Anthony Mundine was in vintage form ahead of tonight's boxing world title defence in Sydney, arriving at yesterday's weigh-in in his jet black Hummer, brandishing a fistful of dollars before declaring he's "not about the money".
Mundine, 32, will make his comeback against Argentine Jose Alberto Clavero tonight,the 15th-ranked super-middleweight challenger whose recent record makes for poor reading - four losses, a draw and two wins from his past seven fights.
On paper the World Boxing Association showdown is a gross mismatch, although that's no great surprise as Mundine will be defending his crown for the first time since a serious eye infection jeopardised his career.
Mundine admits he knows little about Clavero, and bookmakers have given the Argentine no hope.
While Mundine battled to return to the ring amid calls from his family and management to have a career-ending cornea transplant, it was evident from the outset he had lost little of his bravado and desire to make big statements.
Having emerged wearing shorts, T-shirt and baseball cap, Mundine then produced an enormous wad of crisp, new hundred dollar notes in an apparent message about Aboriginals' ability to make money.
"They're saying I'm getting punch drunk. What they really can't stand is this success," he said, fanning his face with around A$15,000 in cash.
"A black Aboriginal man making money. It's a hot day, sometimes I need two of these. I'm not really about the money, I'm not about the flash. We can make money. I'm talking about my people. My Aboriginal people."
Despite going almost six months without a fight, Mundine remained in the headlines, criticising Cathy Freeman for selling out.
