Of all the ways Anthony Mundine envisioned his career between the ropes ending, this surely wasn’t it.
In less time than it would take to make a bowl of two-minute noodles, the 43-year-old Australian boxing legend was splayed across the canvas after a blistering left-hook from Jeff Horn landed right on the button.
More Horn vs Mundine
» Fight Report: Horn massacres Mundine
» WATCH: Horn’s first-round KO
» WATCH: Horn’s cheeky dig at Mundine
» WATCH: Mundine’s class response to defeat
The former rugby player looked every bit of 43 from the opening bell. ‘The Hornet’ stung Mundine with an overhand right in the first exchange of the fight and refused to give his withered rival a chance to recover.
Mundine attempted to shake off the cobwebs and fire back with his rangy jab but quickly ate a hard punch. Then another. And another, until he went crashing to the mat.
It was a picture-perfect performance by Horn and precisely the type of showing he needed to have against an over-the-hill Mundine.
“I was expecting a tough fight from Choc,” Horn said after the fight. “(But) I felt really really strong at this weight.”
The Queenslander was undecided on which division his next fight will be contested in. “We’ll see what opportunities arise.” He quipped.
Horn has flirted with the idea of rematches against Manny Pacquiao and Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford in the past but most industry insiders agree that his chances of luring either fighter to Australia for another go-around are slim at best.
Regardless of his next move, dispatching of Mundine in front of 25,000-plus spectators in his own backyard was a true passing of the torch moment for Horn, anointing him as the biggest box office attraction in Australian boxing.
“That’s the next generation, man,” Mundine admitted in defeat. “I was ready. I was prepared well. It’s just boxing, you get caught sometimes.”
When asked if this was the final time we would see him step between the ropes, Mundine didn’t hesitate, stating his “time’s up.”
Of course, in the world of prizefighting no retirement is ever set in stone but in this case, I sincerely hope this one sticks.
The truth is, ‘The Man’ has been playing with fire for the past few years and last night he got burned badly.
Mundine flirted with the idea of retirement after a one-sided whooping at the hands of America’s Charles Hatley in 2015.
Since then, the aging boxer has continued to get punched in the face both behind closed doors and in public, suffering defeats to Danny Green and now Horn.
It’s certainly not the storybook ending that the former two-weight world champion hoped for, but it’s not the worst one either.
The former Brisbane and St George player exits the sport as one of the most memorable Aussie boxers of all-time.
Always the villain, always wearing the black hat, Mundine riled up fans to the point where they would splurge on buying his fights in hopes of seeing him get knocked out.
I guess it’s fitting that they finally got their wish.
Ben
Roar Guru
Jacobs woul be beat the breaks off Horn! Kahn would be the more sensible choice.
Drew Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Now I remember you, I wonder when you are going to write again. It’s been about a year since your last article, are you coming back???
Drew Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Excellent comment, bigJ
Old mate bigJ
Roar Rookie
Well now that Choc is finally gone time for a review of his top ten performances in the ring. I did the first article before the second green fight and the roarers comments lead me to believe that a change was needed. Not being one to disappoint the roarers, here is a revised list. 10. Joshua Clottey There is such as thing as a good lost and this fights proves it. Getting up after being knocked down five times against a former IBF welterweight champ shows a tonne of guts. His gutsiest performance. 9. Tommy Browne Even though Browne was certainly not world class and moving up in weight Choc’s second round ko of someone near a decade younger than him made a statement he is still capable. Excellent 8. Shane Mosley Even though Mosley was way over the hil, Choc will go down as the only man to stop Mosley inside the distance 7. Mikkel Kessler Even though he lost the fight, this was still one of his better fights. Keeping with the world class fighter Choc only lost marginally in this one. 6. Antwun Echols This bloke fought Bernard Hopkins twice and went the distance the first time pushing Hopkins to the limit. Plus Choc’s first world title victory has to make the list 5. Sven Ottke Going ten rounds with the undefeated champ in only his tenth fight. Ottke himself would state that after his retirement his fight with Choc was his most difficult. Choc won every round until he was caught by a temple punch that ko him before he hit the ground. Ironically a Mundine hater delight and a lovers delight in the same fight. 4. Danny Green 1 This cemented Chocs place as the number one Super-middleweight in the country. Completely outclassed Green and went on to reclaim his WBA Super-middleweight title. 3. Sergrey Rackenko Awesome fight, Choc wound the clock back ten years and defeated the WBC silver super-welterweight champ. 2. Geale fight 1 Easily the top bout between two Aussies for a world title in Australia. This epic battle displayed the skill set between the two best boxers of that last generation. 1. Sam soliman fight 2 Still without a doubt his best in ring performance and his best win of his career
snowybaker
Guest
hadn't thought of Khan - he IS a good choice
Don Lampard
Guest
Come on Choc; Danny Green one more time
Bonehead
Guest
WRONG! Mundine did WIN. He executed his plan flawlessly.
