George Burgess has admitted an unfinished piece of business from his rugby league days helped convince him to finally step into the boxing ring.
The former South Sydney premiership winner is preparing for a heavyweight slobberknocker against fellow ex-NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona, with the pair set to square off in Brisbane later this month.
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But speaking to Fox Sports News on Tuesday, Burgess revealed part of the reason he jumped at the opportunity was because he never got over walking away from a proposed fight with AFL hardman Barry Hall seven years ago.
“Boxing has always been, in my opinion, the hardest sport in the world to compete in, and if you get the opportunity to step in the boxing ring against a great opponent, I would never turn it down,” he said.
“I actually turned down a fight in 2019 with Barry Hall, and he ended up fighting Paul Gallen.
“They drew the fight, but I always regretted it a little bit. I only had four weeks to prepare for that fight.
“This time I’ve had longer. I’ve had months to prepare for this fight, and I’ve been able to have a good trainer pay respect to what I believe is the hardest sport in the world.
“When I get in the ring, I’m ready to go. I’m not just a footy player trying his hand – I’ve put in the time and done the reps to respect this great sport.”
The showdown forms part of a stacked card headlined by Liam Paro, who is looking to become a two-time world champion when he challenges reigning IBF welterweight champ Lewis Crocker.
Bad blood between Burgess and Asofa-Solomona has been simmering since January, when the Englishman confronted the Melbourne Storm giant immediately after ‘Big Nasty’ flattened Jeremy Latimore on his professional boxing debut.
Ironically, one of the traits Asofa-Solomona has mocked most publicly could end up working in Burgess’ favour.
Having recently dismissed his rival as “an actor”, the Storm enforcer intended the label as a jab.
But Burgess – who is the son and grandson of bare-knuckle fighters – insists his work on screen has become an asset in the fight game.
“[Acting has been] a big part of me taking a boxing fight as well,” he explained.
“I just finished a movie called Beast… and we got to shoot at a real fight in Thailand, experience what it means to be around fighters.
“That really gave me the juice for it.
“And I’m doing a boxing movie later in the year as well… and I just wanted to feel what it really felt like to be a boxer, and so I’m trying to do that, and I’m paying respect to the sport, and I’m really enjoying it.
“I think I’ve got the bug for boxing, because once you start delving into it properly it’s quite addictive.”
When asked whether footy, boxing or acting is the most daunting, Burgess said the difference is smaller than people might think.
“They’re all similar feelings,” he said.
“You get different levels of adrenaline for each one, but yeah, that’s what we do it for.
“We’re in the business to entertain and give people what they want to see, and that’s why I’m here. I’m here to entertain.”
There are certainly easier fights Burgess could have signed up for to scratch his boxing itch, but the former Souths man says this matchup made the most sense.
“There’s no other fight I would love more,” he said.
“We competed against each other for our countries, our clubs, [we were] opposite positions.
“It’s a great rivalry, and it’s one that I think is going to be something that the fans are going to want to see in the ring.
“Two guys, big guys, 130-40kgs plus, going at it. There’s going to be a quarter of a ton in the ring.
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“I think it’s going to be fireworks, and I can’t wait. I can’t wait to throw hands with Nelson.
“I’m going to do some serious harm.”