Warwick Capper's new career endeavour stuns AFL world as icon's return date locked in
Capper has revealed he wants to outdo Mike Tyson by fighting at 61.
AFL icon Warwick Capper has shocked the sporting world by declaring he will one-up boxing great Mike Tyson by taking a fight at age 61. The flamboyant Sydney Swans legend revealed he will take to the ring in May, an astonishing 33 years since he retired from football and more than 15 years on from the last time he stepped in the ring for an exhibition fight with NRL legend Wendell Sailor.
In Capper's one and only bout in 2009, he was stopped by Sailor in the third round. But the 61-year-old insists another fight will be good for both his mind and body as he announced his desire to box again alongside his trainer on Tuesday. "If Mike Tyson can do it at 58, Warwick Capper can smash heads at 61," Capper declared while standing in the ring at a Melbourne boxing gym.
"Good for your mental health, good for my body and good for the kids that train. Gets them off the couch and over to the gym." Capper's trainer and manager, former world champion kickboxer Atdhe Bunjaku, has urged anyone willing to throw down with the AFL legend to contact Prince Management, with May an ideal date to get into the ring.
Capper's boxing announcement stunned the AFL world but was also met with an overwhelming level of support. "Wow nice work making this happen," wrote one Instagram user. Another said: "Kappa v Jake Paul". While others suggested his nemesis Ricky Nixon would be an ideal opponent.
The controversial former AFL player-manager and Capper had a public dispute in 2023 when their plans to celebrate a birthday party together soured. Later, after Sam Newman and Nixon were involved in an altercation, Capper called out Nixon, wanting to settle their differences in the boxing ring.
"I'll have Sam Newman in my corner and we'll see who can't fight," Capper said at the time. "Red-face Nixon ripped off Sam and then criticises me... weak."
RELATED:
Harley Reid at centre of staggering claim amid contract uncertainty
Dean Cox inflicts brutal act on Swans players after GF thrashing
Richmond make call on handing out Dustin Martin's iconic number
Warwick Capper's had no shortage of post-AFL career changes
It should be no surprise that the man who made long blonde hair, tight shorts, high-flying marks and occasional pink boots famous in the 1980s has had a non-conventional AFL retirement. First rising to fame as a goal-scoring forward for the Swans and Brisbane Bears, Capper has since become somewhat of a pop culture icon.
His highly publicised and often bizarre undertakings have seen him remain in the public eye ever since and there is often much fanfare associated with him wherever he goes. Since Capper's AFL retirement in 1991 and away from his one fight with Sailor, he has tried his hand as being a DJ, modelling, sold a sex tape in 2009, tried to run against Pauline Hanson in the Queensland state election and most recently in November last year purchased a Melbourne brothel.
