‘To finish him’: why Gallen’s returning to fight Nelson
Darren Walton |
Paul Gallen often says money talks and now another mega pay day has lured the cross-code warrior out of retirement once more to fight fellow NRL premiership winner Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Certain to be billed as a blockbuster, Gallen and Asofa-Solomona will square off in Sydney on November 6 after No Limit Boxing finally threw enough cash at Cronulla’s one and only premiership-winning captain to return to the ring.
The 45-year-old Gallen reportedly turned down a million-dollar offer to fight Asofa-Solomona before seemingly answering No Limit’s SOS call as the promoters struggle to find match-ups for the two-metre-tall behemoth.
As well as being 15 years older than Asofa-Solomona, Gallen will be conceding 20cm in height to the “Big Nasty”.
But after taking down the much taller Sonny Bill Williams, a one-time WBA heavyweight world champion, in his most recent fight in July last year, the former NSW State of Origin series-winning skipper does not fear Asofa-Solomona one iota.
In fact, Gallen – who has already banked some $25 million from 16 wins as No Limit’s long-time poster boy – thinks the ex-Melbourne Storm enforcer is a “shit” boxer who has no future in the sport.
Asofa-Solomona has a nine-fight, multi-year-deal with No Limit and proved a class above in his first three professional bouts against fellow ex-NRL forwards Jeremy Latimore, Jarrod Wallace and George Burgess.
“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 told nine.com.au last month.
“They want me to come back and finish this whole shemozzle.
“All due respect to Nelson … No Limit have realised two things. Firstly, he can’t fight, he’s not a good boxer. He’s dangerous. Don’t get me wrong, he’s very dangerous. He can punch.
“But as far as boxing goes, he’s absolutely no chance of going anywhere, and they (No Limit) know that. That’s why they want me to come back and beat him and finish him.”
AAP