Anthony Mundine to confirm end of his champion sporting career after knockout loss

One of the most successful - and controversial - careers in Australian sport will officially come to an end next week when Anthony Mundine formally announces there will be no more comebacks.

The 45-year-old Mundine made the decision in the wake of his 129-second loss to Michael Zerafa in Bendigo on Saturday night.

Celebrity agent Max Markson is now planning a huge send-off for Mundine at a venue in Sydney's Circular Quay next Wednesday.

The event is expected to be attended by many sporting, celebrity, media and entertainment personalities.

Mundine was a champion rugby league player at St George in the 1990s before shocking the sports world by turning his hand to boxing in 2000.

Trained by his father Tony, a former boxing great himself, he embarked on a wonderful career that saw him win world titles in the WBA super-middleweight, IBO middleweight and WBA super-welterweight ranks.

Throughout his career, he was a controversial figure who spoke his mind and he has often been described as "the most polarising athlete in Australian sports history".

He fought for Aboriginal rights before it became trendy and talked himself up deluxe - two factors that earned him many enemies.

But there can be no doubting his skills or showmanship and he will be remembered as one of Australia's all-time sporting greats.