THE RISE & RISE OF
ANTHONY MUNDINE
A background to StGeorge Dragon , Anthony 'Choc' Mundine
News 01Dec 2001: Mundine knocked out - click here
Site instigated 3rd May 2000 - Last updated 1 December 2001
Love him or lump him, Anthony Mundine has given us plenty to think about over the last few years. When pub talk came around about Choc Mundine there were always two opposing camps:
There are a legion of supporters who admired the uncanny ability of a fantastic athlete who got the fans up out of their seats on countless occasions. From the moment he came into the big time, Choc made an impact and continued to be a huge crowd puller throughout his 7 year career.
On the other hand,  there are those who though Mundine was just a loud mouth and somehow feel justified in being disgusted with Mundine's behaviour. In their opinion, a player who displays such self interest should have no place in a true team sport like Rugby League. Without a doubt, there those who wish they had half of talent of Choc and would grab the opportunity to play for the Dragons firmly with both hands.
But there many others who believed he is a bloke simply speaking his mind and cannot fathom why anyone would would turn on a player of Mundine's abilities and honest character. It's true, Anthony Mundine has never disgraced himself on or off the field and to many, he is a fantastic role model to kids from all backgrounds.
Anthony Mundine's departure from the Dragons was to say the least, controversial. In the end, there was too much activity in Anthony Mundine's wake for the media induced saga to continue any further.
On May 3rd, 2000, Anthony Mundine and the Dragons parted ways and 'Choc' retired from Rugby League.
Two days later he announced  that he was pursuing a career in professional boxing.

We have compiled a series of pics taken from Saints in the Semis and Saints on TV web pages.
As well, at the bottom of this page is rough list of the events which surround the rise and inevitable turbulent rise of Anthony Mundine.
The page concludes with a look at "The Man's" career since he turned to professional boxing and the inevitable successes which he has enjoyed.
Saints On TV, 3rd May, 2000:
MUNDINE QUITS DRAGONS & RUGBY LEAGUE
After meeting with Dragons officials today (Wed May 3), Anthony Mundine announced his retirement from Rugby League. This is the 2nd time that the highly paid Mundine has left the Dragons. Mundine has not given any reason for his decision but is expected to make an announcement this Friday. He has been the main subject of the tabloid sporting press in recent times and has in the past blamed his non-selection in representative football on the fact that he is black. 
How this will ultimately effect the club, players and supporters remains to be seen. It is understood that a number of team mates have expressed dismay at Mundine's recent antics. Many players feel that they have been highly supportive of Mundine and are at a loss as to why he failed to show up to training, leave the country and place the team under extraordinary pressure. The events of the last few weeks have effectively created a split amongst players and amongst supporters

from: vs Cronulla 1999 Semis:
The Dragons eliminate Cronulla


Man of the match

from: vs Melbourne 1999 Grand Final:

from: vs Tigers Round 6, 2000:

from: vs Auckland Round 7:
The Dragons' 2000 campaign is back on track

from: vs Canberra Round 9:

Destroying the Raiders and easily running around Daley

...in the open
from: vs Roosters Round 10 - Carving up the Roosters. Mundine's last game for the Dragons, Sun 9 April 2000.

TV Stats taken from Round 7, 18 Mar 2000,
3 weeks before his final game.

FINAL TOTAL = 126 MATCHES; 59 TRIES
PROFILE:

Born: 21 May 1975, Sydney
Junior Clubs: Hurstville United
Senior Clubs: St George 1993-96; Brisbane 1997; St George 1998; St George-Illawarra 1999-2000
 
TIME LINE OF EVENTS:

1993: Mundine debuts for StGeorge Dragons and immediately makes an impression
1996: Named player's player for 1996. Plays in losing grand final St George v Manly. Announces that will be signing with Brisbane for 1997 in break away Super League Competition.
1997: Plays one year with Brisbane who win 1997 Super League grand final. With the announcement that he is leaving Brisbane, Mundine jokingly quips to the media 'show me the money' in reference to a number of clubs who are interesting in signing him. He also lets everyone know that he is 'The Man' and insists that he will only play at five eighth.
1998: Anthony Mundine returns to StGeorge after accepting a lucrative contract of $600,000 per year. He is named player's player for 1998. Also in 1998, he is involved in a racial discrimination inquiry with Canterbury forward Barry Ward. Mundine claims he has been racially vilified, Ward claims that he is not guilty.
1999: Rugby League's first merger following the Super League war: StGeorge - Illawarra. Mundine is part of this new beginning & plays the best football of his career. He is selected to play in the City Origin team. He lays claims to his abilities by declaring that he is the best five eighth in the world.
Mundine is chosen to play reserve for NSW in all 3 State Of Origin games vs Qld., scoring a try. Mundine is given little time on the field and often found himself playing at the unlikely position of hooker.
1999 became Mundine's most controversial year to date as he attracted more media attention than ever before. 
The year finished in disappointment. The Dragons lost narrowly in the1999 grand final v Melbourne and then there was Mundine's subsequent exclusion from the Australian squad to take on New Zealand and Gt Britain in the tri nations series. Matthew Johns and Brad Fittler being preferred ahead of Mundine by the selectors. Mundine claims that the selection for five eighth was made on racial grounds.
2000: Mundine has by now become a target of a hungry media searching for a story. He reacts by making a series of comments about Brad Fittler and Laurie Daley. He states that he always outplays Fittler and that Daley is 'running on old legs' .
Just prior to to the round 5 match vs Melbourne, Mundine claims that the Dragons are the true champions and Melbourne don't deserve to be premiers. Melbourne, playing at home, hand out a record thrashing to St George Illawarra 70-10 on March 3rd.
Dragons club officials place a 2 week media ban on all players with the exception of the captains.The ban is obviously aimed at gagging Mundine. In round 11, Mundine pulls out of the Brisbane match reportedly with a shoulder injury. He misses selection in the Australian team to play NZ in the ANZAC test. The following week it is reported that he does not show up to the training session for the round 12 match.
Mundine goes missing and is unavailable for the round 13 match. Reports reveal that he has left the country and caught a flight to the USA without club permission.
May 2nd: Mundine returns to Sydney Airport and is mobbed by the media. He appears relaxed and happy to be back. He is reported to say that he left because he was under pressure and needed time to 'chill out' .
May 3rd: Anthony Mundine meets amicably with the club board at StGeorge Leagues Club. The meeting lasts just 15 minutes. At 4.45 pm, Mundine announces his retirement from Rugby League.

