Paul Gallen will fight Darcy Lussick in a heavyweight showdown in Sydney tonight as part of the Footy Fight Night Christmas Bash. Join The Roar for live round-by-round updates including parts of the undercard from 7:30pm AEDT
Gallen was supposed to fight Josh Aloiai earlier this month but the fight had to be cancelled when Aloiai tested positive to COVID-19.
Gallen is the favourite in the 3-round fight but Lussick can’t be underestimated after he knocked out Justin Hodges two years ago.
Incidentally, Justin Hodges is also fighting tonight in the undercard against Nathan Ross while Harry Garside will be his pro debut after winning the heart and minds of Australia at the Tokyo Olympics with a bronze medal.
Fight information
Venue: The Star Event Centre, Sydney
Fight time: Gallen vs Lussick est. to enter the ring between 10:30pm-11pm AEDT
Live stream/TV: Kayo Sports, Main Event Pay Per View $59.95
Betting: Paul Gallen $1.19, Darcy Lussick $4.70 – odds via PlayUp
Featured bouts:
Paul Gallen vs Darcy Lussick (Heavyweight) (3x 2-minute rounds)
Harry Garside (Pro Debut) vs Sachin Mudaliar (Lightweight) (6x 3-minute rounds)
Joey Leilua vs Chris Heighington (3x 2-minute rounds)
Justin Hodges vs Nathan Ross (Heavyweight) (3x 2-minute rounds)
Freddy Lussick vs Taylan May
MarkS
Roar Rookie
Yes, it's the referring that affects boxing's credibility ????
Paul Suttor
Expert
And that's it for tonight's blog, fight fans. The sweet science was the winner
Paul Suttor
Expert
Gallen was just interviewed again by the Main Event crew and he's laid down the law to Sonny Bill Williams about a fight next year “I said I’m going to retire next year without a doubt so unless it happens by the middle of the next year it won’t happen. “We got offered $4 million each to fight twice next year and it’s not happening. That’s unheard-of money. It’s ridiculous we’re not doing it. The ball’s in his court and I’ve said for years let’s do it but there’s going to come a time when I say no more and you can bet your bottom dollar that’s when he says let’s do it.”
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Is it possible Paul Gallen is a good bloke? That seems an incredibly generous gesture
Paul Suttor
Expert
Paul Gallen was awarded the $20,000 by promoter George Rose for the knockout of the night and he said he would give the bonus dollars to the young pro fighters Sam Goodman and Harry Garside as a way of helping them in their budding careers
Paul Suttor
Expert
"There's one fight everyone wants to see me have, it's been going on for 10 years," Gallen said in reference to the long-anticipated clash with Sonny Bill Williams when asked what lays ahead in 2022.
Paul Suttor
Expert
PG: "I just got to do what I can do and I got the stoppage."
Paul Suttor
Expert
Gallen: "He's a big boy. I couldn't catch him early. I wasn't concerned with all due respect. He had a big flurry but not a single one landed."
Paul Suttor
Expert
"The referee done the right thing" says Jeff Fenech
Paul Suttor
Expert
Gallen lands a few more body shots to start the third and Lussick could take no more punishment
Paul Suttor
Expert
It's all over
Paul Suttor
Expert
By the end of the round, Lussick was knocked down after lurching forward. He got up and tried to fight on but fell flat on his face and returned for the 3rd round. Here we go ...
Paul Suttor
Expert
He bombarded Gallen with a barrage in the second round to have his opponent on the ropes but the former Cronulla skipper bounced back to lands some big body blows on the taller Lussick.
Paul Suttor
Expert
Lussick, who stepped in to take the fight last month after Manly prop Josh Aloiai was ruled out after contracting COVID-19, came out with all guns blazing in the first round to put the pressure on his more-experienced opponent.
Paul Suttor
Expert
This is only a three-rounder at 2 minutes a pop and we're underway
Paul Suttor
Expert
He also had one draw, that clash with Barry Hall in 2019 which the old Sydney Swans full-forward clearly won
Paul Suttor
Expert
Gallen is now moseying on out there. The former Cronulla Sharks skipper has 11 wins and one loss in his career but that defeat was his most recent outing, against Justis Huni in June
Paul Suttor
Expert
Lussick's only previous fight was against Justin Hodges. The former Manly and Parramatta prop bashed the tripe out of Hodges on the undercard to Tim Tszyu's bout with Jack Brubaker last December
Paul Suttor
Expert
Darcy Lussick is now making his way to the ring for the main fight
Paul Suttor
Expert
Garside said he'd be happy to have a rematch with Mudaliar but it's a fair chance the promoters are off camera shaking their heads vigorously