One of my mates used to get free tickets to TV Ringside (my second date with Ms DJC was an evening at TV Ringside - she was definitely a keeper!). Bouts between Tony Mundine and Kahu Mahunga were classic contests; Mundine was a clever boxer with a KO punch. Mahunga could absorb punishment and, if he hit you, you stayed hit.
I met Tony at a NAIDOC ball (I met Lynda Stoner that same night) and what I remember most is how soft his handshake was. Well, that’s not entirely true; I remember how humble he was and how willing he was to share his story with a white fella that he didn’t know from a bar of soap.
Sadly, Tony’s achievements in the boxing ring, and as an advocate for his people, are overshadowed by some of the foolish comments by his son, Anthony.
RIP Tony, a great boxer and a great Australian.