Nelson Asofa-Solomona has confirmed himself Australia’s newest crossover star in every sense — with the fighter and his entourage travelling to all of this week’s Easter Sunday fight events via private aircraft.
In a move mimicking the likes of Tyson Fury, Floyd Mayweather, even UFC megastar Conor McGregor, the fighter dubbed ‘Big Nasty’ has employed his own pilot as part of preparations for his Easter Sunday showdown with Jarrod Wallace.
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Apart from embracing the rockstar travel, Asofa-Solomona has also opened up on a challenge from Australia’s undefeated KO King Teremoana Teremoana, with the former NRL enforcer revealing “there are people who want me to fight him next”.
Elsewhere, promoters No Limit could also turn NAS around within weeks if victorious this Sunday, with South Sydney premiership hero George Burgess almost certainly the next man up.
Despite being only one fight into his new life as a professional heavyweight, Asofa-Solomona and his entourage arrived for Thursday’s Sydney press conference via a privately chartered flight from Melbourne.
While offering a polite “no comment” when asked about his lavish travel, it is understood the rookie slugger is also flying on to Shellharbour for Sunday’s fight – and has a crew of six jetting around with him.
While the aircraft isn’t exactly Mayweather’s $50M Gulfstream — which includes a bed, leather seats and the fighter’s 50-0 record stitched into the carpet — the move is certainly a nod to the heavyweight’s growing profile.
It also mimics the likes of fellow fighters like McGregor, who travels everywhere by private jet, and Fury, who has also travelled to and from fights the same way.
No stranger to a little extravagance, Fury’s jet of choice boasts its own cinema, double bedroom, dining room and dedicated ‘entourage area’. There is also enough space for 19 passengers and a crew comprising two pilots, as many flight attendants and a support engineer.
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Closer to home, Fox Sports Australia understands the owner of Asofa-Solomona’s ride is a friend.
And while not keen to give up too many details, the fighter was far more expansive when asked about a challenge laid out this week from Teremoana Jnr, whose own hyped heavyweight career has started with 10 straight knockouts.
Already being hailed a future world champ by no less than UK promoter Eddie Hearn, Teremoana has declared himself keen to throw down against NAS, suggesting an all-Australian showdown would be “a great fight for Australian fans”.
The undefeated Olympian even suggested the pair could throw down on Hearn’s first Matchroom card of 2026 Down Under, which is in late April.
Asked about being challenged this week, Asofa-Solomona said he was honoured.
“That’s definitely a fight that would excite fans,“ he said. “And I know there are people who want me to fight him next.
“But right now, I’ve only been fulltime for two months.
“So you have to be realistic.
“I’m still a baby in this game.
“Still trying to find my way.
“Teremoana is at a certain level and I still have to make my way up the pecking order.”
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‘That’s why they sacked him’ | 04:01
Regardless, Asofa-Solomona appreciates the attention.
“Because when a guy like Teremoana offers to fight you, that’s cool,” he continued. “And something I never imagined would happen.
“But here we are.
“I guess, there’s a lot of people who have watched me throughout my rugby league career, who have seen an enforcer – or someone branded an enforcer – get into a few scuffles and their imaginations have run wild.
“They’ve all wondered what it would be like if I do get the chance to throw a punch … and now they’re getting that opportunity.
“It’s exciting times, and I’m trying to take everything in my stride.”
So as for how his rise and rise is shaping up?
As revealed by Fox Sports Australia on Wednesday, No Limit have already struck a deal for Nikita Tszyu to take his next career step up against exciting young Spaniard Oscar Diaz — which for ‘The Butcher’ will double as his first international top 15 opponent.
And with that fight expected to be announced for early May, NAS could potentially fight on the undercard of his second consecutive Tszyu sibling.
Elsewhere, Asofa-Solomona has also responded to Wallace’s Thursday press conference dig, where he suggested the former Storm prop has several “flaws” – adding how coach Craig Bellamy “saw them, that’s why they sacked him”.
“Great one liner wasn’t it?” NAS laughed afterwards. “I reckon he’s been practicing it all week, too.
“He did well.
“That’s why I gave him a little clap up there on stage. But come April 5, he will have to pay for his words.”
While he may have attracted plenty of fans, NAS understands his boxing switch also has its share of knockers.
“But you just have to look at who these comments are coming from,” he said of the criticism. “It’s from people who’ve never achieved anything in their lives.
“And that’s fine.
“Because we’ve got them exactly where we want them, which is sitting on their couches this weekend watching me fight.
“Love me or hate me, doesn’t matter. Same deal with people wanting to either see me get knocked out or win.
“They’re going to tune in.
“That’s the fight game.
“No Limit are all about the numbers and I’m sure they’ll be happy with the numbers Sunday.”
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Speaking at Thursday’s press conference, Wallace didn’t hold back as he taunted Asofa-Solomona for falling out of favour with rugby league.
“He’s big, but there’s plenty of flaws,” the former Queensland Origin prop grinned. “Craig Bellamy saw them, that’s why they sacked him.
“He had an impressive fight [against Jeremy Latimore], but I’m going to take him into deep waters and throw bombs.
“He’s walking around like Tim Tszyu… he gets off a private jet.
“Don’t discount me.”