‘Sad day in Australian sport’: tributes flow for trailblazing boxing great Tony Mundine

By: Douglas Smith with Australian Associated Press

30 August 2026 at 23:25

Fellow boxers, sporting figures, politicians and celebrities have paid tribute to the champion boxer and community leader, who died aged 75

Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images and names of Indigenous Australians who have died
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Tributes are pouring in for Indigenous Australia boxing great, Tony Mundine, who has died aged 75.

The Guardian understands that the Bundjalung man and father of former world champion boxer and NRL star Anthony Mundine had a heart attack on Sunday, and was in hospital surrounded by family when he passed.

‘Amazing’ Itauma urged not to give up by Hrgovic after stunning stoppage

The Guardian

By: Donald McRae

30 August 2026 at 13:44

Promoter Warren confirms Briton recovering in hospital
Croat accepts he lost first eight rounds before victory

Moses Itauma has been urged “not to give up” by Filip Hrgovic, the new IBF world heavyweight champion, who stopped the 21-year-old Briton with a dramatic and stunning turnaround in their title fight late on Saturday night at London’s O₂ Arena.

Itauma was taken to hospital in a precautionary measure after the fight and Frank Warren, his promoter, confirmed to the Guardian on Sunday morning that his young heavyweight was still under medical observation.

Filip Hrgovic stuns Britain’s Moses Itauma to claim IBF world heavyweight title

The Guardian

By: Donald McRae at the O2 Arena

30 August 2026 at 02:40

21-year-old Itauma stopped after ninth-round rally
34-year-old Hrgovic is first Croat to win such a title
Cameron outpoints Mayer to unify 154lb titles

Moses Itauma’s hopes of becoming the second-youngest world heavyweight champion in history lay in ruins after the extraordinarily tough and resilient Filip Hrgovic stopped him in the ninth round of their IBF title fight. Yet, until the latter stages of round eight, the sheer speed and dextrous power of the Briton had dominated the contest, with the Croat being dropped in the second and caught again and again by jolting combinations.

The fight changed course when Itauma’s stamina suddenly dipped and he began to weave in woozy fatigue as Hrgovic fought back with granite-like determination. Itauma could not withstand the dark storm rolling over him in the ninth and he sank back against the ropes as Hrgovic opened up with renewed conviction. Just as the referee stepped in to stop the fight, Ben Davison, Itauma’s trainer, also sent a white towel sailing sadly over the listing ropes to save his man from a knockout.