Australian boxing legend Tony Mundine has died at the age of 75. He is understood to have suffered a heart attack on Sunday. His son, former NRL star and professional boxer Anthony Mundine, is reportedly returning from the Middle East.
Mundine senior was a trailblazer in Australian boxing, becoming the only Australian fighter to compete professionally across four weight divisions. He held Australian titles in the middleweight, light heavyweight, cruiserweight, and heavyweight categories. In 1974, he challenged for the World Boxing Association middleweight title.
Over his career, Mundine competed in 96 professional fights, securing 80 wins, with 64 of those victories coming by knockout. He was inducted into the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.
Mundine also played a pivotal role in his son Anthony's successful boxing career after Anthony transitioned from rugby league. As his father's primary trainer, he guided Anthony to win the WBA super-middleweight title twice, the IBO middle title, and the WBA interim super-welterweight title.
Born in Baryulgil in north-eastern New South Wales, Anthony Mundine began his rugby league career before training with Ern McQuillan. Tony Mundine later ran the Redfern Gym in Sydney. For his contributions to sport and Aboriginal youth, Tony Mundine was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1986.