The Politics of Anthony Mundine
By Adeyinka Makinde
25.10
- The recent comments attributed to Tony Mundine bring
to mind the troubling aspects of mixing sports with
social, political or religious themes. The squared
ring, the boxers home and bastion of individual effort,
has ironically served as a pulpit for asserting and
promoting wider communal efforts aimed at achieving
goals as disparate as racial justice and ideological
advantage. As modern day warriors, often looked up
to by many, and living in the age of the media 'sound
bite', a boxer wishing to be 'heard' will have no
problems utilising the organs of mass communication
to get his point of view across. But, those who choose
to amplify strident viewpoints will need to brace
themselves for equally strident responses and for
consequences which may act to the detriment of their
career's.
There are those who would claim that
a time existed when the boundaries of boxing and extraneous
phenomena like politics or religion never collided.
That quite simply is not true. Mendoza the Jew and
Jack Johnson the so-called Negro by virtue of their
deed's in the ring represented a state of affairs
some societies found to be threatening and even offensive.
We have of course evolved from that
sort of thing, much to the extent that there are no
riots in his homeland when Mundine, an aboriginal
Australian, trounces a member of the white race or
when his Muslim self defeats a Christian foe. He is
of course a member of Australia's original dwellers,
the Abo, for long a despised and rejected people.
A people scorned and maltreated by their White and
Christian conquerors to such an appalling extent that
a member of the younger generation like Mudine felt
compelled to choose an alternative faith to 'White
Christianity' which he apparently found in the 'black/brown
' hued Islamic faith.
It is thus no surprise to hear that
the young Muhammad Ali, who converted to a militant
racial sect of Islam in 1960's America, was his direct
influence. Ali, as we all know moved on but for year's
made many outburst's that deeply offended large sections
of American society. For comments such as "I
ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong" (deemed
as unpatriotic) and other's interpreted as anti-White,
his stock fell. So low did his box office earning
power descend, that he was forced to leave his homeland
and ply his trade abroad.
Tony Mundine for all we know may have
some deep seated views on Islamic philosophy or an
informed angle on why the policies of the United States
government may have stirred up hatred in foreign lands.
But whatever his scope of knowledge, he failed to
convey it in those comments. Instead, he has managed
to sound callous and mean spirited; as though gloating
over great pain and suffering.
Boxing, Mudine will not need reminding
is a business and businesses do not perpetuate what
they cannot sell. The greatest monetary rewards on
offer to fighters are to be found in the United States.
If Mundine was thinking of maximising his earning
potential via that route, he has dealt himself a rather
hefty, possibly deadly blow. Yet, the boxing business,
well known for it's unscrupulousness and lack of principles
may actually provide Mundine with a saving hand. Should
he vanquish Sven Ottke in December, it is not at all
difficult to foresee some American promoter setting
up a showdown bout with some American challenger whose
'patriotic duty' would be to defeat that 'provocative
foreigner.'
Mundine it has been reported has since
apologised, claiming that his words were 'taken out
of context.' For many that may be too little, too
late. Nevertheless, while much opprobrium will be
vented his way for some time to come and many will
continue to treat his comments as being unforgivable,
Mundine will hopefully apply a more thoughtful and
tactful approach in the future.
It is not the duty of this writer
to issue declamations of Tony Mundine and his view
points no matter how repugnant others see it. Leave
it to his conscience. Besides, his fate will be determined
by the willingness of promoter's, boxing fans and
media outlets to support events in which his name
is involved.
The irony of course is that Tony Mundine,
the Muslim Aboriginal, would make a far greater 'statement'
on behalf of his religion and of his ethnicity by
concentrating on maximising his prodigious talents
and letting his fist's and not his mouth to do the
talking.
Ade Makinde may be reached at adeyinkamakinde@aol.com
/ Dick
Tiger Web Site
MUNDINE DROPPED INDEFINITELY FROM
WBC RATINGS
From WBC President Jose Sulaiman:
"The World Boxing Council read with stupefaction
the statements made recently by Australian boxer Anthony
Mundine justifying the terrorist attacks and the consequent
deaths of so many innocent victims that occurred on
September 11 in New York.
"Mundine is currently rated in
the super middleweight division and, therefore, the
WBC announces that he will be sanctioned by dropping
him indefinitely from the WBC ratings, since such
statements are unbelievable and intolerable and seriously
hurt world society and boxing. THE WBC WILL NOT TOLERATE
THE UTILIZATION OF A POSITION IN BOXING TO MAKE SUCH
ABSURD AND DENIGRATING PUBLIC STATEMENTS.
"Article V.2 of the WBC Constitution
expressly states that, 'The WBC shall have the right
to suspend for a definite or indefinite period of
time or, depending upon the circumstances, expel,
impose a fine or otherwise penalize any member of
any committee or subcommittee of the WBC, any boxer,
promoter, matchmaker, manager or any other person
or organization participating in the WBC activities,
if such person or organization acts in any other manner
which tends to bring disrepute upon the WBC, its officers
or the sport of boxing.'
"The World Boxing Council ratifies
its position in absolute solidarity with the United
States and the families from 80 countries who suffered
the vicious attacks by criminals that blemished the
principles of peace in the world."
