LOSS ON POINTS
ANTHONY Mundine has been delivered a sucker punch by the courts.
The former boxing world champion was yesterday banned from the roads for six months after being caught driving on a suspended licence.
“It looks like I’m going to need a driver,” he said.
ANTHONY Mundine left a Gold Coast courthouse with a smile and a swagger yesterday despite being banned from getting behind the wheel for six months and fined $450.
“My licence was suspended in NSW and I got caught driving up here. It’s pretty harsh up here, a mandatory six months (disqualification), so it looks like I’m going to need a driver,” he joked outside the Southport Magistrates Court.
The former boxing world champion yesterday pleaded guilty to driving on Cotlew St in Southport while his licence was demerit point suspended in November 2017. He was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for six months.
Mundine, nicknamed Choc, had no conviction recorded after Magistrate Clare Kelly considered his need to travel overseas as part of his profession.
Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby told the court Mundine did not know his licence had been disqualified but was pleading guilty on the basis he had a “mistaken” belief it was valid. Mr Gatenby had previously urged the court to downgrade the charge.
Yesterday, the court heard Mundine had directed his mail to his sister’s address because he travelled extensively but had not received the letter to say his licence would be disqualified because of an accumulation of demerit points.
Mr Gatenby said Mun- dine had lent his cars to family members who had incurred some of the penalties, which had now been paid, without his knowledge.
“He said he just didn’t receive the notice in the mail. He has maintained that position throughout,” Mr Gatenby said.
The court heard Mundine often drives to sporting commitments with his five children, but would now be unable to do so due to the six month disqualification.
IT’S A BIT UNFORTUNATE ... I SINCERELY DIDN’T KNOW BUT THEY’RE THE BREAKS, MAN
Mr Gatenby argued Mundine should be given a good behaviour bond rather than a fine as he had already incurred costs flying to court and finding accommodation on the Gold Coast, but Magistrate Kelly disagreed.
When leaving court, the former NRL player took a shot at Queensland’s laws after the court heard the same offence wouldn’t have landed him in court in NSW.
“It’s a bit unfortunate ... I sincerely didn’t know but they’re the breaks, man. It could have been downgraded ... but they (the police) mustn’t like me, I dunno,” he said.
Mundine, a former world titleholder, yesterday reiterated his desire to fight current champion Jeff Horn.
“I’m a fighter, that’s what I do,” he said.