Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been accused of getting “cradled” into his new life as Australia’s crossover boxing star – with allegations his team is deliberately dodging a fight with 2017 Melbourne premiership teammate Curtis Scott.
The declaration comes as Scott has also branded a push to drag Paul Gallen from retirement as “embarrassing”, while also taking aim at Asofa-Solomona’s request to fight for an NRL Heavyweight strap to go on the line in his next fight.
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Only months after walking out on an $800,000-a-year NRL contract, Asofa-Solomona is now looking to continue his hyped sporting switch with an Easter Sunday showdown against Jarrod Wallace.
After earning a brutal KO against Jeremy Latimore in his professional debut, there is growing talk of the fighter dubbed ‘Big Nasty’ eventually coaxing Gallen out of retirement for one last heavyweight showdown.
Yet despite fighting at only 92kg, Scott has branded himself the “biggest money fight” that can be made for Asofa-Solomona, yet says the 130kg enforcer is being deliberately kept from him.
The Sydneysider also questioned why, instead of facing himself, NAS would be given a rematch against Wallace, who he previously stopped in a 2023 exhibition bout.
Despite conceding almost 40kg to his former Storm team-mate, Scott says those responsible for Asofa-Solomona’s career have no interest in putting the pair into the same ring any time soon.
“And I’ve been told that to my face,” Scott said. “I’ve been told that he isn’t ready for me yet.
“I find that embarrassing.
“And if I was Nelson, I’d actually take offence to it.
“Right now, he’s being cradled through this first part of his career.
“And that’s not meant as any disrespect to Nelson.
“We played footy together. He’s a good bloke.
“I don’t have a bad word to say about him.
“But the way he’s getting looked after? I mean, they’re just going to keep giving him, not tomato cans … but retired older guys they can build him up against.
“Jarrod Wallace, he’s a mate of mine.
“But Nelson has already fought Jarrod. Knocked him out.
“So fighting him again, it’s like paying to watch a movie you already know the ending to.”
Soon after, Scott continued: “I think Nelson likes the idea of being a boxer.
“Likes all the hype.
“Enjoys the build up.
“But everyone knows I’m the biggest risk Nelson Asofa-Solomona has in the crossover space.
“I’ve seen these headlines about nobody wanting to fight him.
“Mate, I’ve got both hands up.
“I’ll fight him today, right now.”
Elsewhere, Scott also suggested if anyone should hold an NRL heavyweight title, it’s him.
Speaking with Code Sports last week, Asofa-Solomona urged promoters No Limit to create an NRL strap for when he fights Wallace on the Tim Tszyu-Denis Nurja undercard in Wollongong.
“I’m gonna get on the phone to the Rose brothers and make that happen,” NAS said of an NRL Heavyweight belt. “I think a lot more boys would make the transition if there was one. We’ve gotta start somewhere, I think it’s a cool idea.”
Scott, however, wasn’t so sure.
“Although I’m not even sure I’m eligible,” he cackled.
“I fight around 95kg.
“I just happen to knock all the heavyweights out.
“But every NRL player knows who the real dog of that division is.
“It’s why nobody wants to fight me.
“Because I can tell you, it’s embarrassing when you get beat by a skinny, white dude.
“I’m arriving for the weigh-ins wearing jeans, shoes, car keys in my pocket, wallet, everything just to add a few kilos … and then I’m putting these guys to sleep.”
Scott said a fight between himself and ‘Big Nasty’ was capable of generating the same pay-per-view numbers that Gallen did at the height of his own heavyweight career.
Better, the exiled NRL star has vowed to stay busy, convinced that should the call eventually come, it will likely be on only a few weeks notice.
Later this month, Scott is slated to fight Queensland heavyweight Caleb Tialu, while in April he will also look to defend his Australian bareknuckle heavyweight title on Anthony Mundine’s promotion.
The 28-year-old also questioned calls for Asofa-Solomona to face Gallen.
“Paul Gallen is retired,” Scott said.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Gal and I know he won’t mind me saying this; we all saw last year’s fight with Sonny Bill Williams and you could tell that he was done.
“You could tell that night Gal was at the end of his career.
“So for Nelson to now be calling Gallen out, I think it’s disrespectful.
“I also think it’s embarrassing.
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“Because if Asofa-Solomona wants to be respected as a boxer, fight me.
“We’re both in our prime.
“That’s your biggest payday.
“That fight sells massively here in Australia.
“I’m talking about the type of pay-per-view buys that Paul Gallen did …”
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“It’s David versus Goliath,” Scott continued.
“It’s also the good guy versus the bad guy.
“A pair of former team-mates, it honestly ticks every box.
“Outside those household names like the Tszyu boys, ours is the biggest fight you can make in Australian boxing.
“So the idea of us not fighting? It’s ridiculous.
“But they know there is a good chance I will go out there and spoil the party again.
“Because I’ve already done it a couple of times.
“My first fight, I jumped straight into the deep end against Joey Leilua, who outweighed me by 30 kilos and already had a lot more experience.
“I opened in betting as a $4 underdog — and I stopped him in two rounds.
“From there, I was told to call out Barry Hall, which I did, then I stopped him too … so they know there is a good chance I will now go and do it again.”