A LATE-NIGHT push from promoters has convinced Anthony Mundine to abandon a political protest in the ring before next week's IBF world title fight against Daniel Geale.
Mundine had considered using the fight's worldwide stage to protest against Australia's treatment of Aborigines by taking action during the singing of the national anthem.
While boxing insiders initially dismissed his plans as another Mundine publicity stunt, the fighter was deadly serious until a change of heart last night when he agreed to respect the traditional singing of Advance Australia Fair.
Mundine had talked about turning his back during the rendition or, alternatively, sitting down during the anthem.
Leading in to the January 30 fight, Mundine had baulked at the anthem being played at all but was told by co-promoter Garrie Francisco, who represents Geale through Grange Old School Boxing, that the anthem was unconditional.
"That won't happen, it's as simple as that," Francisco said.
Geale, who is also Aboriginal, is the IBF middleweight champion and confirmed yesterday he was aware of Mundine's plans, however he condemned his opponent.
"It's pretty low, I reckon," he said. "That will definitely go in the back of the mind. Whether I react or not in the ring when it's happening, who's to say. It's not a good thing to do."
Mundine last night declined to comment.
National anthems are traditionally played before international sporting contests as a sign of respect to the two teams, or individuals.
And yet next Wednesday's fight has significance beyond that. It will be the first time two Aborigines fight for a legitimate world title, 45 years after Lionel Rose became the first Aboriginal world champion in 1968.
Geale believes it should be a proud landmark in the nation's history. Mundine has chosen a more inflammatory route.
Why now is unclear, but Mundine insiders believe it is a follow-up to the comments he made when the fight was first announced in October, when he lit the fuse by questioning Geale's Aboriginality and joked about the genocide of Tasmanian Aborigines.
"I thought they wiped all the Aborigines from Tasmania out," he said at the press conference, before then turning on Geale. "I don't see him representing black people, or coloured people. I don't see him out in the communities doing what I do with people ... he got a white woman, white kids."
Francisco said Geale's patriotism was unchallenged.
"Daniel is a proud Australian. Anyone who doubts that only has to look at the flag he has trained under for the last 10 years."
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