Michael Zerafa ends the career of Anthony Mundine with first round knockout

The curtain fell on Anthony Mundine’s glittering career when he was stopped in the opening round by Michael ‘Pretty Boy’ Zerafa at Bendigo Stadium in the central Victorian town of Bendigo, Australia on Saturday night.

Zerafa 28-4 (17) had Mundine 48-11 (28) on the canvas twice before the referee waved off the contest after the second knockdown without applying a count.

Like so many professional boxers before him, Mundine just wanted to go out on a win. It wasn’t to be.

The 45-year-old Mundine admitted his boxing career was “definitely, definitely” over after the fight.

"Win, lose or draw, even if I won, I still would have hung them up," he said.

"I just haven’t got the heart anymore to do it.

"God’s given me great talent, both in rugby league and boxing. I’m not the fighter I was five years ago, a year ago or 10 years ago.

"But I’ve achieved a lot in my time."

Indeed he has. As the highest paid player in the National Rugby League, Mundine made the unlikely switch to boxing at 25 years old. He made his first world title challenge 18 months later when he travelled to Germany to face IBF super middleweight champion Sven Ottke, giving the master boxer a scare in the first half of the fight before fading late and being stopped in 10.

Many predicted that would be the end of the brash Sydneysider. It wasn’t. He would defeat big-punching American Antwun Echols for the WBA 168-pound belt two years later. He fought a trilogy with future world champion Sam Soliman, winning all three fights.

In 2009 he moved down to middleweight to defeat future unified world champion Daniel Geale before moving down in weight again to compete in the junior middleweight division. Perhaps his most complete performance was his gutsy 12-round points defeat to a prime Mikkel Kessler, or his big-money decision win over domestic rival Danny Green in 2006.

He achieved a lot in his unlikely career.

Prior to the Zerafa bout concerns had been raised about Mundine’s health, most notably from former three-weight world champion Jeff Fenech.

"There’s some stages in people’s lives where the doors should be closed. His last few fights he’s shown he doesn’t have the resistance to take a punch anymore," he said to ABC Grandstand.

Mundine shrugged off the concerns.

"Thank God I’m healthy," he said after the bout.

"But, unfortunately, I got caught in the first round. It happens in boxing.

"Hopefully Michael can go on and be a success and reach all his dreams.

"He’s wanted to fight me when he was 15. Lucky he got me when I was 45, not 35."

Zerafa was over the moon to get the win over his childhood hero. He is now angling for a shot at rising star Tim Tszyu 17-0 (13) who clashes with two-time world title challenger Dennis Hogan 28-3-1 (7) in Newcastle on March 31.

"Feeling electric. This is a legacy fight for me: 15 years I’ve been waiting for this moment and I’ve delivered," the 28-year-old Zerafa said.

"A huge thank you to the Mundine team for the opportunity.

"Anthony, nothing but love and respect, brother.

"You’re the person to put this sport on the map, brother: the best ever to lace up in Australian boxing.

"It’s my time. I told you, you passed the torch and now it’s time Tim Tszyu – excuse my French – but stop fucking running."

"It’s time to fight."

In an all-southpaw light heavyweight battle on the undercard Faris Chevalier 12-1 (7) upset world-rated Blake Caparello 30-4-1 (13) by unanimous decision with scores of 97-93 across the board. Caparello entered the fight ranked WBC number six, WBA number three, IBF number 14 and WBO number eight. Chevalier was having his first fight in four-and-a-half year.

Former female world champion Shannon ‘Shotgun’ O’Connell 21-6-1 (10) proved to be a bit too experienced for Cherneka ‘Sugar Neekz’ Johnson 13-1 (6) in their bantamweight contest, winning a split decision by scores of 97-93 twice and 94-96.