Anthony Mundine and Danny Green serve up a vicious war in place of a boxing match at Adelaide Oval

IT was billed in some quarters as two old men picking up an easy final payday. But Anthony Mundine and Danny Green produced one of the most vicious boxing bouts ever seen in Australia.

IT was supposed to be two old men having one cruisy final fight to share a $10 million superannuation pay out.

Instead Anthony Mundine and bitter rival Danny Green turned on one of the most brutal and vicious boxing showdowns this country has ever seen.

This wasn’t a fight it was a war.

Exactly 4035 days since they last fought back in 2006 at the Sydney Football Stadium, Danny Green was declared the winner, gaining revenge after 10 years in a split decision.

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Danny Green was awarded the fight, but from some controversial scoring.

Both fighters will leave Adelaide with $5 million pay packets but the bragging rights with Green, although ringside experts thought Mundine had done enough.

There was never any doubt this fight was going to offer something extraordinary. And midway through the first round Mundine stunned Green with a late punch that knocked him to the floor after the referee had separated the pair.

It was becoming more a street brawl than a boxing match.

The hatred for each other was so obvious to see. Even as the bell ended the fourth round, the pair continued to exchange punches.

“I’ve given up scoring the fight,” said legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer who was sitting at the press table.

The two men were relentless in their efforts to destroy their opponent.

Green, who had 70 per cent of the crowd support, was far more adventurous than the first fight.

Jessica Mauboy sang the national anthem before the fighters came into the ring.

The promoters had no other choice because Mundine was still point blank refusing to budge.

The crowd of almost 28,000 made their feelings clear when he was booed as legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer introduced him to the crowd.

And so ends one of the most colourful and polarising careers in Australian sporting history.

Anthony Mundine was no Jeff Fenech, Kostya Tszyu, Lionel Rose or Johnny Famechon.

Les Darcy and Jimmy Carruthers were great fighters too.

Mundine was a three time world champion and that he came up 10 kilos for last night’s fight was simply phenomenal.

There was little in the way of sweet science, just raw brutality.

He bought as much to boxing and its profile in this country as any of the great fighters.

Who else could have packed out Adelaide Oval last night. Certainly not Green — unless Mundine was there. Love him or loath him, you had to watch him.

Many to see him sat on his backside. Some to watch him destroy his rivals. There were 55 fights and 47 wins. The quality of his opponents and the fact he was reluctant to fight overseas was what separated him from our greatest. Plus the others didn’t mind the national anthem.

But as an all-round sportsman there have been few better.

Danny Green gained revenge for his defeat a decade ago.

Who else has played State of Origin, the toughest body contact sport of them all and 127 club games for the Dragons and the Broncos — and then become a boxing world champion. Three times. Who went up and down in weight divisions like few have ever done before.

“I am the best athlete to have come out of this country, ever, in any spot.” he once said.

Better than Donald Bradman? Better than Rod Laver? Better than Dawn Fraser. Hardly.

The arrogance and overconfidence always threatened the legacy.