Anthony Mundine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Anthony Mundine
Statistics
Real name Anthony Mundine
Nickname(s) The Man, Choc
Rated at Super Middleweight
Middleweight
Light Middleweight
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Nationality Australian
Born 21 May 1975 (1975-05-21) (age 36)
Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 47
Wins 43
Wins by KO 25
Losses 4
Draws 0
No contests 0

Anthony Mundine (born 21 May 1975) is an Australian professional boxer[1] and former rugby league footballer.

He is the current interim WBA Light Middleweight Champion boxer, former two-time WBA Super Middleweight Champion, former IBO Middleweight Champion and New South Wales State of Origin representative footballer. Before his move to boxing he was the highest paid player in the NRL.[2] He is the son of boxer Tony Mundine and is a member of the Bundjalung people.[3]

Mundine has had a stormy relationship with the media.[4] His conversion to Islam in 1999, self-promotion and outspoken opinions have created a love-hate relationship with the Australian public[5] and he has been described as "the most polarising athlete in Australian sports history".[6] He was named the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Person of the Year in 2000. He has also won The Deadlys Award as Male Sportsperson of the Year in 2003, 2006 and 2007 amongst others.

Contents

[edit] Rugby league

Anthony Mundine
Personal information
Born 21 May 1975 (1975-05-21) (age 36)
Newtown, New South Wales , Australia
Playing information
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 73 kg (11 st 7 lb)
Position Five-eighth, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1993–96 St. George Dragons 60 30 3 1 127
1997 Brisbane Broncos 11 3 0 0 12
1998 St. George Dragons 23 7 0 1 29
1999–00 St. George Illawarra 33 19 0 0 76
Total 127 59 3 2 244
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999 New South Wales 3 1 0 0 4
Source: Rugby League Project

Born in Newtown, in the inner west of Sydney in 1975, Mundine played junior rugby league for Hurstville United, and while attending Kingsgrove High School, he played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1993.[7] That year Mundine signed with the St. George Dragons as an eighteen year-old.[8] He has also attended Canterbury Boys' High School and Cleveland Street High School.

In 1994, he represented the Junior Kangaroos, the team that beat Great Britain's under-19s in the curtain-raiser to the Australia v. France Test at Parramatta Stadium.

In 1996, he played in a losing Grand Final, against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. That year he was the victim of racial vilification when league player Barry Ward called Mundine a "black ****". Ward was fined $10,000 for the offense. At the end of that season he announced that he was signing with the Brisbane Broncos in the Super League competition.

In 1997 he played 18 games for the Broncos, scoring three tries.[9] He also played in his first winning Grand Final team, beating the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

In 1998, after turning his back on the Broncos, he returned to the Dragons.

Mundine was selected to play for New South Wales state rugby league team in each of the three matches of the 1999 State of Origin series, scoring a try in Game I. That year he also assisted the Dragons' run to the Grand Final, with a hat-trick against the Sharks in the Major Semi-Final. The following week the Dragons lost to the Melbourne Storm in the 1999 Grand Final, and Mundine knocked-on over the try line early in the second half, which proved to be a major turning point in the match.

Mundine was disappointed that further representative honours did not follow, and believed that his representative opportunities did not reflect his abilities and achievements at club level. He raised the issue of racism as a possible explanation for this, but this explanation was refuted by another Aboriginal player who represented New South Wales.[10]

Anthony Mundine left rugby league half way through the 2000 season, after being inspired to go into boxing, when a friend, Abdi Osman, showed him a video of Muhammad Ali. Mundine was intrigued and felt that he could compete comfortably in the world of boxing. He later cited what he claimed was racism in NSW, concerning rugby league, as one of the reasons he quit rugby league to take up boxing.

In 2005 Mundine was reported to be making a comeback to the NRL,[11] but this did not eventuate.

