Forget the “Rumble in the Jungle”, Anthony Mundine wants a “Blue at Uluru” with Danny Green. Ten years after Mundine beat Green in a unanimous points decision in Sydney, the pair continue to squabble over the terms of a rich rematch – reportedly valued at $8m – but now a new venue has been put on the table.
“I would like [the fight] to be at Uluru,” Mundine told Triple M on Friday. “We’ll talk to the traditional owners and we’ll see what we can do.”
It was understood the fighters were initially hoping to stage the big-money bout in Melbourne in August. But Mundine’s latest wish throws an Australian landmark into the promotional mix – a sacred Aboriginal site that would carry special significance for the 40-year-old Indigenous Australian.
However, probably the most pertinent issue to be resolved for the bout to go ahead is agreement on what weight they will step into the ring at. Mundine is prepared to fight significantly lighter than Green, who he wants to drop to 83kg but only if he gets a 60-40 share of the purse. “If I’m going to give up 13kg … then give me something. Give me some motivation to do it,” Mundine said. “It’s never been done in boxing history, someone from super welterweight, jump all the way over light heavyweight to catch weight.”
A catch weight describes a weight limit for a fight that does not fall in line with the traditional limits for weight classes. Regardless of the jump-in weight, Mundine typically backed himself to win even if Green entered the ring over 10kg heavier. “I’m ready to go man. I told ya. 60-40, I will whip his arse. I will knock his arse out, for real,” Mundine said.
Mundine lost his most recent fight to American Charles Hatley, while Green pulled out of his most recent fight (in November 2015) against Konni Konrad with a back injury. During the radio interview, Mundine also talked up a possible return to the NRL.
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