Aussie boxing legend Anthony Mundine proved in January after his stunning knockout of Tommy Browne after on two rounds that he is not quite done in the ring just yet.
So who is next for the great man who has singlehandedly ignited the sport of boxing in this country to heights never seen before?
As it stands now, three men could be the next contender for Mundine: Jeff Horn, Tim Tszyu and Dave Toussaint.
Ever since the rise of Jeff Horn last year, after he defeated Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight championship, Mundine has been wanting a bout with Horn. Horn did call out Mundine when he was an upcomer in 2016, which Mundine laughed off, but now he chases Horn for one final big payday before his inevitable retirement.
This bout will all depend on the outcome of Horn’s bout with Terence Crawford. If Horn loses, he will most likely use Mundine as a rebound fight for a $2 million payday. If he wins, Mundine will have no chance. Thankfully he has backup plans.
Just recently Tim Tszyu, son of Kostya Tszyu, the most successful boxer Australia has ever had, called out Mundine via video challenging him to a fight. Tszyu wants to use the name of his father and Mundine to promote an intergeneration fight between the pair to end the reign of Mundine and ignite his own career.
Ironically enough, Mundine replaced Tszyu’s father as the best known and successful boxer in the country after Kostya’s retirement. With Tim only having a pro record of 8-0 with no world title around his waist, it’s very unlikely that the pair will ever get in the ring, but its possible.
(AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Another possibility for Mundine is Canberra boxer Dave Toussaint. Toussaint boasts and decent upcoming record of 13-0 and is the current Australian and Australasian middleweight champion.
Toussaint captured the Australasian title after defeating Gunnar Jackson, who went the distance with Mundine back in 2014. Fellow Aussie boxing world champion Daniel Geale backs Toussaint to one day become a world champion in his own right.
Toussaint’s camp has indicated that they would take a fight with Mundine “in a heartbeat“.
Boxing promoter Dean Lonergan, who promotes Jeff Horn, said that it would be one-way traffic, with Mundine hitting the canvas quickly if the pair were to ever get into the ring. Lonergan also questions if Mundine ‘has the balls” to take the fight with Toussaint.
Lonergan looks to be using Toussaint as a distraction for Mundine not to continue to pursue Horn, as he believes that Toussaint’s promoter, Nick Boutzos has the resources and ability to stage a fight in Canberra.
Boxing is a funny sport where pretty much anything can happen, so all of these fights are possible; it’s just a matter of money and who Mundine would gain the most benefit from fighting.
So it’s quite simple, using the famous catchphrase from famous WCW wrestler Bill Goldberg, “Who’s next?”.
Drew Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Lonegran was right on the money with the Horn v Mundine prediction over in less time than its takes to announce the fighters
BigJ
Roar Guru
Ha ha
adam smith
Guest
Mundine’s next opponent needs to be a psychologist. Seriously, there is something fundamentally wrong in the upstairs department.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Tsyzu, fenech, rose, Darcy and Harding. Sounds like you have an idea what you’re on about, give it a go I’ll look forward to seeing it
BigJ
Roar Guru
Not the way I broke it I almost lost it in a crush injury and couldn’t cuff a fist for almost three years so it had nothing to do with a heart issue. Boxing record typo only 4-0 plus don’t remember any of the blokes I fought.
Davico
Roar Pro
I still don't think Horn would bother with Mundine unless he is truly desperate for money as it would send his career south and he would be fighting other aussies or second rate fighters for as long as he continues on. Would think if he loses and wants to have another crack he would aim at someone like Matthysse to put on a show. His management and trainer don't seem to fussed in putting him in a proper fight so as long as he does not get battered by the top man in the division there are other options
Davico
Roar Pro
Great story that of Dave Sands. Huge mission to travel to the US and UK back in those days
ret
Guest
Dave Sands has to be up there.
Davico
Roar Pro
And you had to retire due to a broken hand????? Pretty sure every boxer worth his salt has broken their hand at some stage! Sounds like you had more of a heart than a hand problem if you actually did fight pro.
Davico
Roar Pro
Not much of a writer (The missus is) but might have a go at it. Kieza wrote a great one a couple of years ago which I would recommend you to read. On that I would also recommend the book by Paul Kent on johnny Lewis! Cracker! Hard to judge fighters I never saw fight and history has a romance about it especially when it comes to the sweet science. From what I have read you would prob have to have Darcy and Rose up there with Tsyzu and Fenech. Personally, I am a Newtown boy so have a soft spot for JL's fighters and can still remember going crazy when Harding won his world title (As a 12yo at the Earlwood Hotel!)
