‘Sad day in Australian sport’: tributes flow for trailblazing boxing great Tony Mundine

Indigenous Australian boxing great Tony Mundine was the first Australian to fight in four different weight divisions.

Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP ‘Sad day in Australian sport’: tributes flow for trailblazing boxing great Tony Mundine Fellow boxers, sporting figures, politicians and celebrities have paid tribute to the champion boxer and community leader, who died aged 75 Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images and names of Indigenous Australians who have died Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Tributes are pouring in for Indigenous Australia boxing great, Tony Mundine, who has died aged 75.

The Guardian understands that the Bundjalung man and father of former world champion boxer and NRL star Anthony Mundine had a heart attack on Sunday, and was in hospital surrounded by family when he passed.

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

“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.

“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.” Born in Baryulgil, near Grafton in northern New South Wales, Mundine was one of the country’s most accomplished boxers, and the first Australian to fight in four different weight divisions.

Throughout his career across middleweight, light-heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, Mundine won 80 fights, 64 from knockouts, 15 losses and one draw.

Tony Mundine with former boxer and activist Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter in 2010.

On Monday morning, fellow boxers, sporting figures, community organisations, politicians and celebrities took to social media to pay tribute.

The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, wrote that he was a “trailblazer for Indigenous Australians in sport”, whose legacy would live on through the “generations he inspired, both in and out of the ring”.

The Redfern All Blacks, Australia’s longest-running rugby league team – where Mundine played and has strong community and family ties to, said he was “a proud Aboriginal man, champion boxer, community leader and a much-loved son of Redfern and Baryulgil”, whose “contribution to our community reached far beyond the boxing ring”.

“His gym in The Block at Redfern became a place where young people could find strength, discipline, guidance and a sense of belonging,” the post read.

“Through boxing and his connection to community, Uncle Tony inspired generations and played an important role in shaping the young people around him.” Anthony Mundine spars with Tony during a training session at his gymnasium in Redfern in 2013.

That connection continued through his son, Choc Mundine and grandson CJ, who also pulled on the RAB jersey, carrying forward the family’s proud sporting and community legacy.

“Today, we remember Uncle Tony not only as a former champion boxer, but as a father, uncle, mentor, community man and proud identity in the Redfern community whose impact will continue through the generations.” Western Australian boxer and former world champion Danny Green wrote about growing up watching Mundine fight, something he “grew a great deal of inspiration from”.

“One of my late father’s favourite fighters,” he said.

“A gentleman that I had a tonne of respect for and we would always chew the fat when we saw each other.

“Thoughts are with the Mundine family. [Thank you] for the memories champ.” 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 Sydney boxer and former undisputed lightweight world champion, George “Ferocious” Kambosos Jr, took to X where he said it was a “sad day in Australian sport”.

“Rest in peace to an absolute Australian boxing legend, Tony Mundine,” he said.

“A sad day in Australian sport, some great memories at the old Eveleigh street boxing gym in Redfern sparring Choc with Tony always in his corner.” “A great man.

My condolences to Anthony and the whole Mundine family.” The Elouera Tony Mundine Gym, which Mundine started in the 1980s in Redfern and had an open door policy for anyone who wanted to train, wrote that Mundine “wasn’t just an Australia boxing icon”, but that he was a “trailblazer” who “never stopped giving back to his community”.

“For years, the old gym was where he trained, where he mentored, and where he poured his heart into the next generation,” they said.

“Yesterday we lost a boxing legend, a father, a brother, a coach and a beloved community figure.

“Rest in peace Uncle Tony.

This gym will always be your home.” “A legacy that will live on forever.” Explore more on these topicsBoxing Indigenous Australians Australia sport Sydney news Share Reuse this content