Nelson Asofa-Solomona has promised Paul Gallen will be the last crossover fighter he ever faces after brutally knocking out yet another sparring partner.
Fox Sports Australia can reveal the 140kg ‘Big Nasty’ – who faces Gallen on November 6 in Sydney – has not only iced another training partner, but done it with a punch that wasn’t his signature uppercut.
It comes as No Limit’s newest crossover star has also slammed Gallen’s own workouts, suggesting the NSW Origin great has been getting “beat up” by Australian super heavyweight prospect Ibrahim ‘Ibby’ Mohammed.
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.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona punches Jeremy Latimore.Source: Supplied
Incredibly, Asofa-Solomona’s latest sparring KO represents the third time he has iced someone in camp this year, having also finished two more heavyweights when preparing for Jarrod Wallace in April.
The heavyweight’s trainer Jake Ellis has also admitted finding training partners is a struggle.
And now as a result of his continuing improvement, especially in the two months since his most recent win against George Burgess, NAS says he will no longer be facing NRL players, past or present, in the ring.
Instead, the 30-year-old has promised to start testing himself against “real” heavyweights following the Gallen showdown – which he predicts will be the fourth stoppage of his career.
Elsewhere, Asofa-Solomona also gave a frank response when asked about a recent Sydney media opportunity involving Gallen and sparring partner, ‘Ibby’ Mohammed.
While Gal refused to allow cameras inside the session at Doyle’s Boxing Gym, the longtime crossover king did front journalists immediately after doing rounds with a rival weighing almost 140kg and standing 208cm tall.
“And when I saw the video,” NAS revealed, “I actually had a good laugh to myself.
“Because his face looked pretty beat up. Very beat up from the sparring.
“And it’s going to look even worse on November 6.”
While refusing to reveal exact details of his own sparring KO, or name the training partner involved, NAS has confirmed the incident little more than a week out from his Gallen showdown.
Gallen spars with 208cm giant | 02:19
Asked about whispers of yet another gym finish, the man boasting 16 New Zealand Test caps replied: “Look, yeah, I have”.
Your trademark uppercut?
“It wasn’t from uppercuts,” he continued, “but I don’t really want to talk about it much.
“Sparring stories, they should be held close, you know? Stay inside camp.
“So I don’t want anything getting out there, no videos or stuff like that. But you’ve asked and, yes, it happened. It is what it is.”
Asofa-Solomona also stressed his team has seriously increased the standard of fighters he faces inside his Melbourne camp.
“Honestly, we’ve gone to another level in terms of sparring partners,” he said.
“Even over the past two months, I’ve learned so much.
“And I’m really keen to show that next week.
“In my last fight, I really wanted to show a little bit more boxing. But this one you’re going to see a totally different Nelson in the ring.
“And I think that’s what I’m most looking forward to.”
As No Limit’s newest crossover star, Asofa-Solomona has been linked to a whole range of fighters after starting his career with three straight finishes against Jeremy Latimore, Jarrod Wallace and George Burgess.
Only recently, Gallen suggested Parramatta prop Junior Paulo would be too much for the 30-year-old, while others to have called the heavyweight out include Curtis Scott and Matt Lodge.
NAS, however, says it won’t be happening.
“This will be my last fight in the NRL division,” he revealed.
“Gallen is the crossover heavyweight champion, and I’m coming for that title.
“And once I have that, it’s time for me to move on.
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‘Cos he’s a flog’ – Gallen roasts NAS | 03:07
“We head on to face the real boxers, you know, the real heavyweight division. We make that transition and, man, that’s when things will get really exciting.”
As part of his No Limit contract, Asofa-Solomona must fight at least three times a year.
It’s a schedule he promises to keep even without fighting footballers.
“I want to fulfil my contract obligations, absolutely,” he said. “Obviously things can vary from fight to fight, depending on injuries in fights, in camps and so on.
“But look at a guy like Callum Peters. He’s going from fight, to fight, to fight, really putting the work in.
“He’s hungry for fights, and I’m planning the same next year. I’ll be staying as active as I can.”
NAS also stressed he has greatly improved in even the time since his most recent win over Burgess.
“Although given that was my last performance,” he said, “[Gallen] is probably still basing his thoughts on my skill set off that.
“But this latest camp has been my longest preparation.
“And I feel like it’s done me a real good service.
“Just put me in good stead for this fight, for the biggest fight of my career so far.
“And like I said earlier, I’m really excited to show Australia those changes … show the boxing world that ‘Big Nasty’ is here to stay.”
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Speaking during preparations for the April fight between NAS and Wallace, the heavyweight’s trainer told Code Sports his charge was looking “frightening”
In his last two spars, he knocked both the guys out in our gym,” Ellis said.
“His power is unbelievable. I have honestly never seen anyone punch harder than Nelson.
“In sparring for this fight, Nelson just obliterated both guys.
“He put one guy flat on his back and the other flat on his face. I’m struggling to find boys who can give him a good spar. Any guy who is under six-foot-three, they can’t lay a glove in him so good luck to Jarrod Wallace.
“It’s hard to explain the fear in the air when Nelson hits his opponents in sparring.
“Their eyes light up and suddenly they want nothing to do with it.
“It’s so hard to find anyone who can get Nelson accustomed to getting hit. No-one can manage to hit him. No-one wants to take risks. If they try and win the spar, they can get seriously hurt.”