Jeff Fenech urges boxing authorities to step in and stop Anthony Mundine from fighting

Boxing great Jeff Fenech has urged authorities to step in and stop Anthony Mundine’s comeback fight against Michael Zerafa. Is he right?

Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech has slammed Victorian fight authorities for allowing Anthony Mundine back into a ring, warning: “Somebody should’ve stopped this years ago”.

Less than 48 hours after Tim Tszyu confirmed himself the new face of Aussie boxing, Mundine announced yet another comeback – this time against Michael Zerafa, a Melbourne middleweight 17 years his junior.

Despite once being Australia’s pay-per-view king, Mundine has lost four of his past five fights and now has many involved with the local fight scene concerned about his long-term health.

After watching the 45-year-old speak at a Friday press conference, a worried Fenech branded the bout “dangerous” and urged authorities to step in and stop the event.

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Anthony Mundine, left, and Michael Zerafa on Friday. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images)

The three-time world champion added that Mundine would definitely be kayoed by Zerafa (27-4), with the only question being in which round – and how badly.

“I’ve got absolutely nothing against Anthony Mundine,” Fenech said. “But this fight should not be allowed to happen.

“In fact, somebody should have stopped him years ago.

“Anthony should’ve stopped fighting.

“But when he didn’t, the authorities should have stopped him.

“Everyone knows Michael Zerafa is going to knock him out, we just don’t know how early it will be.”

Fenech stressed that while he had come out of retirement himself for a 2008 bout against famed arch rival Azumah Nelson, the circumstances were completely different.

“This is just so dangerous,” the boxing legend continued.

“Anthony’s had his time in the sun.

“And he’s also made good money from boxing.

“But even if he hadn’t, that should no longer be the issue.

“It’s about his health now.

“I’m just so surprised he wants this fight and that anyone would let it happen.”

Anthony Mundine gets knocked down by Charles Hatley in 2015. Picture: Jason Edwards

Discussions around Mundine retiring first began seven years ago, after Australia’s most polarising athlete was comprehensively beaten by fellow Sydneysider Daniel Geale.

Since then, however, he has fought another nine times.

Yet even in 2014 against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey, Mundine was knocked down five times in what would eventually be lopsided – and worrying – points decision loss.

Then in 2015 against American Charles Hatley, his corner threw the towel in the 11th round to stop a fight where Mundine had been floored four times, three of them in the second round.

In his most recent fight last year, Mundine lost a split decision to Aussie kicking legend John Wayne Parr.

While one of the country’s most respected combat fighters, Parr is only a year younger than Choc and had not boxed professionally in 16 years.

Yet now Mundine lines up against Zerafa, a fighter 17 years his junior who, most recently, fought two brutal, and infamous, wars against Queenslander Jeff Horn – with the wins split.

Two days before confirming the Mundine fight, Zerafa had been ringside at Bankwest Stadium to watch Tszyu’s first round demolition of New Zealander Bowyn Morgan.

Afterwards, he then confronted Tszyu as the fighter attempted to leave the arena and challenged him to a bout.

“So he goes from challenging Tim Tszyu to fight Choc,” Fenech said. “Geez, talk about going from the penthouse to the shithouse.”