NSW rugby league captain Paul Gallen hopes to squeeze in one more boxing bout before the NRL season starts, but isn’t sure he’ll get the opportunity.
Gallen improved his professional boxing record to 2-0 with two KOs after his former Cronulla teammate Anthony Watts was forced to retire with a shoulder injury halfway through the first round of their heavyweight bout at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday.
While some sceptics might suggest the quick finish was another black eye and farcical chapter for boxing, Watts did appear genuinely injured and distressed.
It was ironic that Watts was the fighter who had the injury issue on the night, given that Gallen’s participation had been thrown into doubt after he spent part of last week in hospital because of a golden staph infection.
“I went home Saturday afternoon from hospital and I thought to myself ‘you’ve got to have a crack, you can’t just not have a crack’,” Gallen said.
“I went downstairs and started shadow boxing and fortunately it felt okay and I rang the promoter straight away and said ‘I still want to fight’.
“I didn’t do too much for three or four days and made it to the night.”
Gallen had completed just one day of training back with the Sharks, following his doping ban, before he needed to go to hospital.
He would like to fight again in January or February before the NRL season starts, but may struggle to get on a card as there’s unlikely to be many promotions in the first few weeks of the new year.
“We sort of pencilled (another fight) with ‘Flanno’ (Sharks coach Shane Flanagan) a while back, but I don’t know what cards are even available, I wouldn’t know who to look at fighting,” Gallen said.
“I’ll just wait and see if any cards some up and see if there’s any opportunities.”
Prior to Watts’ injury, Gallen had expected the bout to go the distance.
“I thought we were going to go all four rounds, I felt we were both too tough to knock each other out,” Gallen said.
The other fight featuring an NRL player also finished inside a minute and a half.
Sydney Roosters youngster Willis Meehan (2-0, 1 KO), the son of former world heavyweight title contender Kali Meehan, stopped Alofa Solitua.
robertdowney
Guest
weird response......Gallen groupies appear to be out there fighting for the cause
George
Guest
I worry what this guy will do when he retires. Maybe become a bouncer at night, a cop through the day and a prison guard in the hours in between. Wish I knew what he was taking (i.e. what veges and fruit are in his shakes), there seems to be no competent drugs administration in the country at the moment.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Does anyone expect Gallen who's now had two pro fights to punch on with pros straight away? Wow...a palooka fights a palooka in their first pro fight..whoop di do...
Cadfael
Roar Guru
These type of fights are ruining boxing. Gallen, SBW; Cooper good players but who have they fought. Up and comers in the boxing game don't get a run because these show ponies turn up to get the bikkies for entering the ring. Sonny Bill wants a fight before Super 15 starts. Will his team stop the fight again if the other fighter looks liken he may win?
Hoy
Roar Guru
It was no fight, but a brawl. It was wild haymakers, and no sweet science... It was a pretty terrible fight...
Greg
Guest
Obviously not, you just read an article about Paul Gallen and then made comments at the bottom. Gallen owns you.
Andrew
Guest
I was a boxer years ago....I laughed my a**e off...haha. Mind you the Geale fight was good. Watts should go back to his trade.... Haha
Monday's Expert
Guest
He could always give Nate Myles a call.
robertdowney
Guest
my interest in anything to do with paul gallen is now zero..........
dayer
Guest
tell someone who cares...
up in the north
Guest
Just what is this fascination league players seem to have with boxing?
Jay C
Roar Guru
Dear boxing. You are a sad joke with no punch-line.