Anthony Mundine

Anthony Mundine
Born	(1975-05-21) May 21, 1975 Australia
Occupation(s)	Boxer, Rugby league footballer
Years active	1993–2000 (rugby league), 2000–2021 (boxing)
Known for	Professional boxing career; rugby league career

Anthony Steven Mundine (born 21 May 1975) is a retired Australian athlete known for his careers in both professional boxing and rugby league. His tenure in boxing lasted from 2000 until 2021, during which he claimed the World Boxing Association (WBA) super-middleweight championship on two occasions between 2003 and 2008. Additionally, he held the International Boxing Organization (IBO) middleweight title from 2009 to 2010, as well as the WBA interim super-welterweight title between 2011 and 2012. Mundine became widely recognized for his prominent rivalries with fellow Australian pugilists Danny Green and Daniel Geale.

Early life and education

Anthony Mundine is the son of former professional boxer Tony Mundine and is part of the Bundjalung people from northern coastal New South Wales. Both of his parents are Aboriginal. Raised within the Christian faith, he converted to Islam during the late 1990s.

During his youth, Mundine played junior rugby league with Hurstville United and was a standout player for Kingsgrove High School’s teams that secured the University Shield in both 1993 and 1994. He also represented the Australian Schoolboys team in 1993. At eighteen years old, he signed with the St. George Dragons. His education included attendance at both Canterbury Boys' High School and Cleveland Street High School.

Rugby league

In 1994, Mundine represented the Junior Kangaroos in a victorious match against Great Britain’s under-19 squad. By 1996, he participated in a grand final loss to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, during which he was subjected to racial abuse by Barry Ward, who was subsequently fined $10,000. Following that season, Mundine joined the Brisbane Broncos to compete in the Super League competition.

Throughout 1997, he appeared in 18 matches for Brisbane, scoring three tries and contributing to their second straight grand final win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He returned to play for St. George in 1998.

Mundine earned selection for New South Wales in all three games of the 1999 State of Origin series, marking his debut with a try. That same year, he played a pivotal role in guiding St. George Illawarra to the Grand Final by scoring a hat-trick against Cronulla in the semi-final. Unfortunately, they were defeated by the Melbourne Storm in the 1999 NRL Grand Final, where Mundine’s crucial knock-on near the try line was a significant moment.

In 2000, prior to St. George Illawarra’s heavy 70-10 Grand Final loss to Melbourne, Mundine openly criticized their opponents. Frustrated by what he perceived as limited representative opportunities, he attributed part of this to racial discrimination within rugby league.

Midway through the 2000 season, Mundine departed from rugby league after deciding to focus on boxing; he cited experiences of racism as influencing this decision. He later suggested that respected Aboriginal elder and former selector Arthur Beetson might have tolerated such issues.

Although rumors circulated about an NRL return in 2005, this did not come to fruition. In 2007, Mundine took on the role of Indigenous Liaison Officer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Mundine’s family maintains strong connections to rugby league through relatives such as Wes Patten, Amos Roberts, Beau Mundine, Blake Ferguson, and Reece Robinson—all NRL players—as well as being brother-in-law to Tyran Smith. His son CJ Mundine is also pursuing a career in the NRL.

In September 2016 and again in December 2017, Mundine expressed intentions to resume playing rugby league, specifically aiming for a return with St. George Illawarra. On 21 April 2019, it was confirmed that he signed with the Matraville Tigers competing in the South Sydney District Rugby League, marking his official comeback to the sport.

Boxing career

Mundine's training is overseen by his father, Tony Mundine, who was a prominent middleweight contender during the 1970s.

Launching his professional boxing journey in July 2000 at the age of 25, Mundine transitioned from a brief amateur career comprising four bouts. His first professional opponent was New Zealander Gerrard Zohs. Within just ten fights, he earned the opportunity to contest his inaugural world title against the long-standing IBF super middleweight champion Sven Ottke in January 2001.

