Jeff Horn says he's happy for Anthony Mundine to remain in the dressing-rooms as the national anthem rings out but confirmed Advance Australia Fair would be played before the bout at Suncorp Stadium in late November.
As he did before his fight against fellow veteran Danny Green in January last year, Mundine has signalled his unhappiness with the anthem, a song he considers divisive, racist and not reflective of modern Australia.
Vanishing act: Anthony Mundine has gone to Florida for a month, leaving Jeff Horn less than impressed.Credit:AAP
In that fight, both fighters remained in their dressing-rooms while the anthem was played. But Horn wants to be in the ring for the moment in front of his home fans, even if it means Mundine's ring walk would see him arrive second, an honour usually reserved for a defending champion.
That issue might simply be remedied by Horn being the second man introduced when the official introductions take place for their catchweight encounter on November 30.
Horn said he understood and respected Mundine's stance but said being in the ring for the anthem was a must from his perspective. He said he would also like to see an indigenous component in the hope Mundine may join him in the middle of the stadium.
"I respect Mundine, I respect his culture. I’d be more than happy to have something for his culture there. But I had one of the proudest moments of my life at Suncorp Stadium when I fought Manny Pacquiao and I’d like to have that again," Horn said.
"I would stand and honour whatever Anthony wants there on the night."
But Horn was far less diplomatic when it came to Mundine's trip to America, with the former NRL star training in the Florida for a month before the fight, leaving Horn to do most of the local promotional work.
He said he would instruct his management to review the contract, which is a co-promotional deal that sees the purse split down the middle. To Horn, that means equal work on the promotional front, not just in the ring.
"It is mind games. He’s trying to get in my head and get me frustrated. He should come back and start doing some work. I’m keen to get the contract back out and have a look at it, see if we can get him to come back home, or reduce his cut and get him less money. I know that will frustrate him," Horn said.
"Mundine signed for the fight for November 30 and he’s taken off, it’s all coming to me at the moment. I had no idea this was happening. I was surprised … wasn’t this the whole point, for Mundine to stay here and promote the fight he’s in?
"He is stressed about the fight and doesn’t know who he can spar here that’s like me. But there are plenty of commitments, radio, TV, I’ve had Sunrise at my house early. It’s tiring.
"It’s a co-promotion. They’re taking 50 per cent of the cut. He’s meant to be taking half of the load. If he doesn’t, he shouldn’t get half of the cut."
Mundine would probably love to see Horn riled by his move and will no doubt continue to try and get in his head before – and during – the bout. It's up to Horn to put that aside and record the kind of clinical win most expect from the former WBO welterweight champion, who is 13 years Mundine's junior.
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