Nelson Asofa-Solomona has accused George Burgess of deliberately hiding all training footage in the build to their impending heavyweight crossover bout — and says he knows exactly why the aspiring Australian actor is doing it.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, the fighter dubbed ‘Big Nasty’ has also questioned what sort of shape his rival will be in on fight night — and if he even turns up at all — given the hulking Englishman has “stunk of booze” and cigarettes at all three of their previous face offs.
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Yet in reply, Burgess has suggested it is Asofa-Solomona who remains uncomfortable with his latest choice of profession — and pointed to a key moment in his April win over Jarrod Wallace as proof.
George Burgess trains. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Still only seven months into his life as a professional heavyweight, 30-year-old NAS is looking to confirm himself Australia’s new crossover king at Pat Rafter Arena Brisbane on Wednesday night.
Better, the bout takes place on the undercard of Liam Paro’s shot at history against IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker.
While NAS already boasts two wins over both Jeremy Latimore and Wallace, Burgess will be making his heavyweight debut — meaning there is no fight tape of him anywhere.
Yet apart from the lack of Burgess film, Asofa-Solomona has also questioned why a fella who was looking to fight AFL great Barry Hall seven years ago – and who has spoken of working out for years, including with Australian great Danny Green — doesn’t have even training footage doing the rounds on social media.
NAS goes in on George Burgess | 01:27
Quizzed this week on how he is readying for Burgess, especially given the lack of footage available, Asofa-Solomona said of his debuting rival: “This is the thing, right? There’s absolutely no video of him.
“There was some video maybe of him shadow boxing from a month ago. But otherwise, nothing. No footage of him sparring, on the heavy bag … [laughs] or even on the streets of Bali turning into a human windmill like I once did.
“Even from this latest camp, nothing.
“And in interviews, I’ve noticed him mentioning how that could be an obstacle for me. That I’ve never seen him throw a punch.
“But deep down, the fact he isn’t putting any footage out there, it’s telling. And suggests he probably isn’t about it.”
Asofa-Solomona also questioned if Burgess is living the life of a fighter — or an actor.
“Honestly, I just hope he turns up,” he followed up soon after. “And doesn’t turn up drunk …”
Really?
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” the Storm premiership hero continued.
“First time I faced off with him, immediately after I fought Jeremy Latimore, he stunk of booze. And it was the same after my second fight against Jarrod Wallace, when he stunk of booze again.
“Then in Brisbane during Magic Round, it was something else again I could smell …”
NAS grilled in Fletch & Hindy prank | 08:33
While the heavyweight refused to go further, it is understood he was referencing cigarettes.
“So I don’t know what he’s doing?” he said. “Maybe this is what he does to cope with the nerves.”
Burgess, meanwhile, simply grins when asked about the lack of training footage leading into his professional heavyweight debut.
“The enigma they call me,” he laughed. “I’m loving that tag.
“And right now, even I don’t know how it’s going to go … but I’m excited to find out.”
While there may not be much footage of Burgess to go on, the now retired South Sydney star has seen plenty of his former Melbourne Storm rival – and certainly wasn’t impressed with his most recent stoppage win over Wallace.
While NAS eventually finished in the third round, there were moments earlier where Wallace, who effectively came off the couch for the fight, appeared to have the 135kg heavyweight troubled.
“So I was a little disappointed,” Burgess said of his rival’s performance. “I mean, Nelson has supposedly gone full-time with this boxing switch, is training every day … so I thought we would’ve seen improvements in his footwork, in his defence, even improvements generally.
“I know he’s got heavy punches, got those nice highlight reel punches.
“But if he really wants to take this seriously, and wants to make a career of boxing, he needs to work on all the other parts of his game as well.
“And in his last fight I didn’t see that. So I was a little disappointed and I think he was disappointed with his performance as well.”
Pushed on the performance, Burgess continued: “Jarrod came out with a good game plan and really had him rattled there a few times.
“And it was also interesting to see how [NAS] dealt with being hit. I don’t think he dealt with it that well.
“But I’m sure we’re going to see a better fighter next up. Or at least that’s what I’m preparing for.”
Asofa-Solomona, meanwhile, says he has been working hard on both his boxing fundamentals and mental game since the Wallace win.
“I’ve really delved into the mental side of fighting,” he said. “That, and working on the fundamentals. For me it’s about using all those things God has given me — my long levers, my height, my strength, and my power.”