In 2007 Mundine was appointed Indigenous Liaison Officer at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Mundine has close family ties to rugby league: he is a relative of Amos Roberts, Beau Mundine and Reece Robinson, all NRL footballers.[12] He is also the brother-in-law of Tyran Smith who married Mundine's sister, Kellie.[13]

[edit] Boxing career

Mundine was trained by his father, Tony Mundine, who was a middleweight contender during the 1970s. His mother is Lyn Mundine.[14]

Mundine fought his first professional boxing match in July 2000, at the age of 25. After a limited amateur career (he had 4 amateur fights when he was 17), his first professional fight was against New Zealander Gerrard Zohs. Only 10 professional bouts later Mundine fought for his first world title against long reigning IBF supermiddleweight champion Sven Ottke in January 2001. The fight ended suddenly after 10 competitive rounds when Ottke landed a blow to Mundine's temple that left the latter unconscious on the canvas. Despite this dramatic loss, he returned to the ring, promising to fight again for a world title.

Since the WBA and IBF super middleweight titles had been unified by Sven Ottke, Ottke was upgraded to 'super' champion status by the WBA and the WBA super middleweight title was declared vacant (see undisputed champion). Mundine went on to claim the vacant WBA Super Middleweight title with a unanimous points decision over Antwun Echols on 3 September 2003, in front of his home crowd at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. He successfully defended his title once, before losing it in a hesitant performance and split points decision against Manny Siaca.

Mundine failed in his attempt to re-gain the WBA super middleweight title after losing by decision to Mikkel Kessler on 6 August 2005 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

[edit] Mundine's rivalry with Danny Green

Mundine's biggest Australian rivalry is with Perth-based Danny Green. In 2001, Mundine called Danny Green "a bum" in response to Green using Mundine's name to garner media attention, and stated that Danny would be a "no hoper" against him.[citation needed] Danny Green, waged a consistent media war with Mundine, using the media to build up his own name, and interest in a potential fight with Mundine. The two boxers finally, after much anticipation, fought on 17 May 2006, at Aussie Stadium, Sydney. The bout was one of the most anticipated in Australian boxing history, and was thought to eclipse the attendance record of 37,000 when Jeff Fenech fought Azumah Nelson in their rematch in 1992. The fight was broadcast on Main Event helmed by Michael Schiavello. It was the biggest Pay Per View event in Australian television history. Green became the slight favourite about 2 hours before the bout. Green had little answer to Mundine's speed and jab, giving Mundine the upper hand. Mundine won a twelve-round unanimous decision by the following scores: Judge Michael Lee 116-113, Judge Pinij Prayadsub 118-111, Judge Derek Milham 118-112. There have been discussions of a possible rematch since their first fight.[15]

[edit] Mundine vs. Geale

On 27 May 2009, Mundine faced International Boxing Organization middleweight champion Daniel Geale (21-0-13). Mundine won a controversial split decision with two judges scoring it 116-113 and 114-113 in favour of Mundine, the third judge scoring 115-113 for Geale.[16]

[edit] Mundine vs. Medley

On 11 January 2010, Mundine defended his WBA International Middleweight belt against 'Deadly' Rob Medley. Mundine and Medley were originally scheduled to fight for the vacant IBO Light Middleweight title. Mundine after having a dispute with the IBO refused to make weight, so Medley had to come up a weight division or abandon the fight. Mundine defeated Medley comfortably in their 12 round bout. Despite taking the win, Mundine was unhappy with how close the judges scored the bout (117-113, 117-115 and 117-112). "I knew I was the superior fighter," Mundine said after the fight. "I don't know what the judges were doing. He never hurt me, I wanted to knock him out, but he showed his fitness and preparation."

[edit] Mundine vs. Wood I

On 8 December 2010 Mundine took on the winner of The Contender Australia boxing series, Garth Wood. After an awkward first four rounds, consisting of grappling, Mundine was on his way to a wide decision (being ahead 4-0 on the cards). Mundine was knocked out in the 5th round by Wood. Wood was able to land a flush left hook on Mundine's chin, sending him to the canvas. The result was reported to be one of the biggest upsets in Australian boxing history.[17]

[edit] Mundine vs. Wood II

On 13 April 2011 Mundine gained revenge for his loss when he defeated Wood in a rematch, via a 10-round unanimous points decision.

