It didn’t take long for things to heat up between Paul Gallen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona as the pair came face-to-face at a fiery press conference ahead of their November 6 bout.
“I’m going to be a 45-year-old man who’s going to smash this bloke,” said Gallen, who repeatedly taunted his rival over being called out of retirement for the heavyweight blockbuster.
“You can’t sell s*** until they get me out of retirement at 45.”
Gallen v Asofa-Solomona | Friday November 6 from 7pm AEDT | Australian sporting icon and crossover boxing king Paul Gallen returns to the ring to face his biggest opponent yet, Nelson ‘Big Nasty’ Asofa-Solomona. | Order now on Kayo Sports.
Asofa-Solomona had his own message after arriving at the press conference carrying a plush doll of Gallen, holding it in the air before revealing what he planned to do to the 45-year-old.
“Yeah, so I carry Paul Gallen everywhere I go,” Asofa-Solomona said.
“He watches me train, he watches me go on my runs, and I put him to sleep every night.
“November 6th, I put him to sleep for the last time.”
Gallen was pretty straight in his response.
“Keep dreaming about that,” Gallen said.
“I’m just happy to be back.”
Throughout his short boxing career, Asofa-Solomona has repeatedly called out Gallen in the hope of eventually landing the fight.
And now that he has it, Gallen made it clear he hasn’t forgotten.
“He called me out every single fight he’s had, which disappointed me. I’ve said it before,” Gallen said.
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“Disappointed in the fact that I spoke to Nelson a year ago.
“He knew how I felt about the sport and he still wouldn’t call me out, which is fine, but you’ve got to be careful what you wish for sometimes because now he’s got it and I’m coming for him.
“Four or five weeks time, I’ll be ready to go.”
Gallen then turned his attention to Asofa-Solomona’s short boxing career and the level of competition he has faced so far.
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“He’s fought three blokes who’s had one fight between them, all former footy players,” Gallen said.
“He wants to carry on about being a boxer. Mate, it’s embarrassing. Seriously.”
Gallen also drove home the point that promoters No Limit had to drag him out of retirement because, in his eyes, Asofa-Solomona hasn’t been able to do the job himself.
“I’ll get it done and finish him and then you don’t have to pay him anymore because that’s the only reason you brought me back,” Gallen said.
“You brought me back because he can’t do his job.”
Gallen then turned his attention to what could come next for Asofa-Solomona if he beats him.
“Where are you going to go when I beat you? PNG?” Gallen said.
“I’ll talk to James Bracey for you. I think he did a bit of recruitment for the (Perth) Bears.”
Asofa-Solomona kept his response short.
“I’m here to stay.”
Gallen has called Asofa-Solomona a number of names in recent weeks, including a ‘rat’ and a ‘dog’, giving the former Melbourne Storm enforcer the chance to fire back.
“He called me every animal on Noah’s Ark,” Asofa-Solomona said.
But things turned again when Asofa-Solomona questioned why Gallen had come out of retirement in the first place.
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“Then why are you back out of retirement then?” Asofa-Solomona asked.
Gallen’s answer was pretty simple.
“Because the money’s good.”
And Gallen was just as simple when explaining why he believed the fight had been given main-event status.
“You’re fighting the main event because I’m back,” Gallen said.
“The reason you’re main event is because I’m fighting.”
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Despite all the back-and-forth, Gallen was willing to give Asofa-Solomona credit when the conversation turned to the actual fight.
“He’s dangerous. I can’t take that away from him,” Gallen said.
“At the end of the day, I’m going to pressure him.
“The only way I can hit him is to get close to him.
“He knows the fight plan. I’m going to get close to him. I’m going to pressure him.”
But when Gallen raised the possibility of Asofa-Solomona holding and ‘cuddling’ him, it seemed to strike a nerve.
“We don’t see someone just cuddling me and holding me every time we get near him,” Gallen said.
“What’s wrong with cuddling? It’s part of the game,” Asofa-Solomona responded.
“You’re not allowed to intentionally cuddle. You can’t do that,” Gallen added.
And in true Gallen fashion, he rounded out the press conference with one final shot.
“You’re the one who’s going to look like a dead s**t when you get beat by a 45-year-old.
“You’re an idiot, mate.”