Anthony Mundine vows to 'sail into the sunset' after split decision loss to John Wayne Parr
Anthony Mundine's boxing career finally appears over after the former WBA super-middleweight champion lost to John Wayne Parr in Brisbane.
Judges scored the fight 94-95, 96-93 & 95-93 in favour of the Muay Thai legend who was fighting in a boxing ring for the first time in 16 years.
Mundine was knocked down in the fourth round of the middleweight contest but survived a standing eight count before being docked a point in the eighth for hitting Parr in the back of the head.
Although he edged the final round, two of the judges gave the decision to Parr whose last fight was against Sakio Bika in 2003.
John Wayne-Parr celebrates winning against Anthony Mundine at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre Getty
The defeat takes Mundine's record to 48-10 and at 44 years of age, with four of those losses coming in his last five fights.
The former NRL star has been under pressure to walk away from a sport that saw him first enter the ring 19 years ago following a successful rugby league career. After the fight with Parr, Mundine said he would now "sail into the sunset".
"I've had a wonderful career. I thought I did enough to win but that's boxing. I'm going to sail into the sunset now," he said.
"I want to thank all the Australian public. Even if they didn't support me or didn't like my opinions, I always did my best."
John Wayne-Parr punched Anthony Mundine out of the ring at one stage in Brisbane at Getty
Parr was emotional when interviewed moments after being awarded victory over Mundine, breaking down in tears. Retirement now awaits him too following the bout.
"I can't thank Anthony enough for giving me this opportunity,'' Parr said.
"This is my last fight and I was determined to go out a winner.
John Wayne-Parr is emotional after defeating Anthony Mundine at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre Getty
"I've been doing this since I was 11 years old and to have so much support for this makes me so happy."
Parr revealed on social media that surgery for a hip replacement now awaits as he hangs up the gloves.
"Now I'm officially retired I can tell the world I need a hip replacement," he tweeted.
"So pretty much forced into retirement unfortunately. Thank you to everyone that's backed me over the years."
Mundine enjoyed several high points, included victories over American Antwun Echols to win the vacant super-middleweight title in 2003 before embarking on a bitter rivalry with Danny Green.
The pair faced off in a memorable event at the Sydney Football Stadium in front of 37,000 fans in what is regarded as the biggest fight on Australian soil.
John Wayne-Parr and Anthony Mundine during the bout Getty
Tributes flowed on social media for both retiring fighters Mundine and Parr following the fight in Brisbane.
