{"id":417803,"date":"2026-01-16T22:26:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/417803\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T22:26:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:26:08","slug":"nelson-asofa-solomona-announces-plans-to-clean-up-the-whole-nrl-division-after-successful-boxing-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/417803\/","title":{"rendered":"Nelson Asofa-Solomona announces plans to ‘clean up the whole NRL division’ after successful boxing debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nelson Asofa-Solomona wants to take out all-comers from the NRL “and go from there” after making an explosive professional boxing debut against ex-rugby league journeyman Jeremy Latimore.<\/p>\n

The super-sized Asofa-Solomona knocked out Latimore with a massive uppercut just two minutes and 22 seconds into the first round of Friday night’s heavyweight stoush in Brisbane.<\/p>\n

Disillusioned after missing Melbourne’s past two grand final losses because of suspension, the two-time Storm premiership winner turned down a reported $800,000-a-season deal with Parramatta \u2014 one of Latimore’s five former clubs \u2014 to have a crack in the ring instead.<\/p>\n

Tszyu accuses ‘cowardly’ Zefara of quitting after grudge match called off<\/a><\/p>\n

Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa hotly anticipated fight is abandoned after the second round as the crowd vents its frustration at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.<\/p>\n

“You can’t get sent off in boxing,” he famously said after announcing his NRL defection in November.<\/p>\n

Fighting on the undercard to Nikita Tszyu’s domestic blockbuster with Michael Zerafa<\/a>, the so-called “Big Nasty” proved an instant hit \u2014 even if he was not impressed himself.<\/p>\n

Latimore, 39, was giving away 10 years and 22 kilograms to the 133kg Asofa-Solomona, and the former Eels, Warriors, St George Illawarra, Penrith and Cronulla cult figure could not last a round.<\/p>\n

“Yeah, it feels great but I’m not happy with the performance, to be honest,” Asofa-Solomona said.<\/p>\n

“I’m not happy with the way I was holding my stance and stuff like that. I was a bit loose.<\/p>\n

“But I just want to say credit to this man [Latimore] right here. A lot of people wouldn’t dare to jump in this ring.<\/p>\n

“So can we just give him a round of applause please everyone. Takes a lot of balls to get in.”<\/p>\n

Retired former South Sydney enforcer George Burgess has already called out Asofa-Solomona, saying he was fit and primed to take on the New Zealand Test star.<\/p>\n

“I want to clean up the whole NRL division and then we go from there,” Asofa-Solomona said when asked who his next target was.<\/p>\n

“Any NRL player can get it.”<\/p>\n

ABC Sport Daily podcast<\/a><\/p>\n

ABC Sport Daily is your daily sports conversation. We dive into the biggest story of the day and get you up to speed with everything else that’s making headlines.<\/p>\n

Not ruling out a return to league, the 29-year-old has signed a multi-year deal with No Limit Boxing and is intent on honing his skills before making any big calls on his future in either sport.<\/p>\n

“It [my boxing debut] was a bit wild but, look, I’m just going to go back to the drawing board and just try and perfect everything in my game,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Man, what a journey. We know we’ve got bigger and better things to come and [I’m] really excited for the future.”<\/p>\n

Asked who his next target was, Asofa-Solomona said, “Any NRL player can get it. I want to clean up the whole NRL division and then we can go from there.”<\/p>\n

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