Michael Zerafa Kos Anthony Mundine Down Under and Ends His Career
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Bendigo, Australia (March 13th, 2021)– Former World Boxing Association and International Boxing Organization World Middleweight champion Anthony Mundine, a longtime favorite of Australian boxing fans, lost his third consecutive comeback attempt and was retired. Mundine, inactive 15 months due to the pandemic, lost by first-round knockout to Michael Zerafa. Mundine, age 45, was knocked out cold by Michael Zerafa in a WBA Oceania Middleweight regional title bout in two minutes. Mundine went down from a left to the head, followed by overhand rights, got up, then got knocked out cold from a headshot on his back Saturday, March 13, 2021, at Bendigo Stadium, in Bendigo, Australia. The referee waived the bout off without a count.
Mundine, 48-11 with 28 knockouts, Sydney, Australia, admitted afterward he did not have the heart for boxing anymore. Zerafa, 28-4 with 17 knockouts, Melbourne, Australia, having won and lost with Jeff Horn, might be going down one weight class and be headed to future confrontation showdown with another fellow Australian, Tim Tszyu, given Tszyu has beaten Horn and holds IBF and WBO regional titles at 154 pounds super welterweight.
Result: Michael Zerafa TOK 1 Anthony Mundine, Middleweights (2:00)
Zerafa retains World Boxing Association Oceania Middleweight title
Mundine down twice in first round, second time down and out on his back.
Referee waives off the bout after second knockdown without a count.
It can be said the inactivity of the pandemic has affected some fighters more than others. Mundine is simply not on the world-class level anymore. His father Tony Mundine, who trains him, and contender Jeff Horn, who also knocked out Mundine in the first round, had concerns about the Zerafa bout. Anthony got it out of his system, and hopefully this time his retirement will be permanent.
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