Anthony Mundine’s 25-year sporting career finished by KO
And so ends one of the most remarkable careers in Australian sporting history.
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And so ends one of the most remarkable careers in Australian sporting history.
A quarter of a century after it started in a number 17 St George Dragons jersey on a wintry afternoon at Penrith Park, it ended distressingly on the canvas at Suncorp Stadium.
After just one minute and 30 seconds.
An incredible 57 fights, 460 rounds, 48 wins, a three-time world champion and 134 NRL games.
A career unlikely to be ever matched.
But Friday night was sadly a complete mismatch.
He promised so much but delivered so little.
“I was ready, I prepared well but it just wasn’t my night,” he said.,
So where to now for Horn.
Hopelessly outclassed last start by the great Terrence Crawford, he returned on Friday night in magnificent style. It didn’t last long but it was so brutal.
Complete dominance in both power and skill.
It was such a shame for the huge crowd and TV audience.
Ringside was like a who’s who of rugby league.
GALLERY: RINGSIDE AT RIVER CITY RUMBLE
Kalyn Ponga, Mitch Pearce, Blake Ferguson, Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker, Gorden Tallis, Justin Hodges and Brett Stewart. Plus Todd Greenberg and his marketing boss Andrew Abdo.
Hodges spent the last couple of hours in Mundine’s dressing room. They are as tight as you can get.
And there was James Roberts, who walked to the ring with the man he calls his brother.
The entire Broncos team plus old legends Shane Webcke and Andrew Gee were there too.
There was Mick Gatto and all the usual heavies out of Melbourne who love the fight game.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold and a handful of his players.
Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies and his celebrity wife Jackie.
Queensland tourism minister Kate Jones was telling anyone who cared to listen that Brisbane would pinch the NRL grand final if the new stadiums deals fall over in NSW.
She was in Greenberg’s ear half the night. Queensland already have the Magic Weekend next year and now they want our biggest game.
Pre-fight fears about a national anthem controversy didn’t eventuate.
Mundine had threatened to sit it out. In the end the fight was so late they scrapped it anyway.
No doubt it was Mundine who drew the crowd and the Pay TV numbers, even if most wanted him to lose.
Even referee Phil Austin asked for his autograph after delivering the last-minute instructions in the dressing room.
The fight attracted the third highest Main Event numbers in pubs and clubs, behind only Mayweather-McGregor and Mundine-Green I.
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Originally published as Anthony Mundine’s 25-year sporting career finished by KO
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