MUNDINE NEWS ITEMS 2000 / 2001:
5th May 2000: Mundine to take up boxing. Anthony Mundine announces that he wants to be an international boxer. He says that boxing in the international arena will help him to gain a wider audience and promote the plight of the Aboriginal people.
03 July 2000: Anthony Mundine wins his first professional boxing bout at the Syd Ent Centre stopping NZ Gerrard Zohs in the 4th round. Mundine's home burgled same night with mainly personal items and memorabilia being stolen.
04 Sep 2000: Anthony Mundine wins his 2nd professional boxing bout stopping his opponent in the 6th round. Solomon Haumono also wins in the curtain raiser, knocking out his opponent in the opening round.
11 Dec 2000: Anthony Mundine stops Queenslander, Ian McLeod in the 9th round of a Super Middleweight bout at Wollongong Entertainment Centre. The Fenech-trained McLeod is the current Pan Asian Middleweight boxing champion. Mundine's record so far boasts 4 wins (3 by TKO) and he now wants to challenge the current Australian Middleweight champion, Mark Bargero.
Feb 19 2001: Anthony Mundine is the new Australian Middleweight boxing champion after stopping Mark Bagero in the 7th round.
Apr 13 2001: In order to gain a world ranking, Anthony Mundine must defeat Timo Masua. The fight is set down for the 16th of April at Carrara Indoor Stadium, Gold Coast (Queensland) Australia.
Apr 16 2001: Anthony Mundine has defeated New Zealander, Timo Masua by knock out in the 3rd round to take the Pan Asia Boxing Association super-middleweight title. Mundine's record is six wins; four by TKO, one by KO.
The win gives Mundine a world ranking and a possible shot at a world title.
18 June: Anthony Mundine has defended his Pan Asia title after punishing New Zealander Mike Makata at the Whitlam Recreation Centre in Sydney's west (Liverpool) tonight. Makata's team threw in the towel in the 5th round. Mundine is now tipped to meet Canada's Alex Hilton on July 10th in what will be Choc's first fight outside of Australia.
After the fight, Mundine announced once again that he is after the world title.
10 July: ANTHONY MUNDINE WINS IN CANADA
Wearing red and white trunks, Anthony Mundine has completely out-classed Kevin Pompey in Canada to with by TKO in 3 rounds. 'Choc' was originally billed to fight Alex Hilton but Hilton pulled out 2 weeks ago. Mundine was forced to find another opponent at late notice.
03 Sept: Mundine defeats Sam Soliman split points decision (12 Rounds) Wollongong Entertainment Centre.
20 Oct: ANTHONY MUNDINE NOW SET FOR WORLD CHAMP BOUT
Mundine defeats former Commonwealth Light Heavyweight champ, Guy Waters (37 yr old; 25-6-1 11 ko) in a 2nd round knock out at Liverpool's EG Whitlam centre (Sydney).
Newspaper report:
"Tonight's victory cleared the way for 26-year-old Mundine's December 1 challenge to Germany's unbeaten international Boxing Federation super middleweight Sven Ottke in Dortmund."
Video of the knock out punch:
4.5Mb mpg file Right click here and save the file on your desktop or folder of choice. Works in Windows Media Player.
MUNDINE KNOCKED OUT
Dortmund, 1 December 2001: Germany's Sven Ottke has retained his IBF super middle weight title after knocking out Australia's Anthony Mundine in the tenth round.
Mundine matched it with Ottke for the first nine rounds but Ottke's experience came through late in the tenth round when he delivered a short jab to the temple. Mundine was knocked out cold and remained motionless throughout the referee's count. The loss is Mundine's first from 11 bouts.
In the eighth round, Ottke was deemed to have slipped as he went down. Mundine forced the issue in the ninth and the German went on the defensive.
The champion, however, showed his class and came back in the tenth to post his 25th straight victory and his 12th successful title defence. 
Anthony Mundine left the ring on both feet but he has before him an uncertain future. He has always maintained that a world championship boxing title is his goal however, there has been some speculation that he may return to Rugby League in 2002.

 


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