Nelson Asofa-Solomona and George Burgess have ignited what may be the greatest stink in Magic Round history after signing off on a heavyweight slobberknocker to determine Australia’s crossover king.
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As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia in January, the longtime NRL enforcers — and premiership heroes — are set to throw down in an anticipated crossover bout to determine who takes the crown that was for so long held by NSW Origin great Paul Gallen.
After months of callouts, confrontations ringside, even one contentious delay, the pair have now finally agreed to fight inside Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena on June 24.
The showdown will form part of a stacked undercard for Australia’s Liam Paro, who is looking to make history against reigning IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker.
After jetting into Brisbane on Friday for NRL Magic Round, the pair immediately took to trading barbs while embarking on a series of public engagements that, over 24 hours, includes the Caxton Hotel, Suncorp Stadium, even a face off at the famed Wally Lewis statue.
For Asofa-Solomona, the bad blood has been simmering ever since January, when Burgess first confronted the Melbourne premiership hero immediately after ‘Big Nasty’ iced Jeremy Latimore in his professional debut.
Then when NAS stopped Jarrod Wallace in April, Burgess was ringside again with plenty to say.
As a result, the man who walked out on an $800,000-a-year Storm contract to fight is promising to answer to all of that.
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Nelson Asofa-Solomona punches Jarrod Wallace. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I remember exactly what happened after my first fight,” Asofa-Solomona said.
“I’d just had my first professional win, and was trying to celebrate with my family and my people.
“But George decided that was the moment to jump in, start carrying on and try to make the whole thing about himself.
“I took that personally. I haven’t forgotten it and he’s going to have to answer for it now.”
Asofa-Solomona said he also hadn’t forgotten some of what Burgess, who has now embarked on an acting career post rugby league, said about his boxing crossover, either.
“He’s been talking for months, questioning me, questioning who I’ve fought and acting like I’m some sort of fake,” the former Melbourne prop continued. “And that’s fine.
“But once the bell rings … this isn’t a footy field and this isn’t Hollywood. There’s nowhere to hide in there and no one is coming to save you.
“He wanted my attention and now he’s got it. On June 24, I’m going to make him regret stepping in front of me that night.”
Burgess, meanwhile, said he was ready to end the new No Limit “hype train”.
A member of rugby league’s famous Burgess family, George played more than 200 NRL games across spells with South Sydney, St George Illawarra and the Wigan Warriors.
He also won the 2014 NRL premiership alongside brothers Sam and Tom in one of the most iconic moments in South Sydney history.
Burgess also represented both England and Great Britain during his rugby league career, building a reputation as one of the game’s toughest forwards.
He is also the son and grandson of bare-knuckle fighters, and has spent recent months immersed in fulltime fight training on the Sunshine Coast under former professional boxer Israel Kani.
NAS issues chilling warning to Wallace | 10:33
“Nelson’s built this image around being the scariest bloke in the room,” Burgess said.
“But on June 24 we find out what happens when someone the same size finally stands in front of him and fires back.
“I’m going to knock out the hype-train.
“He’s got heavy hands, sure. But being dangerous for one round or banging on with punters in the streets of Bali is completely different to being able to actually fight.”
No Limit CEO George Rose said the fight has all the ingredients to become one of the biggest crossover heavyweight clashes Australia had seen.
“This fight became real the second George stepped into the ring after Nelson’s debut and confronted him face-to-face,” Rose said.
“Ever since then there’s been genuine tension between them and neither guy has taken a backwards step. These are two massive human beings with real reputations as enforcers and
both genuinely believe they’re going to knock the other one out.
“Nelson has already shown he’s got explosive power and George has made it clear he’s not entering boxing for a laugh or a payday. There’s real emotion here, real pride and real bad
blood.”
Nelson Asofa-Solomona will face George Burgess next. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia only last month, Burgess credited Hollywood’s Russell Crowe for his surprise boxing foray, while also revealing how he has previously worked with the likes of Jeff Fenech and Danny Green.
Since retiring, the former Rabbitoh has taken up acting and, most recently, owned a role in a new Australian MMA film – ‘Beast’ – which is co-written by and stars Crowe.
Other actors involved include Daniel McPherson, Luke Hemsworth, and Amy Shark.
Burgess explained how, as part of filming for said flick, the crew jetted across to Asia and filmed scenes on the same night of a One Championship bout in Bangkok.
“So we got to experience walking out with the full crowd,” the former leaguie explained. “Same as we also did filming between bouts on the card, which really gave me the push to have a fight.
“Just feeling all the energy that comes with being part of a fight night, it was great.
“And even though it’s a movie, it felt real for me. Really got the juices flowing.”
Burgess also revealed he has previously trained with both Fenech and Green.
“I was also supposed to fight Barry Hall six years ago,” he continued. “But I turned it down.
“I was only going to have four weeks to prepare, and had also just signed with Wigan.
“So I didn’t want to disrespect them by signing for a fight when I should be at pre-season training over there.
“So I turned it down and Paul Gallen took the fight instead …”