Anthony Mundine revealed he was quitting the I’m A Celebrity jungle to see his five beloved children.
The boxer, 42, sobbed as he told his emotional campmates ‘my kids are my world’ while explaining his shock departure on Thursday night’s show.
The sportsman broke down in tears as he admitted his heart was ‘aching’ for his children – and even told his boxing rival Danny they would have been ‘good friends’ if he’d stayed longer.
Farewell: Anthony Mundine revealed he was quitting the I’m A Celebrity jungle to see his five beloved children
Breaking the news to his fellow contestants, he began shakily: I made good friends here and I come in here to let people see the real Anthony Mundine, the real me, to know who I really am as a man.
‘I am not the guy they perceive me to be. This arrogant d**khead person, which sometimes I seem. That is when I am in a competitive mode.’
Looking overwhelmed with emotion, he turned to Danny and said: ‘Danny, if I spent too much time with him, if I spent too much time with him I would be bullish.’
Anthony again expressed hopes for a boxing rematch, saying: ‘I want the rivalry to go until there is no chance. He might say there is no chance, but there might be a chance. Our third and final and then we can be partners after that.’
Too much: The boxer, 42, sobbed as he told his emotional campmates ‘my kids are my world’ while explaining his shock departure on Thursday night’s show
Squashing the feud? He even told his boxing rival Danny they would have been ‘good friends’ if he’d stayed longer
Danny looked at him with a serious expression, appearing emotional himself as he watched his old boxing rival struggle to get his words out.
Anthony went on: ‘Last but not least, my kids. I miss them. I thought I could take it. Everyone is different. Everyone can tolerate different things, but my kids are my world to me. I just want to thank you.
‘I will never forget it, you know. I am the Man, get me out of here!
Earlier in the show, the boxer was seen expressing his inner turmoil to Kerry Armstrong and getting emotional as he talked about missing his kids.
‘I’m struggling man I miss my kids mate, they’re younger than yours. The older ones are 16 and 20 but I got younger ones too,’ he confessed.
‘I been struggling since I come in but I’ve been trying to fight it out. I’m always there for them. Every team sport I’m there, I help out.’
Struggling: Earlier in the show, the boxer was seen expressing his inner turmoil to Kerry Armstrong and getting emotional as he talked about missing his kids
Tough times: ‘I’m struggling man I miss my kids mate, they’re younger than yours. The older ones are 16 and 20 but I got younger ones too,’ he confessed
Looking concerned, Kerry asked: ‘So but do you think they wouldn’t want you to give up? That would break their hearts.’
Anthony admitted ‘in a sense,’ before adding ‘but they need me.’
Kerry then leaned in and said: ‘Look me deep in my eyes. You will never live it down if you leave here, you will be called a quitter.’
Interrupting, Mundine said: ‘It’s not about quitting, I’ve never experienced something like this. there’s more to it, it’s not just me.’
Emotional: Kerry then leaned in and said: ‘Look me deep in my eyes. You will never live it down if you leave here, you will be called a quitter’
Missing his kids: Kerry asked if his kids were looked after and the boxer struggled to hold back the tears as he replied: ‘Yeah but it’s not the same… the connection we have, especially my boy you know’
Kerry asked if his kids were looked after and the boxer struggled to hold back the tears as he replied: ‘Yeah but it’s not the same… the connection we have, especially my boy you know.’
He faced infamous boxing rival Danny Green in the trial, and the pair gave some fighting talk before heading into the viper room.
Danny quipped: ‘There are no pussycats here. Little mouse here [pointing to Anthony], snakes love mice!’
Antony shot back: ‘They love pussycats more.’
Inside the bunker, it was a different story with Anthony repeating Muslim prayers, chanting ‘Allahu akbar,’ as the snakes slid over his neck and face.
He shakily told Chris and Julia: ‘Danny is cool as a customer. I’m freaking out. They’re drawn to me.’
Once out of the room after managing to get ten stars, he admitted: ‘My prayer got me through it. My eyes were closed the whole time. I was s**ting my pants in there.’