LOS ANGELES -- World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu on Wednesday spoke out angrily against countryman Anthony "The Man" Mundine's comments this week regarding the terrorist acts of Sept. 11. 

"What he said was wrong," Tszyu said at the Cicada restaurant press lunch to launch his Nov. 3 unification bout with Zab Judah. 

"This was not just a terrorist act against America but all human beings," said Tszyu. "What Anthony Mundine said was wrong, completely wrong.

"It is beyond understanding how he could say these things. This was a tragedy for all people of all nationalities. Nationalities mean nothing at all. 

"Look at us sitting here in this group. How many different nationalities are sitting right here and we're talking and we're not having any problems."

Tszyu's manager Vlad Wharton also spoke out against Mundine's statement that America brought the acts of terrorism upon itself. Though the fighter issued a written statement retracting and apologizing for his original comments, Wharton feels the damage has been done.

"Australia has just sent 1,500 troops to the front lines of Afghanistan," he said. "Most Americans probably don't even realize that but we are right there in the trenches with the U.S. so I can guarantee that his views are not shared by all other Australians.  

"He really ought to be showing more consideration for our nation at a time like this."

Tszyu, particularly feels for his adopted country of Australia because he was still living in his native Russia when that country went to war against Afghanistan.

"I hoped never have to see another war," he said. "Any war is wrong. Anything against human life is wrong. I would like to see the day when the world's problems can be solved other than by going to war, but right now that's what we have. A war."

Wharton was in New York on Sept. 11 and missed the two jet crashes "by minutes," he said. "I arrived in New York, we saw the burning towers and the Holiday Inn at the airport where I was staying was evacuated because of a bomb threat.

"My wife was calling me saying 'Get out of there!' but we were stuck in New York for five days.

"I went straight from there to Uzbekistan for a boxing match and it's interesting that not one of the people I met there, who are all born Muslim, ever expressed the sentiments that Mundine, who is a new-age Muslim has voiced." 

Even Mundine's father, legendary Australian boxer Tony Mundine (who still holds the country's record for 66 knockout wins in a 96 bout career) has joined the fray since his son's disastrous comments live on national TV on Monday. 

Tony Mundine remains a revered sportsman in a career which boasted Australian crowns at 160, 170 and 190 pounds, Commonwealth middleweight and light heavyweight championships, Australasian and Pacific championships. 

He beat Emile Griffith, Denny Moyer and Antonio Aguilar. Aguilar beat Carlos Monzon, then Monzon in turned knocked out Mundine in 1973 in Buenos Aires. 

"My son has a bloody big mouth," Mundine said. "He has had a terrific career which he has quite possibly ruined by saying the things he did.  

"He apologized but he will be forever associated with saying these things. He should never have said them and I am furious he would even think this way. I have told him so, too." 

Anthony Mundine, who trains with his father, has not found much support since going on the Ray Martin Show -- a popular daytime talk show -- after destroying Guy Waters in a local bout. 

During the on-air talk, he revealed his views that America brought the acts of terrorism upon itself and that Australia should not be sending troops into battle with the U.S. 

"It's not our problem," he said. "It has nothing to do with us." 

Twenty four hours later, Mundine found he had a huge PR problem on his hands and faced the possible loss of a world title shot against International Boxing Federation super middleweight champion Sven Ottke on Dec. 1 in Germany. 

Despite rumors that the IBF would pull Mundine out of the bout, the organization's championship chairman Joe Dwyer said the fight will go ahead as scheduled. 

"I haven't actually heard what Anthony said on TV but it's all I've heard about for two days," Dwyer told MaxBoxing.com. "I'm even hearing it in my sleep.

"I despise what he said, and I totally disagree with him, I prefer to judge a man not by what he says, or by his political beliefs, but by his prowess in the ring. Unfortunately, we do have a precedence for this type of thing in boxing. 

"We had Bernard Hopkins desecrating the Puerto Rican flag, we've had Mike Tyson and the things he has said over the years." 

For Dwyer, Mundine's comments personally hit a little close to home because his son Joe was in the World Trade Center's Tower Four when Tower Two collapsed on it.  

"Thank God, he was safe, but all I can tell you is, Anthony Mundine is not going to endear himself to anybody who was touched by this incident," Dwyer said. 

Yesterday, stung by the world-wide criticism he has received, Mundine issued, in part, the following statement:  

"I sincerely apologize to any person who may have been offended, who may have read or heard my comments. I condemn killings on any side and all acts terrorism. I am against any form or any shape of violence or killing. 

"I know people who were in New York on Sept. 11 and my heart and soul goes out to those families who lost loved ones. I've experienced the grief of losing people close to myself and I know how it feels. In that situation the grief and sorrow would be unbearable. 

"People who know me well, know that I am a peaceful man. I fight for injustices, I fight for my people and I fight for the true meaning of life. 

"War is not the answer. There is going to be more killing, there is going to be more grief and there is going to be more sorrow around the world. For humanity as one, that isn't good. I'm for what benefits humanity."