A candid Anthony Mundine admits he got his tactics wrong in his devastating loss to Joshua Clottey, and he’s suggested the damaging result won’t end his boxing career.
Mundine was knocked down five times on the way tolosing a unanimous 12-round points decision to former IBF welterweight world champion Clottey at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night.
No.3 ranked Mundine lost his WBA International super welterweight title and the convincing nature of the defeat inevitably raised questions about whether the 38-year-old would retire.
A defiant Mundine said he still had plenty of options and declared: “I know I’m not done.”
Even if the dream of a fight with Floyd Mayweather may remain only that after the defeat, Mundine still has some potential big money domestic fights that could be made.
Rematches with Danny Green, Daniel Geale and Sam Soliman, who he has fought once, twice and three times respectively could be among the options.
“I don’t know what I want to do, I’ll talk and sit with the team,” Mundine told AAP.
“I’m upset and it’s an emotional time, so I don’t want to make any rash decisions or say anything.
“I just want to get some rest and see what’s next.”
Mundine conceded he should have used his jab more, rather than engaging Clottey inside, where the African fighter dominated and tagged him with numerous left hooks.
“Joshua came and saw me in the dressing sheds after and said when I was jabbing I had him so frustrated but when I wasn’t jabbing he was able to get inside and fire away,” Mundine said.
“I wish I did jab more. That’s the best punch in boxing and that was working for me, setting everything up.”
“I probably did fight the wrong fight looking at it.
“I want to watch the tape and see where I got caught, how I got caught and how I could have been better defensively.”
Mundine’s courage in repeatedly climbing off the canvas would have won him more fans and perhaps even earned him credit and admiration from some of his critics.
“Anybody who has ever bagged Anthony Mundine should eat their words, because he showed so much heart and valour it was incredible,” said ringside commentator and former IBF junior lightweight world champion Barry Michael.
“Maybe Choc will decide to give it away, he’s had a great career. But knowing Choc’ I don’t think he will.”
Clottey suggested Mundine had been weakened by fighting at super welterweight rather than his original division of super middleweight, but the Australian denied that was the case.
“I felt fine but I got beat by a better guy,” Mundine said.
Bones506
Roar Guru
He goes from saying 'I am the best athlete ever and I want to fight the best in the world' to then saying 'I might fight Green or Geale' which means he is just chasing a money fight. Tactics aside - he was completely outclassed and out boxed by a far superior fighter who is mentioned in the same realms of the best fighters in the world.
mushi
Guest
I bag him for being a muslim who weirdly paraphrases the bible in an effort to explain why aboriginal culture has no room for gay people.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Not many, me included, have ever doubted Mundine's ticker. It's his attitude and 'gangsta' carry on that turns everyone off wanting to see him get beaten. To come out with I used the wrong tactics. After five knockdowns Blind Freddy could have told him that. If he is as good as he says he is, why didn't he change tactics. Boxing has been in the boondocks because of Mundine's mob. We do have some good boxers coming through but when we have big cards, Mundine brings in the football players: SBW, Hopoate, Cooper, even trying Ferguson. How does a young bloke get a look in because Mundine's footballers are never going to lose.
kunming tiger
Guest
It's a good point though Boxing doesn't have a great following due to intense competition from other sports so the fan base is limited hence so is the media coverage. The spotlight is on the man himself not the sport.
JZ
Guest
Look its clear his in the wrong weight class, his lost so much weight he cant take a punch or throw one with any venom, so the question is will he go back up to middle weight, yes he should and i think we will see another 3-5 mundine fights be for he calls it a day.
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
“Anybody who has ever bagged Anthony Mundine should eat their words, because he showed so much heart and valour it was incredible,” said ringside commentator and former IBF junior lightweight world champion Barry Michael. What if we weren't bagging him for his heart and valour, but for his claims to be cut from the same cloth as Sugar Ray Robinson et al? Because you see, the fact that he had to pick himself off the canvas five times against a hand-picked retired ex-fighter shows that he is no more than a jobbing journeyman at best, totally undeserving of the name he claims for himself. This site was mentioning him in the same breath as Mayweather! Behind the media show-boating, he probably is a good guy, and he's no coward that's for sure, but honestly, Australian Boxing is a joke if Mundine is the best you can come up with. Why not let some up and comers who actually have a chance of making it get some publicity for once? And I don't mean Rugby players Boxing four round exhibition matches.
Simoc
Guest
Its not as if Green has ever been a top level fighter. A great hitter but looked so out of his depth last time he fought Mundine. Weak as. He sticks to staged fights these days or those coming out of retirement for his one hit wonders. One of the better conmen going around .
chivasdude
Guest
The lack of comments from Roarers tells you all you need to know about public perception of The Man. Everyone has moved on and maybe so should Anthony.
jonty23
Guest
Wrong tactics IE put my head on his gloves all night!
Jacksyd
Guest
Is the rumour true he wants to drop his weight down to challenge Kostya Tzsyu?
DUNCAN
Guest
It begs the question though. Who will want to fight him ? Green has stated before he doesn't want to fight him again, and I couldn't see to many other top level boxers being intetested. So it's back to fighting over the hill fighters for "The Man". He should just retire and focus on his community work which because of his big mouth goes largely unnoticed