Anthony Mundine is one of Australian boxing’s most successful fighters – but he rarely makes headlines for his work inside the ring.
Instead, years of controversial comments, particularly about homosexuals, look set to tarnish his legacy, which has so far seen him record 48 wins from 56 fights.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Mundine admitted things he’s said have damaged his reputation.
After years of controversial comments, Anthony Mundine and his mother, Lyn, (pictured together) have revealed what actually drove him to make his remarks
The 43-year-old will go down in history as one of the greatest boxers Australia has ever seen, but his career could be overshadowed by his controversial comments
‘If you’re going to be gay, do it behind closed doors,’ Mundine famously said on the prime-time TV show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! in February.
The Sydney-born sports star, who converted to Islam in the 1990s, cited his faith and his Aboriginal heritage as reasons for making the comments.
‘If we were to live in a society, just like in Aboriginal culture, (where) homosexuality is forbidden and you do it and the consequences are capital punishment or death, you think, ‘are you going to do it?’ Or think twice about doing it?’ he said on the show.
Shortly after, he expressed regret for what he had said, claiming he had been misinterpreted.
But after reflecting on the hurt his words caused, particularly towards his family, he said he is changing his tune and being more considerate.
‘I honestly don’t care if anyone’s gay. I’m not judge and jury. That’s for the creator. Whether I believe it’s right or wrong, I have to accept it. It’s law,’ he said.
‘I’ve got gay friends. I’ve got gay family members. I have a cousin, she’s gay. I was hurt that she was hurt. I want to uplift and inspire people, not hurt anyone.
‘I was trying to say what happened in our culture back in the day. It comes out that I want gays to be killed. Of course I don’t wish that on anyone. In Islam taking one human life is like taking the whole of humanity.’
His mother Lyn (pictured with Anthony), cites the stolen generation as a major reason for Mundine feeling the need to speak his mind
His mum, Lyn, told the Telegraph that her history, as a member of the Stolen generation along with Mundine’s grandmother, had caused him to feel the need to always say what he thinks.
‘It still upsets us that a generation was ripped from us, and knowing mum died with no identity, Lyn Moundine said.
‘It was when I told Anthony about his grandmother he became interested in the indigenous history.
‘And I’m really proud of that. It’s definitely one of the reasons he has been so outspoken.’
His slur on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! wasn’t the first time the 43-year-old boxer’s words have thrust him into the spotlight.
Following 9/11 and, again, citing his faith, Mundine said: ‘Americans got what they deserved.’
He said in February that paedophiles should be executed, saying: ‘Hang them suckers and let’s see if they have the balls to do it again.’
‘I’ve said some dumb stuff and I’ve apologised,’he told News Corp on Saturday.
‘As you grow older and wiser, you want to make amends for what you’ve done or said in the past.
‘I’m always going to be me but I’m a bit smarter now.’
He also said that he is toying with the idea of running for prime minister following Donald Trump’s success in the US.
With more than 42,000 followers on Twitter, Mundine’s words hold influence over a wide net of people, one of the reasons he’s expressed a desire to change his ways.
‘I realise I have a big voice and platform and I want to use it positively.’
Mundine (pictured) says he wants to use his platform for a positive cause from now on, and holds a wide audience of more than 42,000 Twitter followers