he worst thing about being an overly cocky cunt in a fight is that you risk looking like a total booby if you can’t back it up. Fortunately Aboriginal Muslim Anthony Mundine has managed to follow up most of his self-righteous bravado with a slew of wins, to the extent that he is now the super middle weight boxing champion of the world.
None of this was as surprising to us however as the news that he’s about to release a rap album called Dreams. The first single is all about him growing up tough in Redfern and it’s actually really catchy. At the end of the video you see him burning a Union Jack and a photo of John Howard, which has garnered him more attention than the most ambitious PR agency in the world could have hoped for.
Vice: What made you decide to make an album?
Anthony: I’ve always dabbled in rap and I thought this would be a good opportunity to show the people who I am as far as my thoughts, and as a man. It’s kind of a rags to riches story about the underdog coming out on top. My message is that no matter what obstacles or adversities you face you can perservere and become successful. You can become something they don’t want you to be—like articulate, successful, charismatic and confident. It’s all positive messages. The whole album is about my life and my thought patterns. I get a lot of misconception and media portray me in a bad light so this is my lyrics and my words they can’t be taken out of context.
How was it growing up as an aboriginal kid in Redfern with a fighter for a father?
I was exposed to a lot of stuff. My dad wasn’t there for me really. He was if I really needed him but my mum was the backbone. Redfern has a bad reputation because of the media. The problems that they talk about aren’t our problems. Drugs and alcohol aren’t a part of aboriginal culture—they are the white man’s things that have been forced upon us because of our lack of mentality. This is all in my lyrics. It’s our mindset now. The government has indoctrinated our people into believing that we’re no good, that we’re criminals and worthless. I want to show them that we can be the best of the best. That we can be successful. Don’t let the infrastructure hold us back. Aboriginal people don’t even know who they are anymore. We’re not even educated.
So why are you different? How have you done so much?
Ever since I was four years old, I had dreams of playing football for Australia and of becoming a boxing world champion and I’ve done both. I didn’t play for too long for Australia because the politics kept me out.
But you could have?
Of course. I was the highest paid player. I was the best. Money talks. They wouldn’t pick me because of my off-field characteristics, which is bull crap. On the field I destroyed them all. The best of the best. We’re talking over five years too. No one ever defeated me and I outplayed them on every occasion. They were racist. They didn’t want a guy that talks the way I do playing for their country.
Your introduction to boxing was really quick. It seemed like you went straight into professional boxing.
I had to because I was a late starter. 25 years old. My first fight was with a guy who had already had 20 fights. I had never had a fight before but even so I’ve never had respect until right now. I had to beat the guys they thought I could never beat—Danny Green and Sam Soliman—to win the respect.
Where to from now then?
The world. I’ll take various titles and weight divisions and become one of the best fighters pound for pound in the world.
BRENDA WALSH
TO BE CONTINUED:
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