Anthony Mundine Foundation: Your chance to punch Mundine

Champion athlete Anthony Mundine is set to launch his new foundation and he plans to celebrate by letting five wannabe boxer’s step into the ring with him. See how to apply.

Ever wanted to punch Anthony Mundine in the face?

Here is your chance to knock The Man out.

Former boxing world champion Mundine is offering five members of the public to jump in the ring with him and whack him in the mouth, free of charge.

“And if anyone does hit me with something I don’t like, they’re going to get hit back,” Mundine said.

It’s part of an awareness campaign for the launch of the Anthony Mundine Foundation, aimed at helping disadvantaged youth, with a specific focus on mental health.

Reckon you have what it takes to seat Anthony Mundine on his arse? Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mundine launches his foundation next Friday at his father Tony’s gym on The Block in Redfern (98-102 Eveleigh St) and from 4-6pm, will host a barbecue and spar five chosen contenders who have free rein to knock out the controversial athlete.

“I’ve said some things in the past that haven’t been well received, so I’m calling on those who have not had a positive vibe towards me to come down, share the love, share what I love to do which is boxing, you can try and get me,” Mundine said.

“Come down and see if this old fulla has still got it. I’ll take on all comers.”

Mundine’s transition from professional athlete to businessman and philanthropist is now in full swing.

Anthony Mundine made a name for himself as a champion boxer following his rugby league career. Pictutre: Michael/Sohn

He owns Mundine Gosh Management with his best friend of 30 years, Gosh Daher, and they’re running construction projects all over NSW while hiring Indigenous youth who have previously been in jail.

He’s also set up Mundine Mindset, talking to corporates about his life story and leadership, and along with older sister Kelly, he has founded Mibayn, a service helping disabled Indigenous people who are intimidated by the process to receive help from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Mundine was thinking about life beyond the football field and boxing ring long before his retirement last year.

“My dad made a lot of mistakes through his career, he made a lot of money, when he fought Carlos Monzon in 1974, he made $US100,000, that’s probably $5 million today, and back in those days houses in Newtown were selling for $12,000,” Mundine said.

“He could have had 10 places in the city, and he never capitalised on that, so he was spewing. He used to tell me that all time, so as a young boy hearing that, when I started having some income I remembered that.

Anthony Mundine will box five rounds for the opening of his foundation. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I started to put my money into property, and now I’ve got seven properties.

“I bought my mum a house. My sister lived in my place for 15 years, raised her kids there. I’m always there for my family, if I win, they win.

“I want to continue that legacy with my business. At MGM, we’re starting to kick some goals.

“We want to create social change for the longevity of the Aboriginal people. I mean who doesn’t mess up in life?

“But there’s two different judicial systems in this country. There’s the white privileged system, then there’s the black system, now you don’t want to be in the black system because you get screwed.

“My job is to give them those opportunities. There’s brothers in there for petty crimes, some major, they become institutionalised, they get out and don’t know what to do, they get back into crime.

“We have to have a pathway to upskill them in the workforce, give them the opportunity to reform and become better human beings.”

Anthony Mundine started his career as an athlete with the Dragons. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Kelly Mundine said: “The census shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the highest needs in all disability areas.

“It is challenging because it is a government scheme, and that brings a barrier down for our people, dealing with government.

“We just knew there was a gap there, we needed more Aboriginal services out there and fill the void of our mob not feeling scared to take up opportunities in the NDIS scheme.

“You’ve got to start at a young age with therapy, they get to a certain age, 12, 13, they’re moving away from therapy and doing other things within their plan.

“We can’t turn around their disabilities, they’ve got them for life. But we can make the pathway more comfortable, and making them think they can achieve, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a disability.”

Mundine, 47, the only person to play in the NRL and become a boxing world champion, has been a vocal advocate on many social issues since his rise to fame.

“With my foundation, I’m trying to achieve positive outcomes and make change in peoples’ lives, particularly our youth, because they are our future,” Mundine said.

The Anthony Mundine Foundation is aimed at helping disadvantaged youth, with a specific focus on mental health Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I want to get into their minds at a young age, mentor them and teach them to make the right choices. It doesn’t matter if they’re black, white, brown or brindle, I want to teach them to stay away from drugs and alcohol, all the toxins and poisons in society.

“I want them to learn to be high on life. Not many people can tell you they’re high on life. Thank Allah for giving me that mindset and that drive to lead myself to where I want to go, have that lion mentality.

“I just want to make a difference, and I know through what I’ve been through in my life, and what I’ve achieved, I can.

“I’m a man who holds my head high and won’t take a backward step, they appreciate my strength, my courage, my tenacity to not fold under any pressure.”

*To apply to spar Mundine on Friday, send your details toi [e-mail] by close of business Wednesday. Those with professional or extensive amateur boxing experience will not be considered. Chosen fighters must bring their own mouthguards, gloves and headgear.