Birdy
Guest
Yes but I think he will see the light one day. He already admits his public comments were for show.
Ants Pants
Guest
You do know he’s a musi don’t ya Birdy .
shirtpants
Roar Guru
I'd be happy if I thought this was the end we'd hear about mundine but unfortunately it won't be. He's never too far from saying something idiotic
peeeko
Roar Guru
the big question is now that Mundine has retired and SBW not far away - who is gossip colummist Danny weidler going to kiss up to? surely he can retire too?
Old mate bigJ
Roar Rookie
Harsh but fair comment John, the only time Horn has fought someone world class he was soundly defeated ( though not as badly as some would have you think). Yet another sad ending for a way past his best fighter, it’s seems that the great ones never know when to quit. Ali, Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard and probably even Wladamir Klitschko went one even maybe two fights too many and suffered badly because of it. It’s a double edged sword sometimes, if he retires a champ like Lewis did people wonder if he could of keep going if he gets embarrassed in his last fight he went on too long. You just can’t win sometimes, Choc should of retired after the Green loss cause let’s face it Tommy Browne is an aging journeyman at best and not world class. Horn will gain nothing from this fight but a four million dollar paycheque, he next fight must be against a top contender overseas in an undercard to a huge fight. If he figts for a title he will be defeated he is not ready for the world stage yet. Beating up old men does not do you any favours, he needs to fight a real opponent. Daniel Jacobs would be a good start for middleweight or Amir khan in super-welterweight
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Horn fights better at middleweight than he did at welterweight, he looks far more ripped and powerful. I reckon he should stay in that division, it means his opponents won’t be quite as fast so it suits his game.
Glenn
Guest
Farewell, Choc, a fabulous athlete, electrifying footballer and triple world champion boxer. In all of those a wonderful entertainer. Wish you could button that mouth sometimes and that you didn't drop the ball in the 1999 GF, but hey, you were graceful at the end and we forgive you. You deserve a great retirement, enjoy it with your family. Thanks for some wonderful sporting memories.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Horn a champion? Beat geriatrics Pacquaio & Mundine. Had his pants pulled down by Crawford. Who will Horn fight next? A dementia patient from a Nursing Home? YAWN.
Bamboo
Guest
Beware of Dean Lonergan. He only shakes peoples hands to check whats on their fingers.
Birdy
Guest
I remember being 43 still fit enough to play touch but being belted around the back yard by my 13 year old son and his mates. Pretending not to feel the hurt I sympathized with an aging bull being battered away from the herd. To think that anyone at that age could step into a physical contest with a world class opponent is mind boggling. I don't see last night as a money grab, I see it as sporting fans saying thanks for the memories choc, buy yourself a beer.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Total mismatch. Suppose one always takes that risk when one buys a fight ticket. So much bluste and posturing from "The Man". All just hot air.
Don
Roar Rookie
Geez I’m happy I didn’t get sucked into paying for that one. Chocs got my money about 5 times already in the hope I see him knocked for six but only ever saw some pretty awful fights.
P Air
Guest
How much were they paid for that joke?? It was always about the money and only money. Suck eggs to all the gullible punters who paid good money to watch that crap. Horn has belittled himself for taking part in it.