Jeff Horn vs Anthony Mundine: The Man wants a rematch

After getting his block knocked off 96 seconds into his bout with Jeff Horn, Anthony Mundine was going quietly into retirement with grace and dignity. You’ll be surprised to know he’s changed his mind, writes Mike Colman.

Well there’s a shock – Anthony Mundine wants a rematch.

Who’d have thought it? After getting his block knocked off 96 seconds into his bout with Jeff Horn – and going quietly into retirement with grace and dignity - The Man has had a rethink. He now wants another shot at the title.

Jeff Horn beats Anthony Mundine

Okay, so there’s no title on the line and, according to Mundine, not even any money.

He told Fox Sports he’d be giving his share of the takings to charity and urged Jeff Horn to do the same.

Jeff Horn knocks out Anthony Mundine at Suncorp Stadium in November. Picture: Darren England/AAP

Horn would be well within his rights to say that he’s already fought The Man for charity.

The reported $2.5 million the 43-year-old Mundine pocketed for less than two minutes’ work in their first fight has to be one of the biggest individual donations to aged care in Queensland history.

But enough about money. Mundine reckons his request for a rematch has nothing to do with dollars. Many would say it has nothing to with sense either.

According to him, it’s all about his “legacy”.

Anthony, come on. I’ve always been one of your biggest supporters. I loved your athleticism, skill and most of all, as a journalist, your ability to create a headline out of nothing.

That’s your legacy brother. You were a pretty good boxer who was a world champion showman.

As you said yourself when I interviewed you a few days before the Horn fight, “When I’m in the competitive mode I say some stupid shit.

“But it’s all part of the show baby, it’s all part of the circus. You can’t go to the circus and have no monkeys.”

And therein lies the rub.

In the days following his apparent retirement, Mundine was quick to say that the whole thing had been an act. That The Man wasn’t really him but just his alter ego; a device to – in his words – “get bums on seats”.

And if Mundine’s performance on Fox was any indication, the show is over.

He was quietly spoken, polite. He called Horn and his handlers – manager Glenn Rushton and promoter Dean Lonergan – “good guys”.

He complimented Horn as a fighter and called him “Hornie”.

Boxer Anthony Mundine poses for a photograph after his losing bout against Jeff Horn. Picture: Sarah Marshall/AAP

How is that behaviour going to sell tickets? And without The Man shooting his mouth off, what possible use is he to Horn or any other opponent?

The closest he got to saying anything outrageous was when he claimed that Horn was “lucky” because he hit Mundine before he’d had a chance to get warmed up.

Sorry Anthony, the lucky one was you because you didn’t get hurt, and as for being cold, you could have taken another month and still not have been ready.

Face it. You were never a chance to beat Horn. He needed an easy fight to get back into the spotlight after his embarrassing loss to Terence Crawford and you fitted the role perfectly.

Past your prime but still a big name. Someone who could pull a crowd without presenting any risk. A drawcard, a patsy.

You know the type, you fought enough of them in your time – Guy Waters, Lester Ellis, Shane Mosley.

And surely you won’t be surprised when Jeff Horn says to you exactly what you would have said to them if they’d asked for a rematch.

You must be joking.