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Warning: This story contains images and the name of a deceased Indigenous person.
To the boxing world, Anthony “Tony” William Mundine was a champion without peer.
As the only fighter to hold Australian titles across four weight divisions — middleweight, light heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight — in the 1970s and 1980s, Mundine occupied rare air.
But to his loved ones, he was much more: he was a pillar of strength; an example of how to live; a devoted father; a doting grandfather; and a patriarch at the centre of his family’s universe.
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Hundreds gathered on Saturday at Redfern Oval, the home of Mundine’s beloved Redfern All Blacks rugby league club, to farewell the 75-year-old, who died on Sunday from a heart attack.
“Most of you know him as Tony Mundine the boxer. We know him as Tony Mundine the man: the husband; the father; the brother; the pop; the uncle; and the friend,” Mundine’s nephew, Craig Madden said.
“Uncle Tony was the backbone of our family. Steady, loyal, always there when we needed him.”
Mundine was remembered on Saturday as not only a trailblazing athlete, but a mentor for Indigenous youth; it was outside the ring that Mundine had the greatest impact on his community.
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“He built sanctuaries of hope for generations of community and young people, especially Aboriginal youth seeking direction, safe housing, or a second chance,” said another of Mundine’s nephews, Matthew Mundine.
“Above all his titles and accolades, Tony’s heart belonged entirely to his family, culture and community.”
Mundine’s son Anthony, the former world boxing champion, recalled the kindness his father showed those battling substance abuse and homelessness during trips to Kings Cross in the 1980s.
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“They all loved him,” he said. “The admiration and respect they gave this man, I was in awe.”
Johnny Lewis, the legendary boxing trainer, said Mundine was considered the greatest Australian fighter to have never won a world championship.
“To me, he was a world champion,” Lewis said. “We’re very, very lucky to have someone as good in the ring and out of the ring as Tony Mundine.”
The large crowd gathered at Mundine’s funeral was testament to his impact on the Redfern community.
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The suburb, where he and his brother Mick Mundine first arrived from Grafton in the 1960s, houses the Elouera Tony Mundine Boxing Gym – opened in 1985 in The Block, Redfern’s historic Indigenous neighbourhood before being relocated during the redevelopment of the estate.
Up the street from Mundine’s boxing gym is Cafe Abercrombie where he would drink a honey-infused cup of tea every Friday. It closed on Saturday as a sign of respect.
Friends recall starstruck admirers cautiously approaching Mundine at the cafe for a photograph. They were met with endless generosity and kindness. There, like other places Mundine spent time, he was simply Uncle Tony.
As mourners said their goodbyes on Saturday, Mundine’s casket snaked its way through the streets of the suburb his life and legacy was built upon.
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“We made sure we brought Dad back here to Redfern where it all started,” Mundine’s daughter, Kelly Mundine said.
Among his final stops was The Block and his beloved boxing gym, where a bouquet was placed on the door before Tony Mundine left Redfern for the last time.
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Riley Walter is a crime reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.AdvertisementAdvertisement