Mundine camp outraged by Green victory

ANTHONY Mundine says he was robbed. And he wants an official investigation into a judging blunder that he says will prove it.

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ANTHONY Mundine says he was robbed. And he wants an official investigation into a judging blunder that he says will prove it.

Fight fans across the country were left outraged with the American judges awarding the fight to his bitter rival Danny Green, contrary to the opinions of boxing experts who were convinced Mundine had won.

“There has to be a proper inquiry,” Mundine told The Sunday Telegraph yesterday after his shock Friday night loss.

Anthony Mundine at Cadell Training Camp Prison to visit a mate the day after fighting Danny Green. Picture: Greg Higgs

“That’s what we’re pushing for. There is an obvious mistake on one of the cards in round seven where a judge ruled the round 10-10 after Green had been penalised a point.

“That can’t happen. The result should have been a majority draw. This was a disgraceful decision. I thought I’d won seven rounds. In the very worst case six.

“Why would they have robbed me. I worked so hard.”

Mundine said the outcome was bad for the sport.

“We had a great venue, a great fight, a great crowd but these sort of decisions ruin the sport.

“I don’t know what the judges were thinking. Obviously I don’t have the best relationship with Americans because I said something stupid a long time ago. I was raw. I didn’t think about it.”

WAITING FOR THE VERDICT

In live betting after the 10th round as the judges’ scorecards were being collated, Green was $7.00 to get the verdict and Mundine $1.30. That’s how clear it appeared.

I was sitting next to Australia’s most respected boxing writer Grantlee Kieza. He’s been covering the fight game for 35 years and seen it all both here and overseas.

Anthony Mundine with his mother after his fight.

He too had Mundine winning and started writing his report saying Green had lost.

Even Australia’s greatest boxer and Mundine enemy Jeff Fenech was outraged. “That was a shit decision,” he said. “Mundine won clearly. He won six rounds for sure. I was certain he had won.”

KHODER’S RAGE

In amazing scenes after the fight, Mundine’s furious agent Khoder Nasser leapt into the ring and abused all four judges.

“I expected this bullshit,” Nasser said.

A laugh with Mick Gatto.

“It’s a bloody fix. One of the judges stopped me and said ‘be careful, I’m the supervisor.’

“And I said I couldn’t care less. I’m the promoter.”

4am DRUG TEST

Mundine was totally spent after the fight. Dehydrated and devastated. He waited for two hours at the oval but couldn’t provide a urine sample for ASADA. The drug testers followed him back to his hotel in the small hours of the morning.

Preparing to leave the ring.

Eventually, around 4am, he was right to go.

I spoke Mundine again at 7am. He still hadn’t been to sleep. “The adrenaline is still pumping,” he said.

“I can never sleep after a fight.”

INSIDE THE DRESSING ROOMS

More than 100 of his closest fans are packed into the room.

His mum and children are crying. Matty Johns walks in and they hug.

“Enjoy retirement,” Johns said. “You really deserve it. And you can always come and work on my TV show.”

The scores. Picture: Ben Damon

Mundine replied: “Yeah, bra, you want me to lift the ­ratings.”

Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto arrived with half a dozen of the heaviest and meanest looking types you have ever seen.

He lightened the mood when he suggested: “That was a rort, Choc. You’ve done that to have a third fight.” Mundine replied: “Bullshit, bra — I beat him.”

There was a heated argument between Mundine and Nasser.

The agent wanted him to go to Green’s room.

“I don’t want to speak to him,” Mundine said.

“Why would I?

“You go see him and tell him who won. He knows.”

Mundine reacts to the crowd after a cheap shot on Green. Picture: Sarah Reed

ONE MORE FIGHT

I put it to Mundine. It’s one-all. What about a decider? Another $5 million each. You’re a long time retired. “I don’t want to even think about it,” he said.

“I’m just going to rest and focus on my kids. Take it easy.

“I always said when I lost the passion and the hunger it was time to give it away If I get the desire to put my body through it again … who knows.

“I’ve always said money doesn’t drive me. It never has.

Danny Green speaks to the press at Adelaide Oval after his win. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“I wanted success, not the cash. A legacy.”

An hour after the fight he is still fuming about the result.

“I worked so hard. The hip surgery overseas. I had to put on 13kg and training for six months. He was supposed to knock me out in three. He had everything in his favour.

“But I knew I had the smarts and the skill to beat him. Look at his face. Look at mine. It shows you who won. He knew he’d lost. I’m good with body language with fighters and how they react. I kept watching him. He was all fear.”

He says his camp must seriously consider an official protest to boxing authorities.

The end of a titanic clash.

AND FINALLY

Your columnist joins Mundine, Quade Cooper and Khoder Nasser in their car back to the hotel. It’s a quiet ride.

We get out on one of Adelaide’s busiest streets. It’s now getting towards 2am. Fight fans are spilling out of the bars. They mob him.

“You were robbed, Choc, you were robbed.”

They’re lining up for their photos and autographs - and to pat The Man on the back .Choc finally smiles. The national anthem controversy and the booing as he entered the ring are now a million miles away.

He was their man.