Cash-strapped Mundine to hit up ‘brother’ Sonny Bill for $1m (Featured)

Published: 8:56AM Wednesday October 23, 2013 Source: ONE Sport

• From left: Tony Mundine, Sonny Bill Williams and Anthony Mundine – Source: Photosport

Anthony Mundine will ask Sonny Bill Williams to repay a favour from five years ago and give him A$ 1 million so that Mundine can fight American ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley in a boxing match.

Moseley walked out on the pairs’ scheduled super middleweight bout after promoters failed to produce a guranteed A$ 650,000 pre-fight payment.

Mundine told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph he’d definitely be hitting up “brother” Sonny Bill Williams for the cash.

“I’ll check out Sonny for sure,” Mundine said

“We’re brothers. He’ll be there for me like I was there for him.”

In 2008, Mundine gave Williams A$ 750,000 from his personal account to help extract the cross-code star from his five-year Bulldogs NRL deal.

The cash allowed Williams to flee to Toulon and learn the nuances of rugby from All Black great Tana Umaga, before returning to New Zealand where he won the ITM Cup with Canterbury, the Super 15 with the Chiefs and the Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks.

He returned to the NRL with the Roosters this year, with his reputation and integrity enhanced.

Mundine was confident Williams would come to the party and help him out.

“We’ll talk to Mosley’s camp and see what they want, whether it’s a bank guarantee, cash, a cheque or whatever.

“We’ll get the money and we’ll deliver the fight.”

Mundine’s manager Khoder Nasser, who also managers Williams, confirmed the Kiwis league star would have no problem fronting with the A$ 1 million.

“It’s just a brotherly thing,” Nasser said.

“He (SBW) wouldn’t have had a problem. A few of our friends would have dug deep.”

The Telegraph also reported there is discussion around Williams fighting on the undercard, despite Williams’ publicly putting his boxing career on hold after announcing his intention to pursue All Blacks World Cup and Olympic honours following his second season at the Roosters next year.