{"id":754512,"date":"2026-06-23T06:51:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T06:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/754512\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T06:51:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T06:51:13","slug":"boxing-liam-paro-vs-lewis-crocker-weigh-ins-start-time-and-full-card-nelson-asofa-solomona-taunts-george-burgess-before-g-banger-face-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/754512\/","title":{"rendered":"Boxing: Liam Paro vs Lewis Crocker weigh-ins, start time and full card: Nelson Asofa Solomona taunts George Burgess before G-banger face-off"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nelson Asofa-Solomona has asked George Burgess \u201care you ready to die?\u201d after wearing a Gladiator helmet, mockingly, to the weigh-ins of their Australian crossover blockbuster<\/a>.<\/p>\n

All of which also occurred only minutes before the Irishman standing in the way of Liam Paro\u2019s shot at Australian sports history — IBF welterweight champ Lewis Crocker \u2013 also surprisingly did a runner after hitting the scales at King Georges Square in Brisbane\u2019s CBD.<\/p>\n

Paro v Crocker | Wednesday June 24 from 7pm AEST | Liam Paro gets his long awaited title shot against IBF welterweight champion, Lewis Crocker plus Nelson Asofa-Solomona vs George Burgess. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On the eve of Wednesday\u2019s exciting No Limit showcase at Pat Rafter Arena, both Paro and Crocker hit the scales at exactly 66.65kg.<\/p>\n

And while the fighting Irishman refused to do the usual round of media interviews afterwards — instead disappearing back to the hotel with his large entourage — Paro happily spoke about his own push to become world champion for a second time.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, and while Crocker was giving nothing away, it was a far more revealing performance from Australian Lance McDonald — aka \u2018The G-Banger\u2019 — who once again hit the scales in his now signature black g-string, and with his rival Jack Javed joining in the fun with a gold number of his own.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/p>\n

Ultimate Guide > <\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018Different cat\u2019: Aussie legend\u2019s \u2018big dog\u2019 warning after hotel run-in with visiting champ Lewis Crocker<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018I wasn\u2019t letting go\u2019: \u2018Divine timing\u2019 as quick-thinking Burgess saves a life in emotional bridge incident<\/a><\/p>\n

NAS sends chilling KO warning to Burgess | 03:16<\/p>\n

For Paro, a win over Crocker will see him become the first Australian-born fighter since Jeff Fenech to win titles in more than one weight class within the four major organisations.<\/p>\n

Asked what he saw in their final face off, Paro grinned: \u201cHe looked like me, thirsty.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019ve both made weight and have a fight. We\u2019re ready to go. There\u2019s no bad blood, we\u2019re both at the pinnacle of our careers \u2026 we\u2019re going in there to put it all on the line\u201d.<\/p>\n

In the co-main meanwhile, Asofa-Solomona weighed in at a staggering 139.32kg, and while stood up on the scales in his shiny, silver mask. Burgess, meanwhile, also came in only slightly lighter at 135.84kg.<\/p>\n

Paro doubts Crocker can win abroad | 01:36<\/p>\n

Undeniably, the mask was a not-so-subtle shot from the fighter \u2018Big Nasty\u2019, and meant to poke fun at Burgess\u2019s longstanding friendship with Hollywood megastar Russell Crowe \u2013 whose biggest roles, of course, include the Gladiator.<\/p>\n

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Burgess revealed Crowe had actually urged him against making his heavyweight debut on Wednesday night, saying he would prefer him to concentrate on acting instead.<\/p>\n

It was also something NAS made mention of after weighing in. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s said Russell Crowe doesn\u2019t back him in boxing,\u201d the Melbourne Storm premiership winner started. \u201cAnd I think we\u2019re going to see why.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he doesn\u2019t have the skills, [but] Russell Crowe doesn\u2019t back him for a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

And as for the mask?<\/p>\n

\u201cI told him Russell Crowe was going to make an appearance,\u201d Big Nasty continued with a laugh. \u201cAnd he\u2019s come through. Maximus Decimus Meridius was up there \u2026 it wasn\u2019t Nelson.\u201d<\/p>\n

At which point Fox Sports Australia asked if he liked the Gladiator flick?<\/p>\n

\u201cI watch it before every fight,\u201d Australia\u2019s crossover king replied. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll watch it tonight\u201d.<\/p>\n

Only minutes earlier, Burgess had revealed what was said between the pair when they faced off for the final time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said a few things,\u201d the South Sydney premiership prop said dryly. \u201cAsked me if I\u2019m ready to die.<\/p>\n

Crocker sends ominous warning to Paro | 08:17<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I said \u2018yes I am. Are you?\u2019. But I don\u2019t think he was too sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if he was surprised by the line, Burgess continued: \u201cIt\u2019s boxing, so it\u2019s no joke in there, mate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s life or death.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo big boys punching hard. I\u2019m ready and I hope he\u2019s ready too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon after, NAS stressed he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is do or die,\u201d he responded when asked about the face off line. \u201cAnd if you\u2019re willing to kill you have to be willing to die.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Burgess suggested he wasn\u2019t impressed with the mask.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s clutching at straws a bit,\u201d the former Rabbitohs enforcer shrugged. \u201cSomeone probably told him to do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he\u2019ll need that mask in the ring. Unfortunately though, he can\u2019t bring it in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Monday, Burgess predicted he would finish NAS with a right hand.<\/p>\n

And as for now giving journalists the round?<\/p>\n

\u201cThirty seconds,\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Burgess also explained why he grabbed Asofa-Solomona\u2019s arm during the face off, saying: \u201cI just wanted to feel his pules, his heartbeat, see how he is. And, yeah, I think he\u2019s a bit nervous. A bit wary of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

So as for the quick KO prediction?<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I expect from him,\u201d NAS said during his time in front of the media scrum. \u201cI expect him to come out hard early on. There\u2019s no surprises and he just gave away his game plan. But if he wants to box, he\u2019s in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a similar message from Paro.<\/p>\n

Paro and Crocker ready for title clash | 01:32<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll shake his hand and fight him the same day. Doesn\u2019t bother me,\u201d the Aussie said. \u201cI\u2019ve got a job to do and that\u2019s what I\u2019m programmed to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

And as for how he found the weight cut?<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery cut is hard but nothing good comes easy,\u201d he shrugged. \u201cI realise what is at stake, the magnitude of this fight, and I have to thank No Limit for getting it over the line and getting it here in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Asofa-Solomona also suggested a member of Team Burgess had accosted him at the fighter hotel this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of his little minions came up to me in the elevator,\u201d he said. \u201cHe was asking me some silly questions about ping pong and all this stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought \u2018this has George Burgess\u2019s name written all over it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a Pommy guy. Said \u2018I\u2019ve flew over from the UK to see you\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said \u2018I don\u2019t care\u2019. I told him where to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

NAS also suggested that he has now seen training footage of Burgess.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say too much,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019ve seen it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Impressed?<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys will be the judge,\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nelson Asofa-Solomona has asked George Burgess \u201care you ready to die?\u201d after wearing a Gladiator helmet, mockingly, to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":754513,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[64,63,802,85],"class_list":["post-754512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-boxing","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-boxing","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/754512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=754512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/754512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/754513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=754512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=754512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=754512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}