[edit] Mundine vs. Alvarez

On 19th October 2011 Mundine faced former WBA champion Rigoberto Alvarez for the interim WBA Light Middleweight world title. Mundine won by unanimous decision and as a result will be the mandatory challenger for the full belt holder Austin Trout. Trout was previously in negotiations with Mundine, but when Trout's management put additional options in the contract Mundine's team decided to force the fight through mandatory position enabling a more favourable negotiation.

[edit] Business interests

Mundine is the owner of the sporting brand Boxa (est. 2000) and the Boxa Bar cafe in Hurstville.[18]

[edit] Music career

Mundine appeared in the music video of Angry Anderson's 1990 hit song "Bound For Glory". In 2001 Mundine appeared as himself in the music video "Like a Dog" by the Australian rock group Powderfinger, whose frontman Bernard Fanning praised Mundine as "the perfect lead, in terms of what the song is about and the fact that he's prepared to speak up for what he believes in."[19] In 2005 he featured in beatboxer Joel Turner's single "Knock U Out". He then released his own debut single, "Platinum Ryder", [20] which also featured Nathan Merritt and Amos Roberts in the music video. The film clip created controversy for the burning of the Union Jack and a photo of then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard.[21] Mundine also appeared in the Brothablack music video, Are You With Me Out There, along with league player Joe Williams. In 2008 Mundine featured in the video of a GetUp Mob version of the song From Little Things Big Things Grow. In 2009 Mundine also appeared alongside Shannon Noll in the Street Warriors debut album, Unstoppable Force. It is rumoured that Mundine is recording an album with Nathan Merritt called It's an Abo World. His album, entitled Dreams is yet to be released.

[edit] Other media

In July 2002, both Anthony and his father Tony appeared on an episode of Burke's Backyard with vetern Australian Gardening guru Don Burke.[22] Also in 2002 he appeared with other stars and celebrities in Celebrity Big Brother.[23] In 2003 he was in an episode of Greeks on the Roof and in 2005 he appeared on Dancing with the Stars. From 2007 to 2009 he appeared on The Footy Show.[24] He was in a five hour interactive DVD called Raising Children: A Guide to Parenting from Birth to Five. This DVD also featured Russell Crowe, Danielle Spencer, Neil Perry, Stan Grant and Johanna Griggs.[25] He has also appeared in The Contender Australia three times[24] and been a guest, starring as himself, on the Pizza TV series. In 2010 Mundine was a Special Guest Trainer on The Biggest Loser Australia: Couples 2.

Mundine's portrait by James Hunt, entitled Bora Anthony Mundine, was a notable finalist in the 2002 Archibald Prize.

Mundine is featured as part of the roster on the Fight Night Round 4 and Fight Night Champion video games.

[edit] Public controversy

In an interview in October 2001, Mundine said of the 11 September terrorist attacks, “They call it an act of terrorism, but if you can understand religion, and our way of life, it’s not about terrorism. It’s about fighting for God’s law, and America’s brought it upon themselves”.[26] Offering some insight into his tendency to make controversial comments in the media, Mundine stated that "If you want to toe the line, if you want to be some corporate guy and say the right things, do the right things, you might be okay in the media's eye, but it won't be real for me."[27]

