Paul Gallen reckons the boxing purists who rolled their eyes when his fight with Nelson Asofa-Solomona was announced should take a good look at who else is on the card.
The former NRL stars will meet in Sydney on November 6, with Gallen arguing their pulling power gives rising boxers a chance to show what they can do in front of thousands of people at the venue and many more watching at home.
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.
“When this fight was announced a couple of weeks ago, there were a few people in boxing with the usual complaints us footy boys sort of get,” Gallen said at Wednesday’s press conference.
“But at the end of the day, we bring eyeballs to the sport, and that’s what certain boxing people should remember.”
It is a familiar argument whenever former footy players take a prominent place on a boxing bill. Gallen, though, pointed to the opportunities their fight creates for the boxers appearing alongside them.
“I’m happy to support these boys,” he said. “I haven’t fought with them before, so I’m hoping I can bring some eyeballs to them.
“The more people that watch these boys fight, the more people they get to fight in front of, the better it is for them.
“People have got to stop worrying about where you come from, what your background is.”
Gallen put it in terms of the crowd those fighters might otherwise see. They could be boxing at a local RSL in front of 300 people, he said, or appearing on this card before “three or four thousand” at the venue and “tens of thousands” watching from home.
Speaking on the post-fight show, Gallen pointed to the names who appeared on his previous undercards before making their mark in Australian boxing.
“Have a look at some of the fighters that fought on my undercard just starting,” he said.
“Jai Opetaia, Tim Tszyu, Nikita Tszyu, Sam Goodman, Liam Paro, Liam Wilson.”
Gallen was careful not to claim credit for their success, but said appearing on bigger cards had helped them build a profile.
“I’m not for a second claiming they’re anywhere in the sport because of me. Their ability’s gotten them there,” he said.
“You help them get a bit of a profile, then they can go on, and because of their ability and because of how hard they train and how they work, they get to go somewhere in the sport.
“And, you know what? Most importantly, earn some money out of it…
“I cannot, for the life of me, understand why people don’t want to encourage that. I just can’t.”
On this card, Gallen is particularly keen to see Paulo Aokuso and Callum Peters in action.
“Can’t wait to watch Paulo fight,” Gallen said. “And Callum, he could be my new favourite boxer.”
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Gallen said he met Peters at a Tszyu fight a few weeks ago and had already taken a liking to the young boxer’s personality.
“He’s a bit mad,” Gallen said. “He’s been telling me a few things about life. So he’s an interesting character. I wish him all the best and hope he gets a win in his fight.”
Gallen would have been content to stay out of the ring if Asofa-Solomona had not kept calling him out.
The Sharks legend claims he helped the former Melbourne Storm forward get a start with No Limit, then watched him call for a fight after each of his first three wins.
He has already labelled Asofa-Solomona a “rat” and a “pig” over what he sees as a betrayal.
“I would have been happy to sit where I sit,” he told Fox Sports Australia.
“For me to ring No Limit and try and help him and then for him to continually call me out. Obviously it’s a shit go.
“And now I get to do something about it.”
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Gallen believes Asofa-Solomona has a puncher’s chance, but says the pressure will tell if his former NRL rival cannot land a big shot.
“At the end of the day, he’s a puncher’s chance.
“He’s a big bloke with a punch. We understand that, but if he doesn’t get me something big, the pressure I will put him under, it’ll be too much, and I’ll expose him.
“We’ve got no doubt about that.”
Gallen has shared a ring with Mark Hunt, Lucas Browne and Justis Huni. He is less certain how Asofa-Solomona’s power compares, given all three of his knockout wins have come against former footballers.
“I’ve got no idea how his power ranks…” said Gallen.
“But let’s be honest, look at who he’s fought. I appreciate those guys, but they’ve probably had one professional fight between them.
“Come on.”