MAN REVEALS SOFTER SIDE
BOXING: There is another side to the trash-talking Anthony Mundine that punters have never seen. Tonight he will break down in tears on television. It is raw emotion.
“I cry in sad movies,” Mundine said yesterday. “I’m a bit of a softie deep down, bra.
“There’s nothing wrong with a man crying.”
Mundine broke down in a recorded interview to be aired tonight on Fox Sports when the controversial boxer was questioned about his lowest and tougher moments.
The one he spoke about had nothing to do with boxing or rugby league but the death of a close female friend from cancer.
This is the sensitive side of Mundine we have never seen before, especially this close to the Jeff Horn fight at Suncorp Stadium, the last of his career.
A few days out from a contest he is usually picking a fight outside the ring. There are never any signs of humbleness or humility.
“That’s my alter ego and that’s who you’ll get over the next few days,” he said.
“I’ll start to ramp up 48 hours from Friday night. You’re going to see a different person. I’ll change into a different animal. Mentally and psychologically.
“It’s to get the best out of myself and to perform like I’ll have to. I need to be ‘The Man’, not Anthony Mundine.”
Mundie’s long-time agent Khoder Nasser said it’s partly about showbiz but also the physical nature of his sport.
It’s hard to be nice when you’re about to climb into a boxing ring to knock out an opponent.
“You’ve got to be in a competitive mode and ‘Choc’ changes his personality altogether,” Nasser said.
■ Fox Sports will show the Anthony Mundine interview tonight at 7.30pm (AEST).