Anthony Mundine has never pulled his punches in or out of the ring. His WBC Silver Light Middleweight clash with Trout will be only the second time he’s fought in the US.
The first time he boxed there three years ago he apologised for remarks made in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. His mission this time is to use his stateside stage to raise issues facing Indigenous Australians.
The state now known as Texas was previously the domain of the dominant Comanche and Apache native American Indian tribes. And Mundine will be seeking their blessing once he arrives.
“The first thing I’m going to do is embrace the traditional owners,” he told SBS.
“I’m going to take our plight to the world … because The United Nations needs to get involved and do something about this.”
Mundine polarised opinion in Australia before he switched from Rugby League 15 years ago to take up the sport his father Tony graced with such distinction.
“The first thing I’m going to do is embrace the traditional owners."
He’ll turn 40 next month, but because of his years with the St George Illawarra Dragons in the first half of his athletic career, in boxing terms he’s still relatively young.
His opponent Austin Trout is just 29 and fights with an unorthodox southpaw style. But many observers, including boxing journalist Paul Upham, say Mundine can triumph against the younger man.
“Trout hasn’t seen anyone like “the Man” [Mundine] before, and I think he’ll win on points” Upham told SBS.
But the “Man” probably wants a far quicker victory, to send a statement to bigger fish in the boxing ocean, such as Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather.
Anthony Mundine will fight Austin Trout. (SBS)
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