The 2013 sparring sessions that set up the biggest all-Australian boxing match in history

Anthony Mundine and Jeff Horn spared in 2013 when “The Man” was preparing to fight Shane Mosley. Those sessions paved the way for the biggest all-Australian fight in history.

Anthony Mundine next to his father Tony Mundine. Picture: Peter Wallis

ANTHONY Mundine says he is ready to pounce on Jeff Horn like a tiger at Suncorp Stadium and he has been circling him for five months waiting to go for the kill.

The River City Rumble began with a series of text messages between this reporter and Mundine’s manager Emaid Dib immediately after Horn had lost his WBO world welterweight title to Terence Crawford in Las Vegas on June 10.

Dib contacted me while I was still in Sin City covering the fight’s aftermath to say that he and Mundine were ready to make Horn an offer of a 50-50 split for the biggest all-Australian fight of all time which now looks likely to pay both men more than the $2.5 million Horn received against Crawford.

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But The Courier-Mail has been bringing readers all the inside news of the Horn-Mundine rivalry for five years since Horn sparred with Mundine in Brisbane just before The Man’s stoppage win over all-time great American Shane Mosley on November 27, 2013.

An arresting photo was published the following day of Horn spearing a straight left through Mundine’s defences and landing it flush on his nose.

It’s the same sort of punch Horn will be trying to use as his foundation for victory on Friday night.

Jeff Horn and Anthony Mundine face off during a media conference. Picture: Peter Wallis

Mundine, who has been the biggest drawcard in Australian boxing since he left rugby league 18 years ago, always knew that a real fight with Horn would make millions given the Brisbane boxer’s popularity in this city after his win over Manny Pacquiao last year and given Mundine’s role as a villain who talks himself up like few fighters since Muhammad Ali.

Horn-Mundine was negotiated after a series of phone calls and text messages between this reporter, Mundine’s adviser Emaid Dib and Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton immediately following Horn’s loss to Crawford.

Dib asked me to give Horn a good luck message on Mundine’s behalf before the Las Vegas fight and immediately after it asked me to put him in touch with Rushton to discuss a potential battle.

Dib sent me a message declaring: “I have spoken to Anthony and he has instructed me to run with (the proposal). I have advised him that we make a very strong offer straight off the bat and show (Horn and Rushton) that we are being genuine and not playing games. Anthony and I are happy to sit down with Jeff’s Dad and Glenn Rushton within days and give them our proposal.’’

Jeff Horn in action for Australia at the 2012 London Olympics.

Anthony Mundine lands a left on Shane Mosley in 2013.

The following day Dib sent me another message to say he had phoned Rushton in Vegas.

“Had a good chat with Glenn, he is a terrific guy who just wants the best for Jeff,’’ Dib told me. “From our conversation I am confident we will have a fight in November.’’

Horn has been in a relaxed frame of mind throughout his preparation and says he feels much more comfortable at the 71kg limit for this fight than he was boiling down to the welterweight limit of 66.68kg.

He said he always knew Mundine would be the biggest possible financial reward for him after the Crawford defeat.

Trainer Glenn Rushton and Jeff Horn speak to the media. Picture: Peter Wallis

“Mundine’s a good fighter still ranked very highly and he has beaten a lot of great boxers,’’ Horn said.

“He has done so much for the profile of Australian boxing and he has made so many big fights over the years.

“There is a lot of pressure on me to win early in the fight given the fact that he is 43 but I know he is dangerous. I want to score the quick win but I can’t afford to be careless against him. He has rocked some big strong guys all the way up to cruiserweight (90kg) so I have to be on my game every second of every round.

“I just got dropped from world champ to nine in the WBO rankings after that one loss to Crawford. It’s a bit frustrating to be dropped that low so it would be good to open up opportunities in the heavier weight divisions and hopefully get another world title shot very soon.’’

Originally published as The 2013 sparring sessions that set up the biggest all-Australian boxing match in history