[edit] Professional boxing record

Date Result Opponent Method Round Time Location Notes
19/10/2011 Win Rigoberto Alvarez UD 12 Entertainment Centre, Newcastle Won the interim WBA Light Middleweight Title
05/06/2011 Win Xavier Toliver TKO (Towel thrown in) 7 Henderson, New Zealand
13/04/2011 Win Garth Wood Decision (Unanimous) 10 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
08/12/2010 Loss Garth Wood KO 5 0:58 Acer Arena, Sydney, NSW, Australia
15/09/2010 Win Ryan Waters TKO 10 0:24 Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
30/06/2010 Win Carlos Jerez Decision (Unanimous) 12 Entertainment Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
11/1/2010 Win Robert Medley Decision (Unanimous) 12 Entertainment Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
21/10/2009 Win Alejandro Gustavo Falliga Decision (Unanimous) 10 Prospect, Tasmania, Australia
27/05/2009 Win Daniel Geale Decision (Split) 12 Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Won IBO Middleweight Title
11/02/2009 Win Shannon Taylor Decision (Unanimous) 12 Wollongong, NSW, Australia Won Vacant WBA International Middleweight Title
11/12/2008 Win Rafael Sosa Pintos Decision (Unanimous) 10 Sydney, NSW, Australia First fight at Middleweight
30/07/2008 Win Crazy Kim Decision (Unanimous) 10 Newcastle, NSW, Australia -
28/05/2008 Win Sam Soliman Decision (Unanimous) 12 Melbourne, VIC, Australia Defended WBA Super Middleweight Championship
27/02/2008 Win Nader Hamdan Decision (Unanimous) 12 Sydney, NSW, Australia Defended WBA Super Middleweight Championship
10/12/2007 Win Jose Alberto Clavero Knockout 4 2:14 Sydney, NSW, Australia Defended WBA Super Middleweight Championship
27/06/2007 Win Pablo Daniel Zamora Nievas Decision (Unanimous) 12 3:00 Broad Beach, QLD, Australia Defended WBA Super Middleweight Championship
07/03/2007 Win Sam Soliman Knockout 9 2:26 Sydney, NSW, Australia Won vacant WBA Super Middleweight Championship. Note: This title is a secondary title as Mikkel Kessler was the reigning WBA 'Super Champion' at the time.
15/11/2006 Win Ruben Eduardo Acosta Knockout 4 1:41 Sydney, NSW, Australia
17/05/2006 Win Danny Green Decision (unanimous) 12 3:00 Sydney, NSW, Australia WBA Super Middleweight Championship Eliminator
11/12/2005 Win Rico Chong Nee Technical Knockout 3 3:00 Perth, WA, Australia
07/09/2005 Win Rashid Matumla Technical Knockout 6 0:36 Canberra, ACT, Australia
08/06/2005 Loss Mikkel Kessler Unanimous Decision 12 3:00 Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia For WBA super middleweight title
2/2/2005 Win Darmel Castillo Technical Knockout 4 2:31 Broadbeach, QLD, Australia
13/10/2004 Win Juarne Dowling Technical Knockout 3 2:19 Carrara, QLD, Australia
08/09/2004 Win Sean Sullivan Technical Knockout 10 0:47 Liverpool, NSW, Australia
5/5/2004 Loss Manny Siaca Decision (Split) 12 3:00 Sydney, NSW, Australia Lost WBA Super Middleweight Championship
19/01/2004 Win Yoshinori Nishizawa Technical Knockout 5 0:43 Wollongong, NSW, Australia Defended WBA Super Middleweight Championship
09/03/2003 Win Antwun Echols Decision (Unanimous) 12 3:00 Sydney, NSW, Australia Won vacant WBA Super Middleweight Championship. Note: This title is a secondary title as Sven Ottke was the reigning WBA 'Super Champion' at the time.
17/03/2003 Win Rogerio Cacciatore Technical Knockout 1 ? Carrara, QLD, Australia
01/02/2003 Win Sean Sullivan Decision (Unanimous) 12 3:00 Auckland, New Zealand Defended WBA Fedelatin Super Middleweight Title, Defended WBA Pan African Super Middleweight Title, Defended PABA Super Middleweight Title
02/11/2002 Win Rick Thornberry Technical Knockout 11 ? Carrara, QLD, Australia Won WBA Fedelatin Super Middleweight Title, Defended WBA Pan African Super Middleweight Title, Defended PABA Super Middleweight Title
02/09/2002 Win Soon Botes Knockout 3 ? Liverpool, NSW, Australia Won WBA Pan African Super Middleweight Championship, Defended PABA Super Middleweight Championship
15/07/2002 Win Lester Ellis Technical Knockout 3 2:04 Melbourne, VIC, Australia
03/06/2002 Win Darren Obah Technical Knockout 6 ? Liverpool, NSW, Australia Defended PABA Super Middleweight Championship
01/04/2002 Win Roland Francis Technical Knockout 8 ? Carrara, QLD, Australia Won PABA Super Middleweight Championship
04/03/2002 Win Brad Mayo Decision (Unanimous) 10 3:00 Townsville, QLD, Australia
01/12/2001 Loss Sven Ottke Knockout 10 ? Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Lost IBF Pan Pacific Super Middleweight Championship, For IBF super middleweight title
20/10/2001 Win Guy Waters Knockout 2 ? Sydney, NSW, Australia Defended IBF Pan Pacific Super Middleweight Championship
03/09/2001 Win Sam Soliman Decision (Split) 12 3:00 Wollongong, NSW, Australia Won IBF Pan Pacific Super Middleweight Championship
10/07/2001 Win Kevin Pompey Technical Knockout 3 0:57 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
18/06/2001 Win Mike Makata Technical Knockout 5 ? Liverpool, NSW, Australia Defended PABA Super Middleweight Championship
16/04/2001 Win Timo Masua Knockout 3 ? Carrara, QLD, Australia Won PABA Super Middleweight Championship
19/02/2001 Win Marc Bargero Technical Knockout 6 ? Gosford, NSW, Australia Won Australian Super Middleweight Championship
11/12/2000 Win Ian McLeod Technical Knockout 9 ? Wollongong, NSW, Australia Fight Stopped On Cut
30/10/2000 Win Heath Stenton Decision (Unanimous) 8 3:00 Melbourne, VIC, Australia
04/09/2000 Win Nik Taumafai Technical Knockout 6 ? Sydney, NSW, Australia
03/07/2000 Win Gerrard Zohs Knockout 4 ? Sydney, NSW, Australia Professional Boxing Debut

