friend, Jeff Fenech, who contributed 1/2 million, but this was short of the required $1 million. Mundine was eager to postpone the confrontation but still managed to raise the necessary $1 million appearance fund with his boss, and the brawl took place on November 27th in Allphones Arena. Shane Mosley was forced to leave due to back spasms, giving Mundine the victory via TKO.

Mundine defeated former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey in Newcastle on Monday, losing by unanimous decision.

Mundine defeated Sergey Rabchenko, the then-undefeated European champion, at Hisense Arena, Melbourne, on November 12, 2014. Mick Gatto, a controversial Melbourne underworld figure, was the fight's sponsor. Cory Paterson, a retired NRL player, appeared on the undercard. Mundine came out an underdog after losing to Clottey. Mundine defeated Mundine in a split decision, with three judges scoring the fight 115–113 and 116–112 for Mundine and 113–115 for Rabchenko. Mundine became the most favored candidate for Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s WBC light middleweight championship.

Mundine was supposed to face Austin Trout in San Antonio, Texas, on May 9th, but Mundine had to pull out after suffering a perforated ear drum prior to the combat. Luis Galarza was later replaced by Mundine.

Music career

Mundine appeared in Angry Anderson's 1990 hit song "Bound for Glory." Mundine appeared in the Australian rock band Powderfinger's "Like a Dog" video in 2001, where frontman Bernard Fanning praised Mundine as "the right lead" in terms of the song's content and the fact that he's eager to speak out for what he believes in." In 2005, he appeared on beatboxer Joel Turner's single "Knock U Out." Nathan Merritt and Amos Roberts were also included in the music video in his debut single, "Platinum Ryder." The film clip sparked controversy over the Union Jack's fire as well as a snapshot of then Prime Minister John Howard of Australia. Mundine and league player Joe Williams appeared in the Brothablack music video, Are You With Me Out There. Mundine appeared in the video of a Get Up Mob version of the song "From Little Things Big Things Grow." Mundine appeared on the Street Warriors' debut album, Unstoppable Power, in 2009.

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