Boxing promoter No Limit was forced to hire four burly security personnel to keep former NRL rivals Nelson Asofa-Solomona and George Burgess separated during their face-off outside Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
The beefed up security measures come as the tension between the pair hit overdrive last week ahead of the official announcement of their heavyweight boxing match in June.
They have been trading insults online and in the media since January, with former Rabbitohs premiership winner Burgess escalating it last week, questioning Asofa-Solomona’s departure from the Melbourne Storm last year.
Speaking to Code Sports on Wednesday, Burgess also slammed Asofa-Solomona’s choice of opponents, saying the ex-Kiwi Test prop has been taking the “easy option” in wins over Jeremy Latimore and Jarrod Wallace.
After weeks of build-up, this masthead can confirm Burgess and Asofa-Solomona will finally throw hands at Pat Rafter Arena on June 24 on the undercard to Queensland hero Liam Paro’s IBF welterweight world title fight with Lewis Crocker.
Burgess has been ringside for both of Asofa-Solomona’s professional bouts this year, and confronted ‘Big Nasty’ moments after his debut KO of Latimore in Brisbane in January.
That was the moment that sparked the rivalry for next month’s fight.
“I’d just had my first professional win, I was trying to celebrate with my family and my people, and George decided that was the moment to jump in, start carrying on and try to make the whole thing about himself,” Asofa-Solomona said. “I took that personally.
“I haven’t forgotten it and he’s going to have to answer for it now.”
Burgess told Code Sports that same night that Asofa-Solomona was always “scared off mixing it with the big boys” on the footy field.
“He’s been talking for months, questioning me, questioning who I’ve fought and acting like I’m some sort of fake,” Asofa-Solomona said. “That’s fine.
“But once the bell rings, none of that matters anymore. This isn’t a footy field. This isn’t Hollywood.
There’s nowhere to hide in there and no one 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 says it’s about time Asofa-Solomona steps into the ring with someone his own size.
“Nelson’s built this image around being the scariest bloke in the room and on June 24 we find out what happens when someone the same size finally stands in front of him and fires back,” he said.
“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.”