They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. It’s a saying Anthony Mundine obviously isn’t familiar with.
Mundine was torn apart last night by a faster and stronger opponent in Melbourne. It was an 11th round TKO officially, but this was a one-side affair. Brutal, devastating and in the end, sad.
Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine is 40 years old and still fighting. But competing, not fighting, might be a better description.
Mundine was pummelled from pillar to post by American Charles Hatley, a boxer ranked 36th in the world who has had a solid if unspectacular career so far. Probably the most exciting thing about Hatley was the Segway he rode into the weigh-in on.
Mundine’s greatest asset, when he crossed codes from rugby league to boxing, was his speed and reflexes. He never had power, but he built good defensive skills and movement that could trouble most opponents.
But at 40 years of age, drained to make an unrealistic weight, the best of ‘Choc’ is long gone.
Sadly he may be the only one who can’t see it.
Mundine talked about his legacy before this fight. But with three losses in his past six fights since January 2013, the only thing he is doing now is damaging his legacy.
You could say that was harmed when he questioned Daniel Geale’s Aboriginality, insulted Geale’s wife, made controversial September 11 remarks or homophobic comments, but that’s talk for another day.
In the ring, on his day, Mundine was a quality fighter with wins over Danny Green, Daniel Geale, Sam Soliman, Antwun Echols. But when he stepped up to world-class – Sven Ottke, Mikkel Kessler, Manny Siaca – he was found wanting.
He was never as good as he thought and said he was, never in the elite league where he thought he belonged.
Like his idol Muhummad Ali, ‘The Man’ is following a similar path to destruction if he continues with his gloves on. He has nothing left to achieve, plenty of money in the bank and only his health and well-being to damage.
At this point it is pure ego.
There is talk of a Green rematch and there is a good chance that it will happen.
But will just be another case of two over-the-hill fighters trying to milk the boxing public once more. A familiar tale from London to Berlin to New York and Vegas.
A rematch between the two Aussies should have happened in 2007 or 2008, not ten years after the event. A bout between a 40-year old and a 42-year old who has fought once in three years? Please.
Father Time claims all boxers, eventually, and Mundine is no different. He may think he is so, but the evidence to the contrary is damning.
‘Choc’ says he doesn’t know if he will fight again. He has been saying each of his fights are “do or die” for the past four years.
If he does climb into the ring again, it will go from farce to just plain sadness. At some point the circus has to end.
Bill Larkin
Guest
As others have said "legacy" is the wrong word.
Big J
Guest
Choc showed that he has a tonne a guts last night, I don't know too many fighters that would keep get up after that kind of beating. Like many of you had said he has gone for too long and it is time to give it up. As for a green rematch,if green loses in a couple of weeks both men will have no options left but to fight other and that's if they can be medically cleared and the public want to see it. I could not find one pub in the geelong area to see the fight last night and about five o clock last night the remaining tickets were going at base price. Including some front row .So if anything that would be a sign that it's time to give it up. And if that's not enough a concerned father throwing in the towel definitely should be. Sorry choc time is up.
Shaw
Roar Rookie
It's a sad reflection on the "man" that an article here draws so few responses. If it were about Adam Goodes the hate brigade would be foaming at the mouth offering their overvalued 2 cents worth, but Mundine is now just mundane. If comments(good or bad) are a measure of credibility he's got sweet diddly. I guess the producers of "I'm a celebrity get me outta here" aren't returning his manager's calls.
Dave Large
Roar Rookie
Time to give it away Anthony, both you and the green man, don't leave it to a bitter end like so many others.
Kavvy
Guest
Neither was as good as they promoted themselves to be to a naive aussie public (but good on em for being clever marketers). Daniel Geale has achieved more than both and got nowhere near the publicity. Jeff Horn looks like a genuine Aussie boxing potential elite propsect, long way to go in his career but talent is there. Hopefully fighters like Horn will start to get some of the minimal aus sports media boxing coverage rather than Choc and Danny getting it all
Kavvy
Guest
No doubt Mundine was a level below the elite (getting KO'd by Ottke who was pretty light fisted said a lot) and bignoted himself without runs on the board to back it up but the Garth Wood fight means little. Wood belongs in an MMA ring what he does is not boxing.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
His legacy wont be about the fighting. He will always be remembered the most for his big mouth.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Anthony Mundine has to be one of the most disliked athletes, or people in general, in Australia in the last ten years. Don't get me wrong he was a pretty decent fighter but certainly not as world class as he liked to gloat about on a constant basis. Should have retired 3 or 4 years ago, the fact that his father threw in the towel after copping a beating by a guy 11 years his junior tells the story for the man.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
another beating. He'll end up a sad punch drunk example of what's bad about boxing. The authorities should not allow him to fight any more.
bilo
Guest
He should have retired after losing to Garth Wood. I mean to lose to some novice boxer who won a reality TV show, that had to send alarm bells ringing in his camp. As for legacy, beating Danny Green was the moment. In 2006 everyone thought Green would win just to shut The Man up but for some reason Green kept throwing body shots instead of going for the knockout and paid the price.
Simoc
Guest
I agree. He was / is way ahead of Green, whose fights are dubious at best, and not up to world class. These guys miss the headlines and fame but they need to get used to it. They have plenty of money and time on their hands.
Kaks
Roar Guru
His legacy is having a mouth like Ali without being able to back it up against high grade fighters. That awful letter to Mayweather was what I will remember him for.
Chook-a-Doodle-do
Roar Rookie
What legacy? The legacy of telling everyone how he's better than everyone else? The legacy of how to have a chip on your shoulder the size of a building? The legacy of being a turkey is probably the one!