Anthony Mundine should take some time to listen to Kenny Rogers and learn when he should walk away.
The controversial Australian athlete left boxing fans scratching their heads when he announced plans to return to the ring.
Not only that, he’s chasing a rematch against Jeff Horn. The same Jeff Horn who comprehensively wiped the floor with “The Man” in 96 seconds.
Mundine was brutalised by vicious body blows from Horn before crumbling to the canvas courtesy of a left hook to the head.
But despite seemingly announcing the time on his storied career had run its course, Mundine wants one more shot to prove he’s still got it.
Of course Horn is under no obligation whatsoever to grant Mundine his wish, considering there was a no rematch clause in the last contract. But that seemingly important matter hasn’t stopped Mundine from believing he’s owed an immediate rematch.
In an exclusive interview with Fox Sports News, Mundine made his intentions clear that his career wasn’t over and he wanted to go out on a high.
“I had time to reflect and contemplate the night, how it went down,” Mundine said.
“You know I had unbelievable preparation, I was sparring young champions, up and comers and I wasn’t just holding my own, I was getting on top.
“Now having looked back at the fight, I really feel he caught me early, through god’s will. I truly believe god has put me in this predicament for a reason.
“I feel that I have enough runs on the board to warrant an immediate rematch because I know that wasn’t me. The fans know it wasn’t me either. I feel he got lucky.
“Good luck to him and his team, but I feel I’ve got the runs on the board in my career to warrant a rematch, I truly believe I can win.
“A lot of the experts and doubters have me as a massive underdog, but for me to go out as I want to go out; I’ve earned that. I would like to try and have another fight with Jeff definitely.
“I like his camp, they’re good people, good guys, it’s nothing personal.”
Unfortunately the words Mundine spoke in the ring following the demolition job are in stark contrast to the words coming out now.
Mundine praised the next generation of boxing and gave glowing praise to his far superior opponent.
“I’ve had a great career. Jeff proved tonight that he was a better man … with a better shot,” Mundine said in the ring.
“(He) got me with a shot early. That’s the next generation, man, so I pass it onto them.”
But as he’s done his entire boxing career, Mundine is using his mouth in the hopes of once again promoting a big fight.
“For me it’s not about being over,” he said.
“I’ll be happy; I’ll be one of the first to celebrate. But you’ve got to understand as a fierce competitor, what I’ve achieved over the past more than two decades, I can’t go out like that.
“I thought it was going to be over after this time too, but when something happens like that and you have time to reflect on it, it’s like man just give me another chance.
“I know what I can do. For me, age isn’t an issue, it isn’t about the age it’s about the desire and dedication and commitment.
“And I’ve only got that for one fight and that’s the rematch. I’m reaching out to Jeff and Glen to really consider it because I’ve felt I’ve earned it with what I’ve done for the sport over the last two decades, I’ve revived it and made guys. I feel like I deserve to go out the way I want.”
Mundine has achieved remarkable things inside the boxing ring, he’s a former three-time world champion, but his pleas to Horn should fall on deaf ears.
The fight does nothing for Horn and his hopes of earning a rematch against one of the sport’s top pound for pound boxers in Terence Crawford.
Crawford stripped Horn of his WBO 67kg welterweight belt in devastating fashion when the two squared off in June.
Horn has nothing to gain by stepping back into the ring against the past his prime Mundine and it’s a prospect that shouldn’t even register on his radar.
Following the fight against Mundine, Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton said the two would explore all options for his future.
This included pursuing fights at welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight. Rushton wants a rematch with Crawford — although he admitted that would be a few fights away at least — and also threw up the world’s biggest earning boxer and middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez as a possible opponent.
Horn is ranked number five in the world in the middleweight division but was ranked world number three by BoxRec earlier this month.
So while Mundine may believe he’s “earned” the right to a rematch, he should consider either officially hanging up the gloves or stepping back into the ring against a lesser opponent.
His achievements have been remarkable, but that doesn’t entitle him to call out and demand a fight against Horn who is eyeing off bigger and better things.