Mundine vs. Sven Ottke

In 2001, Mundine challenged Ottke for the IBF Super Middleweight championship. Despite leading on the scorecards, Mundine suffered a knockout in the 10th round, marking his first defeat as a professional.

Mundine vs. Antwun Echols

Following Ottke’s unification of the WBA and IBF super middleweight titles and subsequent elevation to WBA "super" champion status, the WBA "regular" title was left vacant. Mundine captured this vacant WBA Super Middleweight championship by defeating Antwun Echols via unanimous decision on 3 September 2003 at Sydney Entertainment Centre, achieving a significant milestone in front of his home audience.

Mundine vs. Manny Siaca

After successfully defending his title once, Mundine lost the WBA belt to Manny Siaca in a tightly contested 12-round split decision.

Mundine vs. Mikkel Kessler

In an attempt to reclaim the WBA super middleweight championship, Mundine faced Mikkel Kessler on 6 August 2005 at Sydney Entertainment Centre but was defeated by judges’ decision.

Mundine vs. Danny Green

Mundine’s high-profile rivalry with Perth-based boxer Danny Green attracted considerable media coverage. In 2001, Mundine publicly labeled Green as a "no hoper," igniting a feud that heightened public interest ahead of their eventual encounter.

Their bout took place on 17 May 2006 at Sydney Football Stadium and became one of Australia's most eagerly awaited boxing matches, breaking pay-per-view viewership records. Employing superior speed and an effective jab, Mundine secured a unanimous decision victory after twelve rounds with scores of 116–113, 118–111, and 118–112.

Mundine vs. Sam Soliman II

In their rematch for the vacant WBA "regular" super middleweight crown, Mundine dominated Sam Soliman, flooring him once in round two and three times in round nine, resulting in a referee-stopped knockout victory.

Mundine vs. Daniel Geale

On 27 May 2009, Mundine faced undefeated International Boxing Organization middleweight titleholder Daniel Geale (21–0). He emerged victorious via split decision, with two judges scoring the fight 116–113 and 114–113 in his favor while one judge scored it 115–113 for Geale. Post-fight, Mundine confessed to having done minimal preparation studying Geale’s style beforehand. The undercard featured the professional boxing debut of Mundine’s close friend and rugby star Sonny Bill Williams.

Mundine vs. Garth Wood

On 8 December 2010, Mundine squared off against The Contender Australia winner Garth Wood. Despite leading on points after four rounds dominated by clinching exchanges, Mundine was knocked out in the fifth round by a left hook from Wood. This upset is regarded as one of the most significant surprises in Australian boxing history.

Mundine vs. Garth Wood II

On 13 April 2011, Mundine avenged his prior defeat by overcoming Wood in their rematch, securing every round and knocking Wood down twice to claim a unanimous decision after 10 rounds.

Mundine vs. Rigoberto Alvarez

Mundine challenged former WBA champion Rigoberto Alvarez on 19 October 2011 for the interim WBA Light Middleweight belt. He emerged victorious by unanimous decision, earning the position of mandatory challenger to the reigning champion Austin Trout.

Mundine stripped of title

Although Trout’s camp was in talks with Mundine, Trout’s management introduced additional clauses to the contract. Mundine’s team insisted on enforcing his mandatory challenger status to negotiate improved terms. In March 2012, Mundine opted not to accept a fight with Trout. The bout proceeded to a purse bid, which Mundine chose not to pursue. As a result, in May 2012, the WBA revoked Mundine’s title due to his failure to fulfill mandatory defense requirements. Subsequently, Mundine signed a brief contract with American promoter Cameron Dunkin.

Mundine vs. Bronco McKart

Making his U.S. debut on 14 July 2012, Mundine faced American Bronco McKart with aspirations of eventually facing undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. He secured victory by TKO in the seventh round. This marked McKart’s first stoppage loss since 2006 and only his third TKO defeat across 65 professional bouts.