Davico
Roar Pro
If you boxed as a pro and had a 14-0 record I should be able to find you on Boxrec if you want to provide some of the names you beat. No rush I can wait! (Won't hold my breath though as I think I will be waiting a while)
Tom
Guest
Your full of it you said something completely differnt in another post i remember.prove you have boxed
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
Davico, I would be very interested in seeing you write an article about who you think are/were the best aussie boxers of all time, I think it would be an interesting read. No doubt Tsyzu and Fenech would the in the top two pending on your opinion, but the following eight would be worth a look.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Butter bean was 330lbs and 6”4 I’m only 225lbs and 6”1 so you really need to do some research before you say something. My record before i broke my hand and couldn’t box anymore 14-0
Davico
Roar Pro
Oh and I did not miss the part where you said you can take them because your the size of Butterbean and boxed a bit. What was your professional record? I am positive you would get close enough to batter all those guys and they prob would not land a shot on you!!!!
Davico
Roar Pro
BigJ, You seem to be confusing the state of Australian boxing and Foxtel Main Event. You asked who the hard working boxers were and I gave you some names, a lot of who made a lot of money overseas without having to call out Choc. Choc has also never headlined a PPV outside this country! HBO and Showtime never wanted a bar of him as he was not a draw outside the Eastern states of OZ My point as it has been from the start is that Mundine is not and never was the redeemer of boxing in this country and personally I will never class him as an "Australian Boxing Legend". Do I think he used his profile as a rugby league player and his dad's boxing career to create hype for his boxing career? 100% Do I think he was an exceptional athlete? !00% Do I think other boxers used him to advance their own careers? No Doubt Do I think he is one of Australia's best boxers? Not even close! Do I think he could have been one of the best boxers Australia has produced? Most Definitely but he started too late and never proved himself against the best! Getting KO'd by guys you call second rate fighters id not a good look! Has he lifted the profile of boxing in this country? Yes. I don't agree with the way he did it but think you give him too much credit. Just as a side note Shannon Taylor fought Sugar Shane Mosley in 2001 when he was P4P at Ceasers. Mundine has not come close to that kind of fight! (Please don't bring up him beating a busted Mosley 12 years later)
BigJ
Roar Guru
What the sad thing is, is that all bar one of the names mentioned are/were legitimate fighters. Well Briggs was until Green dragged him into the ring. Hamden fought Choc for the WBA title, Bika did something that Choc never did won a world title in the USA but held in for two seconds which was sad for him but he’s still an active fighter. Dib is looking for another title shot in July so let’s hope that happens. Lovemore was an awesome fighter but never got the attention he deserved. Didn’t Taylor fight Choc as well?? The problem with most Aussie fighters is that they are in the smaller division and are always undercard to an middleweight, cruiserweight or heavyweight fight. When is the last time you saw featherweight title headline a ppv event by an Aussie champ. Ellis v Michael is the last one a can think of and that wasn’t a ppv event. Plus at 102 kgs and a former boxer myself I think I’ll coukd of takem most if not all of them no problem.
Davico
Roar Pro
Should read was in the UK WHEN MK fought GE
Davico
Roar Pro
BigJ, Trying to do it of the top of my head but just to name a few of the hard working boxers: Nader Hamden Vic Darchiyan Michael Katsidis Billy Dib Eddie Younan Lovemore Sakio Bika Paul Briggs Shannon Taylor and yes though you might dismiss them Geale, Soliman, Woods, the Waters brothers and many others. But yes call them nobodies as I am sure you would be more than capable of stepping up against anyone of them! Just to give you some perspective was living in the UK fought Graham Earl and it is one of the best fights you have ever scene. Mates in the UK still talk about MK and none of them have a clue who Choc is and the UK boxing market makes the aussie one look like a joke!
BigJ
Roar Guru
Davico People will also pay money to see the bad guy get beat up rather than the good guy win, hence Mundine and his stupid comments, for me turning his back on the national Anthem lost all my respect for him. You really need to do your research. In 2003 Green beat Eric Lucas in Canada ?? for the WBC interim Super-Middleweight title with Fenech as his trainer. The interim title is not the full championship it’s like when a footy team wins the reserve grand final, not a big deal. Plus when Green did take on the real champ Marcus Beyer he was disqualified in the first fight for head butting and soundly defeated in the rematch. Green didn’t win a world title until 2007 when we beat Stipe Drews for the WBA light-heavyweight title 18 months after fighting Choc. Plus who are this hard working boxers you’re talking about over the last ten years, Geale, Soliman, waters?? All nobodies until the fought Choc. Finally you are correct in that fenech was a world champ before Tyson. Fenech won his first title the IBF bantamweight in 1985 were Tyson didn’t become champ until 1988 but they did both hold WBC titles at the same team, so don’t beat yourself up about that one. Have a nice day