EMERGENCY negotiations to save the Anthony Mundine-Shane Mosley fight fell apart inside hotel room 1121 at Star Casino at around 9pm on Monday night.

Mundine’s business manager Ben Robinson was on his way to meet the boxer at his city hotel when the call came from a distressed promoter Vlad Warton at 8pm: “I need to see you urgently”.

The pair met 45 minutes later in Warton’s hotel room where the promoter revealed the American boxing legend was set to flee the country.

The Mundine camp had heard all the talk of poor ticket sales and slow Main Event sales but nothing, until this moment, to suggest the fight wouldn’t go ahead.

Warton broke the news that a last ditch bid to get a $500,000 guarantee to Mosley from Main Event had also been rejected by Golden Boy promotions in the U.S.

The fight was off unless the $650,000 could be raised over night.

media_camera Blake Ferguson, Khoder Nasser, Anthony Mundine and Phil Rothfield chat.

And so, the greatest escape since Marie Jose-Perec absconded before her 400m Olympic showdown with Cathy Freeman in 2000 was all but complete.

TELLING MUNDINE

Mundine had been staying in a Meriton apartment at World Square since the weekend with Blake Ferguson and his minders.

Robinson left the casino and headed straight to World Square to break the news to Mundine.

“Choc couldn’t believe it,” Robinson said, “All this time, all this work, all this preparation … all for nothing.

“You could imagine how he felt. We were both really stressed out so we headed downstairs to the steam room to think about what we should do.”

Early yesterday the Mundine camp was still desperately trying to save the fight.

The boxer had called his former manager Khoder Nasser in with an emergency plan to take the bout over under the banner of his own company Boxa Promotions.

It’s understood Nasser’s brother was sent to the airport to try to persuade Mosley to stay in the country while they urgently raised the funds.

Mundine’s mates Sonny Bill Williams and Quade Cooper were prepared to throw in money.

media_camera Anthony Mundine at his dad's gym after Shane Mosley left the country before their scheduled fight. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“We could have made it happen but it was too late,” Mundine said, “he was gone.”

THE ANGER

I spoke to Mundine at 9am yesterday.

It was obvious that this was no last minute publicity stunt to boost dawdling ticket sales, as many had suspected.

He was furious. “It’s a classic case of a sooky American,” he said, “I can’t believe this has happened. I’ve been through hell to prepare for this.”

Four hours later he’d calmed down by the time he had arrived at his press conference at the Redfern gym.

“I went through a little bit of a depression, I’ve been in a depressed state the last few hours,” he said.

“It’s the worst setback I’ve ever had. I should have promoted the fight myself.

“I’ve promoted 45 of my 49 fights and there has never been an issue like this.

“I’m also shattered for the fans. A lot of people wanted to see me in the ring against this guy and a lot of people had already paid for their ticket.”

JEFF FENECH

All up, Australia’s greatest boxer Jeff Fenech has blown $460,000 on the event.

He not only paid the $350,000 upfront to Mosley but provided his credit cards for $30,000 worth of airfares and another $10,000 in hotel accommodation.

He was even paying for Warton’s room at Star Casino.

He gave Mosley’s camp another $20,000 for meals and expenses while they were in Sydney.

media_camera Anthony Mundine after Shane Mosley left the country before their scheduled fight. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“What can I do,” Fenech said, ”I’m not going to neck myself. Life goes on. If I can get some of it back, well and good.”

THE DAD

Trainer and father Tony Mundine was angrier than his son.

“Why couldn’t Mosley have stayed,” he said, “He got $300,000 upfront.

“It’s like when you hire a tradesman. You give them a deposit then pay up when the job’s done.

“That the way you do business.

“I’m really upset for Anthony because he’s been through hell to prepare for this.

“He was focused and ready for a great performance. But he’s strong and he’ll be ready next time.”

BLAKE FERGUSON

The former State of Origin star was by Mundine’s side as he has been at all the pre-fight press conferences, but his time in the background away from the cameras.

Ferguson was to make his debut on the undercard.

“It’s much more upsetting for Choc than me,” he said, “it meant everything to him.

“I’ve been with Choc for two weeks 24/7. This was going to be the biggest night of his career.

“I’ll keep training with him and hopefully get a start on his next undercard.”

Manly’s Melbourne-bound front-rower big George Rose was there too to offer his support to the Mundine camp.

media_camera Anthony Mundine with the media at his dad's gym after Shane Mosley left the country before their scheduled fight. Picture: Gregg Porteous

STRANDED FANS

Before the press conference, waiting outside the gym, we meet four of Mundine’s biggest fans.

Luke Lovell, Michael Dickie, Justin Martinez and Tim Ellis had flown in from Adelaide, Melbourne and all the way from California just for the fight.

Fight tickets, airfares and accommodation had set them back about $2500 each. They didn’t care and were more worried about Mundine.

“Choc’s a legend, make sure you look after him” Ellis said, “He’s just a freak athlete and doesn’t deserve this.

“We’ll be back for his next fight, don’t worry about that.”

MEETING KHODER

The press conference complete, it’s time to go.

As we’re leaving, Mundine insists your columnist must meet his man Khoder Nasser to end a bitter two-decade feud.

We’ve been as far apart as, well …. me and Phillip Ronald Gould.

We shake hands, a little uncomfortably, and just laugh.

I break the ice by lightheartedly commenting on the flash looking jacket he is wearing.

He shows off the label and how it’s an expensive number from Italy.

We talk briefly about the fight falling over and the possibility of getting Sonny Bill’s financial support to get Mosley back to Sydney.

“It’s just a brotherly thing,” Nasser said, “He (SBW) wouldn’t have had a problem. (to save this fight) A few of our friends would have dug deep.

“We will do all we can to try to bring this promotion back to life.”

Originally published as Breakdown of Choc's boxing fiasco