Mundine vs. Daniel Geale II

On 30 January 2013, Mundine and Daniel Geale met again to contest the IBF world middleweight championship—the first occasion two Australians competed for this title. Mundine viewed this fight as a stepping stone toward battling Floyd Mayweather Jr., while Geale aimed to avenge his sole career loss to Mundine in 2009. The event was Australia's most significant boxing occasion since the 2006 Mundine-Green fight and featured undercard bouts including Kimbo Slice and Joel Brunker. Mundine lost by unanimous decision (scores: 112–116, 111–117, 111–117), disputed the verdict, and exited the ring immediately after the announcement. His reaction prompted the New South Wales Combat Sports Authority to contemplate legal measures against him.

Mundine vs. Shane Mosley

Mundine was initially scheduled to face American boxing icon Shane Mosley on 23 October 2013 at Sydney Entertainment Centre; however, Mosley withdrew at the last moment demanding a $1 million purse. Mundine personally contributed $300,000, and his associate Jeff Fenech added $500,000 upon Mosley’s arrival in Australia—still falling short of Mosley’s demand. Eventually, Mundine and his manager secured the full $1 million fee, and the fight was rescheduled for 27 November at Allphones Arena. The match concluded after six rounds when Mosley retired due to back spasms, granting Mundine a TKO win.

Mundine vs. Joshua Clottey

On 9 April 2014 in Newcastle, Mundine faced former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey but was defeated via unanimous decision.

Mundine vs. Sergey Rabchenko

Facing undefeated European champion Sergey Rabchenko on 12 November 2014 at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena, with sponsorship linked to Melbourne figure Mick Gatto, Mundine entered as a considerable underdog following his loss to Clottey. He prevailed by split decision (115–113, 116–112 in favor of Mundine; 113–115 for Rabchenko), thereby becoming the mandatory challenger for Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s WBC light middleweight crown.

Mundine was scheduled to meet Austin Trout in San Antonio on 9 May 2015 but withdrew due to a perforated eardrum; Luis Galarza took his place in the bout.

Business ventures

Mundine possesses an extensive property portfolio and is the proprietor of the sportswear label Boxa, established in 2000, as well as the Boxa Bar café located in Hurstville. On 14 November 2013, the Boxa Bar was completely destroyed by a fire. From 2000 until 2012, Mundine’s career was overseen by Khoder Nasser.

Musical endeavors

Mundine made appearances in music videos such as Angry Anderson's 1990 track "Bound for Glory" and Powderfinger’s 2001 video for "Like a Dog", with lead singer Bernard Fanning describing him as "the perfect lead." In 2005, he featured on beatboxer Joel Turner’s single "Knock U Out" before launching his own debut single, "Platinum Ryder," which included guest appearances by Nathan Merritt and Amos Roberts. The accompanying video stirred controversy due to imagery depicting the burning of the Union Jack and a photograph of then Prime Minister John Howard. Mundine also appeared in Brothablack’s video "Are You With Me Out There" alongside rugby league player Joe Williams, contributed to a 2008 GetUp Mob rendition of "From Little Things Big Things Grow," and collaborated with Shannon Noll on the Street Warriors’ debut album, Unstoppable Force.

Singles that charted

Singles with selected peak chart rankings

Title	Year	Highest chart position
		AUS
"Bronco Fever" (with Black Venom)	1997	99
"Knock U Out" (with Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets)	2005	14

Media presence

Mundine's relationship with the media has often been contentious; his conversion to Islam in 1999, combined with his self-promotion and outspoken nature, has resulted in a divisive public persona. He has been labeled as "the most polarising athlete in Australian sports history."

In July 2002, Anthony and his father Tony appeared together on Burke's Backyard alongside gardening expert Don Burke. That same year, he participated in Celebrity Big Brother. In 2003, he was featured on Greeks on the Roof, followed by an appearance on Dancing with the Stars in 2005.

