[citation needed] In 1994, Mundine represented the Junior Kangaroos, the team that beat Great Britain's under-19s in the curtain-raiser to the Australia v. France Test at Parramatta Stadium.

That year, he was the victim of racial vilification when Rugby League player Barry Ward called Mundine a "black c- - - -".

At the end of that season Mundine announced that he was signing with the Brisbane Broncos in the Super League competition.

Mundine was selected to play for New South Wales in each of the three matches of the 1999 State of Origin series, scoring a try in Game I on debut.

[12] That year he also assisted St. George Illawarra's run to the Grand Final, with a hat-trick against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the major semi-final.

The following week the club lost to the Melbourne Storm in the 1999 NRL Grand Final during which and Mundine, playing at five-eighth knocked-on over the try line early in the second half when the score was 14-0 in favour of St. George Illawarra, which proved to be a major turning point in the match.

[14] Mundine left rugby league halfway through the 2000 season, after being inspired to go into boxing, when a friend, Abdi Osman, showed him a video of Muhammad Ali.

[citation needed] He later cited what he claimed was racism concerning rugby league as one of the reasons he quit to take up boxing.

Mundine would later make implications during a promotion for a boxing match that former chairman of selectors and respected Aboriginal figure Arthur Beetson may have been an "Uncle Tom" who went along with the alleged racism.

In September 2016, after stating on previous occasions he wanted to return to rugby league, Mundine claimed that St George chief executive Peter Doust had been in contact with him regarding his availability to play.

On 8 December 2017, Mundine again declared that he desired to return to rugby league and singled out St George as the club for which he wanted to play.

Only 10 professional bouts later Mundine fought for his first world title against long reigning IBF supermiddleweight champion Sven Ottke in January 2001.

Mundine went on to claim the vacant WBA Super Middleweight title with a unanimous points decision over Antwun Echols on 3 September 2003, in front of his home crowd at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

Mundine failed in his attempt to win the WBA super middleweight title after losing by decision to Mikkel Kessler on 6 August 2005 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

The bout was one of the most anticipated in Australian boxing history, and was thought to eclipse the attendance record of 37,000 when Jeff Fenech fought Azumah Nelson in their rematch in 1992.

Unlike the first fight, Mundine dominated the proceedings, knocking his opponent down once in the second round, and three times in the ninth, prompting a knockout ruling by the referee.

[27] The fight undercard also marked the debut of Mundine's close friend and league-turned-rugby player Sonny Bill Williams.

Mundine won by unanimous decision and as a result became the mandatory challenger for the full belt holder Austin Trout.

The fight ended after round 6 with Shane Mosley retiring due to back spasms, giving Mundine the victory via TKO.

On 9 April 2014 Mundine fought former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey in Newcastle and lost by unanimous decision.

[39] On 12 November 2014, Mundine fought then-undefeated European champion Sergey Rabchenko at Hisense Arena, Melbourne.

[45] Mundine appeared in the music video of Angry Anderson's 1990 hit song "Bound for Glory".

He then released his own debut single, "Platinum Ryder",[47] which also featured Nathan Merritt and Amos Roberts in the music video.

The film clip created controversy for the burning of the Union Jack and a photo of then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard.

In 2009 Mundine also appeared alongside Shannon Noll on the Street Warriors' debut album, Unstoppable Force.

This DVD also featured Russell Crowe, Danielle Spencer, Neil Perry, Stan Grant and Johanna Griggs.

[62] Offering some insight into his tendency to make controversial comments in the media, Mundine stated, "If you want to toe the line, if you want to be some corporate guy and say the right things, do the right things, you might be okay in the media's eye, but it won't be real for me".

The point I was trying to get across was that it was in a war state of mind, and there is always going to be tit for tat, so why put yourself in a situation where you can endanger people.

[73] In March 2024, Mundine became involved in a war of words with South Sydney player Latrell Mitchell in relation to a racism controversy in the NRL.

Mundine then responded to Mitchell saying “You’ve been underperforming far too long & been lucky to have Cody by your side to hold your hand, Earn the right to talk before you start trying to disrespect the OG of the game.