Gallen rips ‘disrespectful’ NRL giant after announcing comeback fight
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Paul Gallen will come out of boxing retirement to fight former NRL giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona later this year.
The premiership-winning former Sharks captain will throw down with the 200-centimetre Kiwi power puncher on Friday, November 6 in Sydney.
Paul Gallen celebrates winning against Sonny Bill Williams. Getty
The news, which broke on Nine’s Today on Tuesday morning, comes one month after Gallen ripped into Asofa-Solomona and No Limit Boxing for leaking details of the fight negotiations, saying the promoters had yet to come to the table with the right price tag.
It’s believed Gallen wasn’t willing to take another fight for less than $1 million guaranteed, although he refused to confirm that figure when speaking to nine.com.au.
The NRL great turned Nine TV pundit accused No Limit of wanting him back so he could punch Asofa-Solomona out of his three-year deal with the company.
“I’ll tell you why they want me to come back. They want me to come back and beat him because they know he’s shit,” Gallen said last month.
Speaking to Today on Tuesday, Gallen took aim at Asofa-Solomona and claimed he did the former Storm wrecking ball a favour late last year, only to then be used to bolster his fledgling fight profile.
“Few different emotions in this - bit nervous, looking forward to the challenge, but a little bit disappointed in Nelson and a few things that happened late last year,” Gallen said.
“I saw Nelson at the Pacific final between New Zealand and Samoa, I told him No Limit had asked me to fight over in Las Vegas, and I told him I wouldn’t be taking the fight and that he should do it.
“I actually rang No Limit for him, did my best for Nelson... and my name hasn’t stopped coming out of his mouth since.
“I’m a little disappointed in that, I did everything I could to help him start his boxing career. I’m not taking credit for his career, but I did go into bat for him.
“For him to be calling me out now feels a bit disrespectful. I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“There are people close to me telling me not to do it, but I’ve been competing since I was five years old. It’s just what I do, it’s what I’m used to. No one has been able to stop me yet, and I don’t think this bloke is going to be able to.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (right) hitting Jeremy Latimore. No Limit Boxing
“I did help him get started... and the lack of respect he’s showing me for doing that, I think there’s no honour in what he’s done.
“You’ve asked for me to come out of retirement, called me out. You’re going to get the old bull now and the horns. I’m going to smash your face in.”
Asofa-Solomona also appeared on Today, from a different location, and sheepishly tried to deny Gallen’s claim about helping him get a foot in the door with Australia’s leading promoters.
“Gallen is telling porkies (lies), he’s done absolutely nothing for my boxing career,” he said.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity, but he should be grateful that I’m giving him a nice little payday to send him away before his pension.”
Gallen, 45, has already carved out an impressive boxing career.
He holds a 16-2-1 record in the ring, with his only losses coming against rising Aussie heavyweight star Justis Huni and to Kris Terzievski.
He came out of retirement to fight Sonny Billy Williams in July last year, and won that on the scorecards.
Asofa-Solomona surprised the NRL by suddenly quitting his Melbourne Storm contract last year to take up a boxing contract with No Limit.
He has had three fights to date and won all by knockout, but against questionable opponents in fellow former league players Jeremy Latimore, Jarrod Wallace, and George Burgess – none of whom have done anything notable in the ring.
Gallen presents a different class of fighter, although he is considerably older and smaller than the hulking Kiwi, and has only had one professional sporting assignment in the last four years.
