The Serve

Anthony Mundine the day after

EXCLUSIVE TO THE SERVE                                                 

THURS 8/3: Mundine opens up about knocking out Soliman, the expletive laden post-fight speech, and cutting ties with the Dragons, only hours after hinting at a St.George comeback.

 

Dan Ginnane: Well here we are, the morning after. How are you feeling?

Anthony Mundine: I’m feeling good, man. I feel on top of the world. I feel blessed. I’m in a pretty good position right now

DG: What exactly is that position?

AM: Well…I feel I’ve conquered the best nationally, what it’s got to offer. Now it’s time to show internationally, that I belong with the best fighters in the world, and become one of the best pound for pound fighters out there today.

DG: That would mean, you would think, a fight with Kessler. Is that next on the horizon?

AM: Maybe. If Kessler fights me. He was supposed to fight me before he fought Bayer, but he opted to fight Bayer, and it was 80/20 split. Now the split’s a lot different (because Mundine is now the WBA title holder). So…I don’t see Kessler fighting me….Maybe we’ll go for (Joe) Calzaghe, depending on the right deal.

DG: Do you think he’ll fight you?

AM: Yeah, for the right money. I mean, we’ve got to do the right deals, and work the right numbers, but hopefully we can make it happen      

                                

DG: Was last night your greatest performance so far?

AM: Um….well…..it’s definitely up there. Especially given the fact he gives so many other top fighters trouble - and beats most of them- and he fought Winky Wright a year ago, one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, and went the distance. And to dominate him the way I did, yeah, it has to be one of my best performances.

DG: …because critics might say that you are a terrific fighter with great hand speed, but perhaps haven’t got that knockout punch. So how important was it that you finished Soliman off before the end?

AM: Critics have been saying that since my career started. I knocked Guy Waters out unconscious. I knocked out Timo Masua before he hit the floor. I knocked down Sam Soliman four times. I know I’ve got the power. I don’t need to worry about the critics. I’m the best and that’s all there is to it. DG: You surprised he kept getting up?

AM: I was surprised he kept getting up. The only thing that got him up was his…..fear of losing to me. And his honour. And his pride. I don’t know, I don’t think he was coherent after the…..second round.

DG: A pretty emotional scene afterwards. Any regrets about the strength of what you said (telling his critics to eat s**t)?

AM: They can go eat what they got to eat, because I’m the man. Can no one beat me, and I’m getting ready to become the best fighter out there, and I’m already the best athlete in the world, in the world, not Australia, in the world.

I want you to do your research go and find any man that’s….come from one sport, a team sport at the top of his game - goes to boxing and become a two time world champion, you tell me who’s done that? In the hardest sport in the world? No-body.

DG: Last night, I think you mentioned you might wear the number six for St.George. Today, you’re wearing a Souths jersey. Why the Souths jersey?

AM: Man…I forgot…You know, I went to Souths. Souths is in my blood. I’m a Souths junior, man - 13 years. I work with Souths now with the Aboriginal boys and liasing with the young kids, helping with the boxing. You know, St.George distanced themselves from me, having that affiliation with me. Well, I’m going to distance myself from them, I don’t want nothin’ to do with them, I’m with the Bunnies baby.