Anthony Mundine is better shape than ever, says father and trainer Tony Mundine
Jeff Horn is at Winx-like odds to defeat Anthony Mundine in their bout on Friday, but The Man’s father believes his son will deliver a bomb that will send the Brisbane schoolteacher packing.
Boxing/MMA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tough old boxing legend Tony Mundine is rarely one to whinge about anything.
Yet even he is complaining about bruised and sore hands from the pounding they have copped in recent weeks from working the pads with his son Anthony in preparation for the Jeff Horn fight.
“Seriously, Anthony is going to hit him with a bomb,” Tony told The Daily Telegraph in a surprise prediction considering the energy and oomph Mundine has lost from stripping seven kilos.
“I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Tony said. “I know it is. About round seven or eight. It will be all over. He’s going to break Horn in half.
“I’m the one whose been holding the pads. He’s actually hurt me a few times from the power he’s got. I can’t recall him hitting this hard”
Tony Mundine says the biggest difference for this fight is the preparation with no distractions whatsoever.
That Anthony has never been as switched on, as absorbed or as focused in his 56-fight career.
“There’s been none of his usual entourage hanging around,” he said. “I can honestly say this is the first fight of his career that he’s really settled down with a complete focus on the job.
“He’s devoted every day and every hour into it and I can assure you he’ll go out with a bang.”
Not that the TAB and the bookies agree who have Horn as short as $1.25 to win the fight.
Tony Mundine’s prediction of an eighth round stoppage is a $60 chance.
Whatever happened Mundine Sr insists that win, lose or draw, this will be his son’s final fight.
Anthony Mundine’s previous agent Khoder Nasser refused to be involved in this bout because he wanted him to retire.
“I won’t let him fight after this,” Tony said. “That’s the deal we’ve got.
“I’ll walk away if he tries to. I don’t care if he wins really well.
“He’s got to settle down. His kids are all teenagers now and he can enjoy sport with them.”
A crowd of 30,000 is expected at Suncorp Stadium while Foxtel’s Main Event sales into pubs and clubs across the country are already the third highest in history.
Despite all the Mundine hype, Horn’s trainer Glen Rushton is super confident.
“What makes Jeff so great is that he hates to lose,” Rushton said. “He’s a fiercely competitive and determined person.
“You look at Jeff and think he wouldn’t hurt a fly but Anthony’s going to find out on Friday night he’s a true warrior. We might have been hurt against Crawford but he’s over that.
“He’s got incredible endurance and will to win and he’s on the road again to another world title.”
The two fighters will weigh in at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday.
Mundine says he is just one kilo over the 71kg limit and he will have no trouble making the weight.
Horn has put on four kilos since his last fight.
Every Test, ODI & T20I live, ad-break free during play and in 4K. Only on Foxtel. SIGN UP NOW!