Boxing legend Tony Mundine dies aged 75 – as his ex-NRL star son Anthony Mundine flies back to Australia from the Middle East
Australian boxing great Tony Mundine has died.
The 75-year-old is understood to have suffered a heart attack on Sunday.
His son Anthony Mundine – a former NRL star who followed in his father’s footsteps and forged a successful boxing career after leaving the game – is reportedly flying back from the Middle East, Code Sports reported.
Mundine senior made history as the only Australian boxer to fight professionally across four weight divisions, where he held the Australian titles for middleweight, light heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.
He also fought for the World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight title in 1974.
His impressive record from 96 fights is 80 wins, 64 of those were KO victories.
When Anthony took to the ring in 2000 following a successful rugby league career, his father served as his primary trainer.
Under his guidance, Anthony rose to the top of the sport, twice winning the WBA super-middleweight title in 2003 and 2008, the IBO middleweight title in 2009, and the WBA interim super-welterweight title in 2011.
Tony Mundine (left) has died, with his son Anthony (right) on his way back to Australia
Tony was inducted into the Australian boxing hall of fame in 2005 (pictured in his boxing days)
He became his son’s trainer during his highly successful boxing career
Anthony was born in the town of Baryulgil in north-eastern NSW, on the lands of the Bundjalung people.
He played for Grafton Rugby league club before being offered a place at the Redfern All Blacks in the South Sydney Junior Rugby League.
Between seasons he trained at a gym run by Ern McQuillan, who took him on in a fighter-trainer contract.
In later life, he resided in Redfern where he ran the Redfern Gym.
He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1986 for service to sport and to Aboriginal youth.
In 2005, he was inducted into the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame.
