The most polarizing athlete in Australian sports history is prepared to hang up his gloves once and for all if he loses his October bout with American boxing veteran Shane ‘Sugar’ Mosley.
The heavily maligned Anthony Mundine has always preferred talking to fighting and often spends more time running his mouth than he does in the ring.
Similar to the lead-up to his fight with Daniel Geale in January, the 38-year old has bounced back from embarrassment and is creating another cloud of hype before he throws what could be the last punches of his professional career.
His stormy relationship with the media dates back to his rugby league days, when he signed with the St George Dragons at just 18 years of age.
Despite making eyes roll into the back of critics’ heads, Mundine lets it be known he was once in fact the highest paid player in the NRL.
However he left after being ‘gypped’ by the game that began his stardom and since then has turned to boxing to prove his self-proclaimed talent.
Mundine is infamous for constructing dramatic public feuds. But to Choc’s credit, it’s his outspoken nature that has made him worth writing about and an iconic figure in Australian sport, whether you’re a fan of his work or not.
Lately, Mundine has caught the public eye with his involvement with troubled NRL superstar, Blake Ferguson.
Mundine is a second cousin of the Canberra centre and is playing a key role in Ferguson’s bid to say goodbye to the nation’s capital in his quest to sign with a Sydney-based team.
Although Mundine claims he is not planning on managing Ferguson, the cookie doesn’t fall too far from the jar.
“I want to teach him to manage himself, basically, but I will be an adviser at the moment,” Mundine said.
“He is in the position where he has got the brains to do it himself, but I will nurture him along the way.”
Whether Mundine has the wisdom to guide Ferguson out of the pubs and into NRL’s history books is subject to personal opinion but it is no surprise journalists’ fingers are tapping away at the idea.
The kryptonite to Mundine’s chitchat, however, is Mosley, the 41-year old who has five world titles in three weight classes and is eyeing off one million dollars for his visit down under.
“If I lose again, I’ll call it a day,” were Mundine’s words when asked about his clash with Mosley.
It’s laughable to think he will be able to Twitter his way out of this one.
Mosley, who was once crowned the most feared fighter in the world, is 1-3-1 in his last five fights and only returned to boxing in May after a 12 month retirement.
Despite his lack of form, the long-standing American has taken the bait and now has the chance to silence the man we love to hate and make a mockery of Anthony Mundine’s controversial reign over Australian sport.
Richard
Guest
Come on Zane. I agree a loss to Geale is no disgrace. But please don t use the 3 time world champ line. Yes he beat Echols. Vacant belt The other 2 you have to question. Once again, vacant belts. One was Shannon Taylor who had nt fought any international fighters for a while. How then could he be no.2 ranked. The other being Sam Soliman.
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Fair play Zane. It's an embarrassment for how much he talked it up but I agree, Geale isn't a pushover and neither is Mosely so it will be an interesting bout.
zane
Guest
How do you call a loss to Geale an embarrassment? obviously Charlie, lets be honest here, you are a Mundine hater. Geale fought a terrific fight, and was on his game on the night, (IBF CHAMP), Mundine went 12 rounds and that is no embarrassing feat, is it Charlie? how do you justify that fight being an embarrassment????? keep hating, and the 'Man' 3 X World CHAMP!!! keeps on proving all your doubter wrong...Love the Man, GO THE MAN MUNDINE!!!!
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Apparently!
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Mundine is still boxing?
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
I'm with you, Mosley will take it in a split decision.
Michael Boulus
Roar Rookie
I hope Mosley belts the tripe out of Mundine He has far too much to say about too many things Go Sugar
The Greatest Game Of All
Guest
Mundine looked old against Geale, his reflexes were slow. I dont know if Mundines been on his high horse so far for this fight, hes admitted both of them are not in their primes, hes said he'll retire if he loses, but that could all change as the build up gets closer. Could be a knockout to Sugar Shane, I'm tipping a split decision to Mosley, Choc didn't show me enough against Geale.
Brannavan Ramschandran
Guest
"Well said, greatest game of all". Unfortunately the media loves to find a way to belittle mundine. What's more unfortunate is that this time its at the expense of a legend, sugar shane. They want to put a dampener o his success so when he wins he would have beaten an aged out of form shane mosley. Just like when he beat green they said that green was dehydrated and fighting below his preffferred weight. No research was put into where green fought the majority of his career up until then. I watched mosleys last fight and think he is in form.More so tthan mundine so this should be a good fight.
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
I'm not making a call on whether Mundine has the wisdom to advise Ferguson, I was simply saying that it would be a headline story. As for Mosley, I was making the point that he is not as strong as he used to be, but still has every chance of knocking Mundine off his high horse. Your right, no shame at all for Sugar, he's a legend of the sport and is recent 1-3-1 record isn't justified in this article.
Jukes
Guest
This is an easy pay day for Moseley even if he was semi-retired.
ken
Guest
You can say what you like about his sporting prowess (personally I think he's a great athlete although not quite as good as he tells it), but not sure it's fair to dismiss the idea that he could be a decent mentor for a troubled guy like Ferguson. With 20 years as the most polarising figure in Aussie sport, can you think of anyone that would have been heckled harder than Mundine when he walks around town? Yet in those 2 decades I've not once seen a report of him getting into a fight or even a public argument with anyone, no woman complaining that he groped them, no reports of him being chucked out of establishments, no taxi trips that he's done a runner from, etc, etc. He's got a reputation as a big mouth, which he obviously cultivates due to it's promotional value, but beneath the surface he's basically squeaky clean and has plenty of runs on the board getting out in the community and trying to inspire young people.
The Greatest Game Of All
Guest
Lazy article, no research at all. Didn't Mundine have the wisdom to turn Sonny Bill's life around? Where is SBW now? A highly sought after, highly influential international multi talented superstar. I wouldn't have thought Mundines wisdom re: succesfully helping Ferguson get off the grog would be subject to opinion, he has the runs in the board, it's up to Blake if he wants to learn from Chocs wisdom. Apparently Blake had a get out clause if Furner got the sack. As far as Mosley's record, specifically his last 5 fights, 1-3-1 has been doing the rounds since this fights been announced with no mention of the opponents, shame. Shane nearly had Floyd early in their fight, its was a SD draw against Mora, lost against Alvarez and Pacquiao (theres is no shame in that) and took the title away from Cano in his last fight (lack of form?). Hell, look at Sugar Shane's last 10 opponents. To belittle Mosley's record and reputation because he accepted a million dollar fight against Mundine, who in turn has been criticized for not fighting the big names, is bad form to both fighters. It's ok for Canelo to use Mosley as a stepping stone to Floyd but not Mundine?