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chico Harlan (4 December 2007). "Cathy Freeman's a sellout, says Anthony Mundine". The Courier Mail. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22873202-952,00.html?from=mostpop. Retrieved 14 February 2009. 
  2. ^ Anthony Mundine Biography
  3. ^ Chap off the old Block is pushing hard for the new, John Ellicott, The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 May 2009.
  4. ^ Smith, Amanda (2001-11-02). "Political Football". ABC. http://www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2001/sportsf/s406401.htm. 
  5. ^ Makinde, Adeyinka. "The Politics of Anthony Mundine". East Side Boxing.com. http://www.eastsideboxing.com/ade2510.html. 
  6. ^ Jeff Fenech looking forward to Wood turning out Mundine's lights, by Nick Walshaw, The Daily Telegraph, dated 13 April 2011.
  7. ^ "SportingPulse Homepage for Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League". SportingPulse. http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424. Retrieved 2008-10-10. 
  8. ^ Toby Creswell and Samantha Trenoweth (2006). 1001 Australians You Should Know. Australia: Pluto Press. pp. 693. ISBN 1864033614, 9781864033618. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QqtinbjO0oEC&vq=rugby&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
  9. ^ "Bronocs - All Time Roster". Brisbane Broncos. http://www.broncos.com.au/index.cfm?MenuID=305&TopMenuID=266. 
  10. ^ "Sydney Morning Herald". http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=266257. 
  11. ^ Steve Mascord and Brad Walter (8 April 2005). "I'm back, baby: Roosters expected to join Man hunt". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/Im-back-baby-Roosters-expected-to-join-Man-hunt/2005/04/08/1112815674504.html. Retrieved 2010-04-24. 
  12. ^ Halloran, Jessica (11 April 2005). "A rare glimpse of the quiet side of the Man". The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia: Fairfax). http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/A-rare-glimpse-of-the-quiet-side-of-the-Man/2005/04/10/1113071856147.html. Retrieved 2010-04-24. 
  13. ^ "Beau Mundine signs for Canberra". The Age (Australia: The Age Company Ltd). 5 May 2004. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/05/1083635160035.html. Retrieved 2010-04-24. 
  14. ^ Weidler, Danny (2003-06-15). "It's a Man's World". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/14/1055220813744.html. Retrieved 2009-02-14. 
  15. ^ Daily Telegraph Anthony Mundine says no to Danny Green
  16. ^ Koch, Dan (28 May 2009). "Danny Geale takes it to Anthony Mundine who now looks to the US". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/danny-geale-takes-it-to-anthony-mundine-who-now-looks-to-the-us/story-e6frg7mo-1225717128946. Retrieved 1 July 2010. 
  17. ^ Walter, Brad (9 December 2010). "Choc topped: Mundine KO'd by hard Wood". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/boxing/choc-topped-mundine-kod-by-hard-wood-20101209-18q0i.html. 
  18. ^ Boxa
  19. ^ Munro, Kelsey (February 2001). "Powderfinger 2001 - The Odyssey Continues". Esky.
  20. ^ Sams, Christine (26 March 2007). "The Man must make his music". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/the-man-must-make-his-music/2007/03/25/1174761263365.html. Retrieved 23 August 2007. 
  21. ^ McWhirter, Erin (30 January 2007). "Howard, flag, burn in Mundine video". news.com.au. http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/howard-flag-burn-in-mundine-video/story-e6frfn09-1111112913490. Retrieved 23 August 2007. 
  22. ^ bandt Media Eye: Pacific launches TV weekly Philip Luker, TV at half way
  23. ^ Imdb "Celebrity Big Brother for Charity Live" (2002)
  24. ^ a b Imdb Anthony Mundine
  25. ^ Imdb Raising Children: A Guide to Parenting from Birth to Five (2007) (V)
  26. ^ "He is "The Man" after all". Telapages. 2003-09-08. http://www.telapages.com.au/news/details.asp?ne_id=43&ne_category=Lord+Nose. Retrieved 2009-10-08. 
  27. ^ Harlan, Chico (5 December 2007). "Freeman a 'sellout': Mundine". The Daily Telegraph (Australia). http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/freeman-a-sellout-mundine/story-e6frexni-1111115031781. Retrieved 3 June 2010. 

