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Australian boxing great Tony Mundine dies aged 75 | Boxing

Indigenous Australian boxing great Tony Mundine has died, aged 75.

The father of former boxer and NRL star Anthony Mundine had a heart attack on Sunday.

Born in Baryulgil, near Grafton in northern New South Wales, Tony Mundine was the first Australian to fight in four different weight divisions, challenging for the world middleweight title against Argentina’s Carlos Monzon in 1974, in a bout stopped in the seventh round.

Tony Mundine with former boxer and activist Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter in 2010. Photograph: Lee Besford/AAP

Mundine leaves a significant boxing legacy. Anthony was an IBO middleweight and WBA super-middleweight world champion, whose son Rahim won his fourth career fight from as many professional bouts on the Gold Coast only last week.

Anthony Mundine posted a tribute to his father on social media, saying he was returning home for his funeral after travelling to Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Mundine spars with Tony during a training session at his gymnasium in Redfern in 2013. Photograph: AAP

“I don’t know what to say, I’m broken,” Anthony posted.

“Dad I love you man, may Allah bless your soul.

“I’m on my way home to say goodbye one last time till we meet again.

NBA star Clyde Drexler with Tony Mundine during a basketball clinic for the Aboriginal community at Mundine’s gym in Redfern. Photograph: Tim Cole/AAP

“Thanks for doing all you did for me and supporting me in every moment, showing love and strength gonna miss you Tonza, there’s only one Tony Mundine.”

Through a career in the middleweight, light-heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, Tony Mundine recorded 80 wins – 64 from knockouts, 15 losses, and one draw.

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