‘Father time is undefeated’: Gallen speaks after sickening knockout
Paul Gallen has retired from boxing multiple times already, but this time is for real.
After suffering a vicious knockout loss against Nelson Asofa-Solomona on Friday night, the 45-year-old has admitted “Father Time is undefeated”, confirming his professional boxing and sporting career was officially done and dusted.
Paul Gallen after being knocked out. Getty Images
Gallen was wobbled by a right hand and then dropped, left unconscious by a series of uppercuts from Asofa-Solomona in their anticipated heavyweight clash.
The final shot, when Gallen was already down and out, was a sickening moment and a brutal end to the NRL legend’s time inside the squared circle.
The former Sharks captain was spotted in his dressing room talking to his family after the loss, but was taken to hospital late Friday night.
Gallen thanked promoters No Limit for looking after his wellbeing, but said it was time to hang up the gloves once and for all.
“Father Time is undefeated and that’s it for me,” he said via Instagram.
“Thanks to No Limit for sending me to hospital and making sure I’m OK, everything is fine, no issues. I’m home now, safe and sound, that’s the most important thing – we get to home to our families safe and sound.
“Life goes on, it’s one of those games. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Heavyweight division, things can change in a split second and big NAS changed it in a split second. Well done mate, no issues with it, he did a great job.
“I’m fine, fit and healthy and life goes on. Thanks to everyone in boxing, I’ve had a wonderful time in boxing over the past 10-15 years.
“Everyone I’ve sparred, everyone I’ve fought, everyone I’ve been involved with, thank you very much. Boxing has been wonderful to me and I really appreciate it.
“But that’s it and NAS was right about one thing, Father Time is undefeated and the first thing you lose is your punch resistance and I lost that.”
Gallen (16-3-1) enjoyed one of the most incredible crossover careers in Australian sporting history, going from an NRL star to a bona fide boxing attraction.
Two of his three losses came against some of the country’s best heavyweights in Justis Huni and Kris Terzievski, but his wins were far more memorable.
The retired front-rower defeated UFC cult hero Mark Hunt in 2020 and former heavyweight Lucas Browne in 2021, proving his credentials.
Gallen came out of his initial retirement to face Sonny Bill Williams last year after years of build-up, walking away with a controversial split decision win.
