Tevita Pangai Junior announces first fight after NRL retirement, brother Jermaine joins card
Tevita Pangai Jr and his brother Jermaine Pangai have confirmed they'll join the Battle on the Reef fight card in Townsville later this year.
Pangai Jr sensationally dumped a $750,000 contract with the Canterbury Bulldogs to pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer.
The fight will be streamed live and exclusive on Stan Pay-Per-View at the Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre on October 7.
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"No, there's no regrets," said Pangai Jr when asked of his bold decision to ditch the NRL at a press conference announcing his first fight on Thursday.
"You've got to think pretty hard to walk away from $750,000.
"Nah, there's no regrets and I'm going to take my boxing seriously. "
Tevita Pangai Jr throws a punch in the heavyweight fight at Aware Super Theatre. Getty
Pangai Jr's opponent is set to be announced closer to the bout.
The 27-year-old admits he's got a tough assignment ahead.
Asked what excited Pangai Jr about the future fights, he replied: "Just that nothing is promised.
"You know, I come from a sport where talent has got this far. This sport, if you don't work hard, you're going to sleep on the canvas. So you've got to work hard. I ain't going to sleep in front of my family.
Watch all the action from 'Battle on the Reef' on October 7. Available to watch via pay-per-view live and exclusively on Stan
"I've learned that I love boxing. Especially my last one. I take it seriously," he added.
"When I started it, everyone that knows me and my family, they know I love my footy and I watch it a lot of footy.
"But when I started to lean over and was watching old-school fights and watch Tyson Fury and all the greats and all my time was going into boxing, that's when I knew that I had to make this decision."
