ANTHONY Mundine is no longer a pay-per-view fighter but still claims he’s in the best shape of his life as he prepares to step back into the ring after not fighting for more than 11 months.
Mundine’s bout against fellow Aussie Tommy Browne — his 55th as a pro — is his first that doesn’t come attached with a $50 or more price tag.
It will likely expose “The Man”, and his opponent, to a far larger audience as he attempts to position himself for a fight against new Aussie boxing top dog Jeff Horn.
Mundine last donned the gloves when he took on Danny Green in February, 2017, a fight that saw him record a controversial defeat.
But he’s now turned his attention to Horn, who he described as “the flavour of the month” in a head-lining grabbing interview on the eve of the fight.
The undercard will begin at 7pm with the main event to start after 9:30pm (AEDT).
Full Fight Card
Main Event
Anthony Mundine (48-8) defeated Tommy Browne (35-7-2) via KO - R2, 3:00
Undercard
Troy O’Meley (4-0) defeated Dillon Bargero (3-3) via split decision (59-55, 55-59, 58-56)
Jai Opetaia (14-0) defeated Benjamin Kelleher (7-3) via TKO - R3, 2:36
Kye MacKenzie (19-1) defeated Emiliano Martin Garcia (16-2) via KO - R4, 1:06
Ben Sila (2-0) defeated Richie Fa’aoso (0-1) via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28)
Mundine demolishes Browne
Anthony Mundine survived a spot of early trouble to savagely knockout Aussie battler Tommy Browne in the second round of their fight in Sydney.
Mundine got off to an extremely shaky start in the opening round, copping plenty of punishment and regularly looking to cover up in a repeat of his opening round against Danny Green last year.
“A sensational start from Tommy Browne,” the Fox Sports commentator said. “He had Anthony Mundine hurt.”
But after retreating to the ropes again midway through the second, Mundine stunned Browne with a fight-turning right hand.
It was the 34-year-old from Campbelltown’s turn to fight for survival, but his attempt to make it to the bell fell one second short.
Mundine unloaded a textbook left hook to leave Browne sprawled on the canvas.
“What a shot,” the Fox Sports commentator said. “That was vintage power.”
Huge 2nd round KO by Mundine. Browne is flat on his back
— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) January 17, 2018
They said you were washed up Choc. They lied. They lied. 2nd Rd KO. Wow. Just wow. #MundineBrowne#boxing#mundine#choc#browne
— Robert Grasso (@RobertGrasso) January 17, 2018
That’s a biiiig KO from Mundine and makes things interesting for Jeff Horn after Crawford.
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) January 17, 2018
Debut flop for NRL star
Former rugby league star Richie Fa’aoso didn’t want a cupcake in his first pro fight — and he paid the price.
The former Newcastle Knights prop was paired against skilled 21-year-old Ben Sila in the penultimate fight before tonight’s main event.
The bout was fought over three two-minute rounds and while Fa’aoso had his moments — particularly in the final round — the judges preferred the slicker work of Sila.
Mackenzie’s perfect display
It was a perfect performance by Kye “Mr Frenzy” MacKenzie — until he attempted a backflip celebration.
The Aussie lightweight busted up Argentina’s Emiliano Martin Garcia for three-and-a-bit rounds, dropping his opponent regularly.
But after the referee waved off the bout early in the fourth, MacKenzie tried making a name for himself in front of a live TV audience - and fell flat on his face.
Not that he’d be too fussed after a win that could set up a battle of the nicknames against “Ferocious” George Kambosos Jr.
Opetaia keeps record in check
Jai Opetaia proved too good against Ben KelleherSource:AAP
Promising power puncher Jai Opetaia retained the Australian cruiserweight championship with a third round TKO of brave Ben Kelleher — the 22-year-old’s 10th straight stoppage.
There’s high hopes for the NSW fighter after 14 wins in two-and-a-half years, with talk he may soon be fighting for the Commonwealth title.
His work was made easier tonight after Queensland-based Kelleher suffered an injury.
The 30-year-old appeared to injure his right wrist after connecting with Opetaia’s elbow when throwing a looping uppercut in the second round.
He winced in pain and took a knee — and was severely limited by what he could do with his right from that point in the fight.
Kelleher fought on bravely and had some success with his left but the heavy shots to the body and head he was taking from Opetaia began to pile up and the fight was stopped late in the third.
“He’s a bloody soldier,” said Opetaia, of his opponent. “I hate to win a fight like that. If you want to do it again, we can do it again.”
Bloody first up battle
Troy O'Meley (left) loads up against Dillon Bargero during their bout.Source:AAP
Dillon Bargero and Troy O’Meley engaged in a real life version of Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots to open proceedings on the undercard.
Both fighters used defensive tactics sparingly as they swung wildly from the opening bell until the end of the fight.
No surprises that both looked out on their feet towards the latter stages of the fight..
O’Meley emerged victorious after landing heavy blows in the sixth and final round that rocked Bargero.
Mundine denies attack on Horn was racist
Anthony Mundine. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images
Former world champion Anthony Mundine has slammed fellow Australian boxer Jeff Horn, saying the Queenslander only gets attention because of his skin colour.
Mundine was hoping to fight Horn this year before the 29-year-old elected to head to the United States for his next bout.
“He’s only the flavour of the month because he is a white boy, just like Danny Green was the white boy,” Mundine told News Corp Australia.
“You’ve just got to look at society -- whites get privileges. “I don’t care if you’re white, black, brown, whatever, it’s your heart that makes you.
“But in the western society, whites get privileges, and because Horn is white, he gets all that attention and media coverage.”
Mundine also called for Australia Day to be moved from January 26, but later posted on Facebook to vigorously deny he ever slammed Horn’s heritage, as was claimed on the front page of The Daily Telegraph.
“I see the papers are at it again trying to word things like I’m a racist to white people,” Mundine wrote. “I AINT SLAM NOBODIES (sic) HERITAGE??!
“First thing I couldn’t care what colour you are ... I got white blood in me also but I will never stand down from speaking the truth & fighting injustice!!!
“I said there are white privileges ... you tell me does the western society & system give white privilege or black privilege??”
Horn, who has agreed terms to defend his WBO welterweight title against Terence Crawford instead of taking up a $2 million fight with Mundine, paid little attention to his comments.
“It’s just same old Mundine being Mundine; I think we all know what he’s doing,” Horn said.
“I don’t know why he has to belittle my achievements and bring race into it.”
— AAP
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