[edit] Other references

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

Achievements
Vacant
Title last held by
Byron Mitchell
as Champion		 WBA Super Middleweight Champion
3 September 2003 – 5 May 2004
Regular Title until 27 March 2004		 Succeeded by
Manny Siaca
Vacant
Title last held by
Mikkel Kessler
as Champion		 WBA Super Middleweight Champion
Regular Title
7 March 2007 – 29 May 2008
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Mikkel Kessler
Preceded by
Daniel Geale		 IBO World Middleweight Champion
27 May 2009 – 2009
Relinquished		 Succeeded by
Peter Manfredo, Jr.
Vacant
Title last held by
Rigoberto Álvarez		 WBA Light Middleweight Champion
Interim Champion
19 October 2011 – present		 Incumbent

1. Lee Murphy | 2. Nathan Blacklock | 3. Paul McGregor | 4. Mark Coyne (c) | 5. Jamie Ainscough | 6. Anthony Mundine | 7. Trent Barrett |
8. Craig Smith | 9. Nathan Brown | 10. Corey Pearson | 11. Darren Treacy | 12. Lance Thompson | 13. Wayne Bartrim |
14. Shaun Timmins | 15. Colin Ward | 16. Brad Mackay | 17. Craig Fitzgibbon | Coach: David Waite
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anthony_Mundine&oldid=470761598"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages