CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Australia’s premiere boxing promoters, the Rose brothers have today announced a world first for the sport in Australia: A heavyweight fighter, taking on two seperate opponents on the same night.
In news that will excite both rugby league diehards and fans of heavyweight boxing alike, the two opponents are both Queensland NRL icons – and the contender os perhaps Queensland’s most loathed sporting figure.
Former NSW State of Origin captain turned boxer Paul Gallen (12-2-1) is the man at the centre of this spectacle, and will be taking on former Queenslander opponents Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant, back to back.
After years of calling for his shot at the ‘G-Train’ former Broncos Justin ‘Hodgo’ Hodges will get the chance to avenge Nat Myles, as will his former teammate of his in Ben ‘The White Hoppa’ Hannant.
The bouts will take place on Thursday, September 15, in the most perfect venue for the inter-state bloodbath: Nissan Arena… in Brisbane.
While boxing experts back the NRL premiership-winning captain to easily take both fighters individually, no can predict how he will fare with two fights on the same night.
Gallen, who was still captaining Cronulla when he first began boxing, has done the hard yards establishing himself as a legitimate fighter with some impressive wins over the years.
He counts victories over former heavyweight world champion Lucas Browne and kickboxing and MMA great Mark Hunt on his record.
While the punters are begging for a Gallen v Sonny Bill Williams fight to finally come to fruition, negotiations between the pair have hit more roadblocks, with many presuming that the Kiwi is nervous about taking on a man whose willing to fight two heavyweights in one evening.
Promoter George Rose says on top of the 2fa, the bout will also include a range of other unconventional but exciting elements.
“All three fighters have agreed to these fights being classified as ‘hardcore’ matches” says Gorgeous George.
“We will be pouring a hessian sack of steel thumbstacks on the floor of the ring, and there will be a steel chair available in the corner, if anyone wants to a little TLC”
Rose says that comparisons between these event and the WWE are welcome, but insists that he has no interest in putting his own body on the line like Vince McMahon would.
“Some people say that this is like the world wrestling” says Georgie
“It is a little bit. Except this isn’t fake. The animosity that exists between New South Wales and Queenslanders is real. Very real”
“Not for me though, I’m from Walgett… So I get to change sides whenever I feel like”
