Paul Gallen says Nelson Asofa-Solomona will be left with no option but to return to the NRL with the beleaguered Perth Bears after putting a beating on the former Melbourne Storm front-rower on November 6.
Gallen is coming out of retirement at the age of 45 to end ‘Big Nasty’s’ boxing career, but says he’ll put in a call to his Channel 9 colleague and Bears tragic James Bracey so he lands on his feet.
At a fiery press conference on Wednesday, Gallen’s camp initially circled the PNG Chiefs as a possible destination for Asofa-Solomona, before the former Sharks captain demoted him to the Bears.
“With all due respect to my mate James Bracey, the Perth Bears need something,” Gallen said as the Bears battle to be ready for their debut season next year.
“He probably wouldn’t be the worst signing to be honest.
“I’ll talk to James Bracey for you, he might be a recruitment officer for the Bears and might be able to get you a run.”
Asofa-Solomona refused to rule out a return to rugby league, but wouldn’t be drawn on Gallen’s comments.
“For me, right now, my heart’s in boxing,” he said. “It’s hard to say anything right now, because I’m so tunnel-visioned on this fight.
“I still love the game, but I’m not too sure the game loves me back. I just think I’m meant to be here.
“I was a bit too physical with rugby league and where it’s headed. And probably a bit too tall and a bit too fat.”
Asofa-Solomona, who has wins over Jeremy Latimore, Jarrod Wallace and George Burgess this year, backs his power to get the job done against Gallen at the Tik Tok Entertainment Centre in Sydney on November 6.
“He’s a 45-year-old man and the first thing to go is your chin,” he said. “And I’ve got the Samoan and Polish power right here in my right hand and I’m going to drive it down the pipeline.
“It will land at some point.”
Gallen most recently scored a split decision win over Sonny Bill Williams last year, and says the only reason promoter No Limit has dragged him out of retirement is because Asofa-Solomona can’t sell pay-per-views and isn’t the devastating puncher they thought he would be.
“He’s not good. At all,” he said. “He’s got three wins, but they don’t have any background in boxing. Zero. None at all.
“They say a good big man beats a good little man, but he’s no f***ing good.
“He’s a big man. But he’s not a good man.
“You can’t start boxing at 29 years of age and think you’re gonna be any good at it. He’s not going to pick it up. It’s just not gonna happen.”
Gallen also fired back at critics of the five-round PPV main event, saying his presence brings eyeballs to a stacked undercard featuring rising stars Callum Peters and Paulo Aokuso and a mouth-watering domestic showdown between Ahmad Reda and Jake Wyllie.
“There were a few people in boxing with the usual complaints about us footy boys, but at the end of the day, we bring eyeballs to the sport and that’s what certain boxing people should remember,” he said.
“The more people that watch these boys fight, the better it is for them.
“People have gotta stop worrying about where you come from and what your background is.
“At the end of the day, these boys could be fighting at their local RSL clubs in their hometowns in front of 300 people.
“We’re going to fight in a few weeks’ time in front of tens of thousands of people at home seeing how good they are.
“I’m happy to be promoting those boys.”
Already touted as a future world title prospect, Peters is scheduled to face Colombia’s Juan Ortiz (11-1), but won’t be done there.
Australia’s busiest fighter has already had four fights this year, and wants to back up on the Tim Tszyu vs Erislandy Lara undercard, which is strongly rumoured to be held on November 29, just three weeks later.
“If there’s no cuts and no injuries, I want to back up on Tim’s card,” Peters told Code Sports. “Fingers crossed I’m all good.
“I’ll be in the zone, I’ve been training, I’m always active and always fight ready.”
PAUL GALLEN VS NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA UNDERCARD
Paul Gallen vs Nelson Asofa-Solomona – heavyweight
Callum Peters vs Juan Ortiz – middleweight
Ahmad Reda vs Jake Wyllie – lightweight
Paulo Aokuso vs Mobin Khahrazeh – light heavyweight
Dharringarra Trewhella vs Jyl Wright – welterweight
Alex Naman vs Ronnie Baldonado – super bantamweight
Kya Sparks vs Zidane Semedo Tavares – super welterweight
Jayden Fadel vs Rajesh Kumar – super lightweight