NRL premiership winner Paul Gallen says providing for his wife and kids is the motivating factor behind his shock decision to don the boxing gloves again. The 45-year-old is set to come out of retirement to face former Melbourne Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona in a heavyweight showdown in Sydney on Friday week.
It comes just 16 months after Gallen first emerged from retirement to defeat Sonny Bill Williams by split decision after a long verbal running battle with the Kiwi superstar. Gallen’s upcoming bout against the former Storm man-mountain will mark the 20th professional boxing fight of his career, against an opponent 15 years his junior.
Gallen insists it will be the final time he steps into the boxing ring, but admits his wife Anne is “not happy” about the move. But the father-of-four and Channel 9 commentator says the opportunity to provide for his family – and offer them a life he never had – is the “sole motivation” behind his decision to step into the ring for one last payday.
“Nah, she’s not happy. She’s not happy at all,” Gallen told AAP about his wife’s thoughts on the fight. “But it’s my job as a bloke. It’s my role in the relationship. I provide for my family.
“I’m going to give my family a life I never had and that’s my sole motivation. That’s what I’m here for: to look after them and that’s what I’m going to do.”
NRL great Paul Gallen says his providing for his family is the ‘sole motivation’ for coming out of boxing retirement again. Pic: Paul Gallen
Paul Gallen vows to ‘smash’ Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Gallen also has a score to settle with Asofa-Solomona after helping the Melbourne premiership winner get his start in the fight game with No Limit Boxing. And he’s miffed that the Kiwi giant continually called him out to fight, despite Gallen making it clear he was retired.
“I told him I was done. I told him I was finished,” Gallen said. “He wasn’t calling out Curtis Scott. He’s not calling out Junior Paulo. They’re footy players. They’re younger. I’m 45. He keeps bringing up my name after the fact because he knows I didn’t want to do this anymore. I’m going to smash his face in.”
Paul Gallen brushes off long-term health concerns
Gallen has had numerous brain scans over the years and says he consulted with numerous medical specialists before deciding to fight again. And he brushed off concerns around what it could mean for his long-term welfare, having switched to boxing after a bruising 19-year NRL career.
“I’ve done everything I can to ensure I’m in a good spot,” he said. “People talk about CTE. I’ve heard former footy players talk about it. But you do not know you’ve got CTE until you’re dead.
“I’ve been tested, I’ve been scanned. There’s no way a doctor’s going to say, ‘yeah, you can still fight’. I’ve been told I’m in a good spot and after this fight I’ll get tested again.”
Paul Gallen (L) is coming out of boxing retirement again to face former Melbourne Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona (R) in a heavyweight showdown in Sydney. Pic: Getty
with AAP