Paul Gallen denies interest in boxing comeback despite offer of clash with rugby league rival
Paul Gallen has rubbished a report he's set to come out of boxing retirement to fight NRL player Josh Aloiai.
A News Corp story on Monday claimed Gallen was being persuaded by Aussie promoters No Limit Boxing to step into the ring and headline a card in November.
But when contacted by Wide World of Sports, the former Sharks captain denied any interest in pulling on the gloves again and said he wouldn't be lured out of retirement.
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It is not the first time this year that No Limit and News Corp have speculated about a Gallen return to the ring.
The retired rugby league hardman had an 18-fight career for 15 wins including eight knockouts, plus one controversial draw in his fight with AFL great Barry Hall. He only lost twice, to rising Aussie heavyweight star Justis Huni and then to Kris Terzievski.
Paul Gallen. Getty
Gallen claimed he pocketed upwards of $25 million across his boxing career, which ended with consecutive wins over Justin Hodges in late 2022.
But two years on from his retirement, No Limit is still hoping to entice Gallen back to the spotlight.
Promotion chief Matt Rose says he reached out to Gallen over the weekend to gauge his interest, but that interest in non-existent according to the man himself.
Gallen was scheduled to fight Aloiai in 2021 but the bout was cancelled when the latter tested positive to COVID.
"We have approached Gal to make a comeback for one last hurrah in the ring. I rang Gal personally a couple of days ago and fighting Aloiai is the bout we have put to Gal. This fight would get the attention of the sporting public," Rose told The Daily Telegraph.
"If Gal is going to make a comeback, then we thought we'd get a fight with a bit of feeling and fighting Aloiai is a bout we hope to have (finalised) by the end of the year."
No Limit also tried to lure Gallen out of retirement in June and used former AFL hardman Hall as bait.
The pair never squared off again after their contentious draw.
Hall was knocked out by Curtis Scott in July, killing off any chance of a rematch with Gallen.
But a month before that even happened, Gallen took aim at No Limit and Hall for trying to lure him out of retirement to score an easy payday.
"It's not true, it's absolute garbage," he said on 2GB's Continuous Call Team in June.
"It's not true, I haven't had a discussion with anyone and it won't be happening. It would cost them lots and lots of money to get me out of retirement."
In an interview with WWOS in July, sporting great Anthony Mundine said No Limit was desperately trying to find a "cash cow" to fill the Gallen void.
Mundine said it would not be fellow former rugby league player Scott, despite his knockout of the ageing Hall in Wollongong.
No Limit's superstar boxer Tim Tszyu will fight this Sunday for the IBF world title against Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando.
