Terzievski beats Gallen in epic fight

Darren Walton |

Paul Gallen will take on Kris Terzievski for the Australian and Australasian heavyweight titles.
Paul Gallen will take on Kris Terzievski for the Australian and Australasian heavyweight titles.

Unheralded Kriz Terzievski is the new Australian heavyweight boxing champion after outlasting Paul Gallen in an epic 10-round battle in Newcastle.

Terzievski dominated for much of the encounter but had to survive an heroic ninth-round fightback from Gallen before gaining the judges’ decision on Wednesday night.

Gallen had been bidding to become the first cross-code athlete to claim the national heavyweight belt as well the Australasian heavyweight strap.

Instead the 40-year-old rugby league great turned pugilist will again ponder retirement after Terzievski was hailed the “King of the Castle”.

AAP