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SPORT Mundines see Romance of Ring Time in Paris By Danny Weidler The Beatles played there, his father fought there, and now Anthony Mundine has been offered a fight at the Palais des Sports in Paris for a guaranteed $US300,000 ($537,000). Tony Mundine fought and beat Emile Griffith in 1973 over 12 rounds at the packed venue on the way to a world title fight.Now "The Man" will take on an as yet unannounced French opponent. France boasts the WBA super-middleweight World Champion Bruno Girard and Mundine is keen to establish a name for himself in Paris. Tony Mundine is already held in high regard in the city. "It's a step I deserve to take and they are starting to talk about 'The Man' overseas," Mundine said. "I'm going to represent my people and our country on a world stage. I knew it was going to come. It's been my destiny. I've already been there mentally." Organisers want Mundine to fight on March 12, but he has a shot at the Australian title on February 19, against Marc Bargero. The Bargero fight could be Mundine's last bout in Australia. "I'd like to get the [Paris] fight put back to March 19 but in the old days they used to fight every two or three weeks," he said. Exactly who he would fight in France is unknown. "We'll take on the best fighter in Paris if that's what they have in mind," Tony said. "I'm confident that Anthony can beat anyone in Europe and he is just getting better every week." The contract for the fight arrived during the week and the Mundines are keen to take it up. For Tony, a return to Paris would bring back memories. "The French people have always been very good to me and going back there will be a very emotional experience," he said. "It makes me very proud as a father to think that my son will fight in the same place that I fought." Tony Mundine has cleared up any concerns about his son's hands, which were damaged during the nine-round defeat of Ian McLeod in Wollongong on December 11. "He has not trained since the last fight," Tony said. "His hands have been tender, but that is part of any fighter's life. He'll be OK. |