Between 2007 and 2009, Mundine was a frequent contributor to The Footy Show. He also appeared in the interactive DVD Raising Children: A Guide to Parenting from Birth to Five, sharing screen time with celebrities such as Russell Crowe and Stan Grant. Moreover, he competed three times on The Contender Australia and made a guest appearance as himself on the series Pizza TV series. In 2010, he served as a Special Guest Trainer on The Biggest Loser Australia: Couples 2.

A portrait of Mundine by artist James Hunt entitled Bora Anthony Mundine was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2002 Archibald Prize. As of , he is included as a character in the video games Fight Night Round 4 and Fight Night Champion.

In October 2016, Mundine featured on Anh Do’s program Anh's Brush with Fame broadcast on ABC Television. In January 2018, he was confirmed as a celebrity contestant for season four of the Australian edition of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He was the second celebrity eliminated from the 2018 season, following Bernard Tomic.

Recognition and accolades

In 2000, Mundine was honored as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Person of the Year. Notably, he is the first boxer to have every professional bout broadcast on television and has achieved the highest number of pay-per-view sales among Australian boxers since beginning his pro career.

Steve Bunce referred to him as "possibly the greatest athlete to successfully cross over within boxing history."

June 2014 marked the inception of the annual Anthony Mundine Award for Courage, introduced as one of three distinctions at the inaugural National Indigenous Human Rights Awards held in Sydney, New South Wales.

Deadly Awards

2007	Indigenous Male Sportsperson of the Year	Deadly Award Male Sportsperson of the Year
2006	Indigenous Male Sportsperson of the Year	Deadly Award Male Sportsperson of the Year
2003	Indigenous Male Sportsperson of the Year	Deadly Award Male Sportsperson of the Year

Public disputes

In October 2001, Mundine sparked controversy by commenting on the September 11 attacks, implying they were actions in defense of "God's law" rather than acts of terrorism. He subsequently stated that his remarks were misconstrued and showed empathy toward those affected by the tragedy.

Mundine has openly criticized fellow Indigenous athlete Cathy Freeman, accusing her of being a sellout and claiming that men are better suited to leadership roles. In 2012, he challenged former rival Daniel Geale's Indigenous identity and objected to Geale displaying the Australian Aboriginal flag on his boxing shorts, later issuing an apology to Tasmania’s Aboriginal community. Additionally, Mundine labeled Australia as "one of the most racist countries" and called for modifications to both the Australian anthem and Australian flag to more fully represent Indigenous Australians.

In November 2013, Mundine provoked backlash after tweeting that homosexuality conflicted with Aboriginal cultural values. Aboriginal actor Luke Carroll responded by stating that Mundine’s religious beliefs did not reflect traditional Aboriginal perspectives. Former NRL athlete Casey Conway criticized Mundine’s statements as harmful for youth.

Mundine was a vocal opponent of COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccination drives. Despite prior penalties for violating restrictions, he attended a major anti-lockdown rally in Sydney in July 2021. He publicly asserted that vaccines cause significant health problems and suggested that vaccination efforts were part of a plan to reduce global population.

In March 2024, Mundine became embroiled in a public dispute with South Sydney player Latrell Mitchell over a racism episode involving player Ezra Mam. Mundine admonished Mam for failing to "toughen up," which prompted Mitchell to respond with a personal retort. Mundine then disparaged Mitchell’s abilities and standing compared to himself and Greg Inglis.

Professional boxing record

	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
59	Loss	48–11	Michael Zerafa	TKO	1 (10),	13 Mar 2021
58	Loss	48–10	John Wayne Parr	SD	10	30 Nov 2019
57	Loss	48–9	Jeff Horn	KO	1 (12),	30 Nov 2018
56	Win	48–8	Tommy Browne	TKO	2 (10),	17 Jan 2018
55	Loss	47–8	Danny Green	MD	10	3 Feb 2017

Personal life

Anthony Mundine III, son of Mundine, is an active basketball athlete who, as of 2025, represents the Sydney Comets in the NBL1 East competition.