'I want to thank the Australian public': Anthony Mundine farewells boxing

It seemed a large majority got what they wanted but Anthony Mundine has thanked the Australian public after being sent into retirement with a devastating 96-second knockout defeat.

Jeff Horn ended the former NRL star’s 18-year professional boxing career inside two minutes at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

After leaving fans waiting an hour past the scheduled start of the fight, Horn wasted no time once the bell rang.

The 30-year-old, in his first fight since losing his WBO welterweight title to Terence Crawford, stung Mundine early with a big right hand to the body.

FIGHT STORY: Horn ends Mundine’s career in Brisbane

From that moment, the 43-year-old looked in trouble as Horn came at his older rival.

A few more hits were then followed by a left hook that slipped over Mundine’s defence and caught him flush on the jaw.

Mundine fell and the fight was over, a win in 96 seconds by knockout.

“I’ve had a great career. Jeff proved tonight he was the better man. That’s the next generation, I’ll pass it on to him,” he said after composing himself.

“All the smack talk, all the s*** I talk, you have to build the fight. We’re in the entertainment business. But I’m all good. That’s boxing. You just get caught sometimes.”

As he did before his previous big fights, Mundine drew criticism for speaking out on a number of topics – from the national anthem to Horn’s win over Manny Pacquiao and more.

Fans filled the comment sections and social media with a familiar refrain each time: ‘Please knock him out, Jeff.’

While he was sent out in brutal fashion, Mundine didn’t run his mouth.

“I want to thank the Australian public,” he said.

“You guys play a big role in supporting me and getting behind me – and whether you like me, you don’t like me, you were interested.

“I played footy in a big way and boxing but my time’s up and good luck to Jeffrey and hopefully he can go on and do good things and bounce back from the Crawford (loss).”

The win was the comprehensive one Horn knew he had to deliver to respond to his critics after that humbling loss to Crawford in Las Vegas.

Confident in his performance at the 71kg catchweight, Horn said he now had to work out if his future lies at welterweight or explore options in heavier divisions.

“I’m not really sure what the next move will be,” Horn said.

“I guess we’ve got to sit down and talk about that still.”

with AAP