Two familiar results came of Anthony Mundine’s latest comeback—a loss and a subsequent retirement declaration.
The former super middleweight titlist suffered his third straight defeat, coming in a 1st round knockout at the hands of Michael Zerafa in an all-Aussie showdown Saturday at Bendigo Stadium in Bendigo, Australia. Mundine was floored twice before the bout was waved off at 2:09 of round one.
“I’m healthy but he caught me in the 1st round,” Mundine said after the fight, which aired live on Epicentre TV Pay-Per-View. “It happens in boxing.”
It has now happened twice in the past three fights for Mundine (48-11, 28KOs), who lasted just 96 seconds in his celebrated Nov. 2018 fight with countryman Jeff Horn. That fight came with the promise of never again lacing ‘em up, only to return to the ring exactly one year later. Mundine would last the distance, though coming up short in a 10-round decision defeat to John Wayne Parr in Nov. 2019.
Once again, Mundine declared that the game was no longer in him and that it was time to head off into the sunset. For whatever reason, those closest to the 45-year-old Sydney-based boxer decided it was a good idea to return after more than 15 months away from the ring. Zerafa (27-4, 16KOs) sent an emphatic reminder of why Mundine was better served to remain on the other side of the ropes.
The message appears to have been received, even if we’ve heard this song before.
“It definitely will be my last,” Mundine once again promised. “Even If I won, I would have still hung them up. I haven’t got the heart anymore to do it. God has given me great talent in rugby and in boxing. I’m not the fighter I was five years ago… or ten years ago but I’ve achieved a lot in my lifetime.
“Hopefully Michael will go on and become a bigger success. He’s wanted to fight me since he was 14. Lucky you got me at 45 and not 35.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox