Anthony Mundine labels Jeff Horn as mere ‘hype’, promises to prove he’s the fighter of his generation
ANTHONY Mundine believes he has one more box to tick before bowing out from boxing — exposing Jeff Horn as nothing but “hype” and proving he’s the pre-eminent fighter of his generation.
The 43-year-old Mundine (48-8-0 record), a former three-time world champion, says he will draw the curtain on his 18-year boxing career with the 71kg catchweight bout against Horn expected to draw 30,000 Suncorp Stadium fans on November 30.
Horn (18-1-1) hopes the fight is a stepping stone toward a rematch against the man who took away his WBO welterweight world title — American Terence Crawford — in June.
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The former local schoolteacher will be the Brisbane crowd favourite when he returns to the venue where he sensationally claimed the WBO belt from boxing great Manny Pacquiao in July 2017.
“He’s good and works hard and credit to him but a lot of it is just hype,” Mundine said of the 30-year-old Horn.
“I want to expose that hype.
“Before I came into it, the sport was dead. They were fighting at RSLs.
“I paved the way for guys like Jeff. For me this is my opportunity to prove I was the best of the last generation and I am best of the next generation.”
Mundine said Horn was well-beaten by Crawford in his June title defence and predicted more of the same on November 30.
“He beat Pacquiao so I take my hat off to him but he got outclassed by Crawford pretty bad,” Mundine said.
“Someone with a lot of skill adjusted to his style very well.
“I can guarantee you on November 30 the Crawford nightmare will continue.
“As far as skill, talent and ability, he ain’t on my level.”
Mundine said he had nothing left to prove in a boxing career that controversially began in 2000 when he walked away from a lucrative St George Illawarra NRL contract.
“I have done it all,” he said.
“I am a three-time world champion. I played NRL, played State of Origin.
“I didn’t get picked for my country which is probably why I left, threw my dummies out the cot and left for boxing where I was on my own boss.”
Horn said he would not be taking Mundine lightly in his comeback fight.
“What he has achieved in sport is incredible, he’s an amazing athlete. It’s a dangerous fight,” he said.
“I had trouble with Crawford who is a counter fighter and that’s what Mundine’s best at, counter fighting.
“Hopefully I will be able to learn from my mistakes at the last fight and overcome The Man.”