{"id":413759,"date":"2026-05-06T01:24:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T01:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/413759\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T01:24:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T01:24:12","slug":"manu-vatuvei-calls-out-nelson-asofa-solomona-former-warriors-new-zealand-star-makes-boxing-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/413759\/","title":{"rendered":"Manu Vatuvei calls out Nelson Asofa-Solomona, former Warriors, New Zealand star makes boxing return"},"content":{"rendered":"

He\u2019s the NRL cult hero who once chased a heavyweight boxing showdown with Paul Gallen \u2014 only to discover a cyst on his brain.<\/p>\n

But now, Warriors great Manu Vatuvei is back \u2026 and gunning for a showdown with Australia\u2019s new crossover king Nelson Asofa-Solomona.<\/p>\n

Almost 10 years after lighting up the NRL in a chaotic swirl all tries, terrorizing runs and those famed gold teeth, the man dubbed \u2018Beast\u2019 is now looking to write the latest chapter of his incredible life story.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Tszyu vs Diaz | Wednesday 6 May from 7pm AEST | Nikita Tszyu continues his rise in boxing as he takes on Spain\u2019s undefeated Oscar Diaz. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n

Having emerged from a highly-publicised jail stint in 2023, Fox Sports Australia can reveal Vatuvei, now 40, is looking to open talks with No Limit about a huge crossover showdown against Big Nasty.<\/p>\n

Better, the father-of-seven says he would love to throw down on the undercard of Tim Tszyu\u2019s July blockbuster against Errol Spence Jnr.<\/p>\n

Only last weekend in Auckland, Vatuvei made a shock return to professional heavyweight boxing \u2013 stopping fellow Kiwi Michael Tuaiti in only the second round.<\/p>\n

Incredibly, said comeback arrives eight years after Vatuvei\u2019s professional debut against David Letele, which ended with a first round KO win.<\/p>\n

Soon after however, and while undertaking routine pre-fight testing, the crossover fighter was diagnosed with a brain cyst.<\/p>\n

Manu Vatuvei wants to take on Nelson Asofa-Solomona.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

At the time, Vatuvei was angling for a showdown with NSW Origin great Gallen, who had yet to embark on a run that included the likes of Barry Hall, Mark Hunt, Lucas Browne and Justis Huni. <\/p>\n

And while he may now be entering his forties, the longtime NRL favourite insists he has what it takes to throw down against the man who walked out on an $800,000-a-year NRL contract to box.<\/p>\n

Asked about a showdown with Asofa-Solomona, Vatuvei replied: \u201cOh yeah, 100 per cent I\u2019m keen to share the ring with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I think I proved on the weekend that I\u2019m ready.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving my first fight back in a few years, it has really fired me up. I want to go chase some big fights \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Thoughts on Big Nasty?<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, I\u2019m not a guy who trash talks,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd Nelson is obviously the hot guy in boxing right now.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve also seen some highlights and he\u2019s a powerful guy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf those punches land, he\u2019s dangerous.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019ve seen that in his first two fights, those uppercuts and straight rights do damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m a guy who can handle what he has \u2026 and I have power in my punches too.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE BOXING<\/p>\n

NIKITA\u2019S REVEAL: Tszyu\u2019s remarkable pre-fight admission<\/a><\/p>\n

ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know<\/a><\/p>\n

HIT LIST: The mega fights looming as world awaits for Aussie \u2018Prince of Darkness\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018IT WAS WEIRD\u2019: Mundine Jr on world title dream, surname \u2018blessing\u2019…. and sparring his old man<\/a><\/p>\n

WEIGH-INS: Milk-drinking, a brawl… and a G-string? Ripped Nikita turns heads at wild weigh-ins<\/a><\/p>\n

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 05: Nelson Asofa-Solomona looks on during the Heavyweight bout between Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jarrod Wallace at WIN Entertainment Centre on April 05, 2026 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Despite only boasting the two professional wins, there is no doubting Vatuvei would be a wonderful addition to what shapes as an exciting few months for Australia boxing \u2013 starting with Wednesday night\u2019s Newcastle headliner between Nikita Tszyu and Oscar Diaz<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Should \u2018The Butcher\u2019 win, he is already being talked up for the likes of American boxing great Keith Thurman next, while older brother Tim throws down against Spence in a July blockbuster.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Liam Paro is also readying to challenge for another world title while Eddie Hearn has big plans for at least two more Australian shows before September \u2013 each of which could be headlined by heavyweights Justis Huni and Teremoana Teremoana.<\/p>\n

Vatuvei\u2019s manager Jay Younis, meanwhile, insists his client is also willing to step up and into the mix, against either \u2018Big Nasty\u2019 or other crossover fighters.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause we believe Manu, right now, could beat a lot of genuine heavyweight boxers,\u201d the Alpha Boxing agent stressed, \u201clet alone ex-footy players.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if it\u2019s Justin Hodges, Jarrod Wallace, NAS, whoever, line \u2018em up. Manu wants to be as active as possible over the next 12 months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vatuvei agreed that if No Limit wants him to build into a NAS fight, he will happily throw down against other NRL Old Boys.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst time around, fighting those guys was one of my goals,\u201d he said, referencing a hit list that was topped by Cronulla premiership hero Gallen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hadn\u2019t had talks [with No Limit] or anything like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I was looking at all those guys who were jumping into the ring.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now again, I\u2019ll take on anyone, brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever is keen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked his memories of NAS on the rugby league field, and if they ever had a run in, the Warriors favourite grins: \u201cI\u2019ve never been one of those guys who wanted to cause trouble on the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I run at you, that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously I do know he has beef with some of the other boys. But regardless, I\u2019m up for the challenge. If he is ready for it, so am I.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nikita is pure JACKED as he weighs in | 03:29<\/p>\n

While he doesn\u2019t boast an amateur boxing career, Vatuvei has previously sparred the likes of longtime Kiwi cruiserweight star Shane Cameron.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich was pretty scary,\u201d he laughs. \u201cJumping into the ring with a champion like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I really made sure I was ready, knowing it would only take one good punch to put me down.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it was a great experience and I can\u2019t wait to get some more fights now.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I realise I\u2019ll have to prove myself. Get fans excited and show them why I should be the guy getting into the ring for those big fights.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019ve always wanted to put on a show. Make sure people enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The retired Warriors winger has also credited his return to professional sports as a way of helping rebuild his life after being jailed for drug importation.<\/p>\n

The fighter added however that, due to his time inside, he is currently prevented from travelling to Australia to compete.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ll always take accountability for my actions,\u201d Vatuvei says. \u201cBut I\u2019m rebuilding my life now and hopeful people see that, over the past three years, I\u2019ve changed enough to come back over there and compete.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was after that initial health scare that my life went off the rails. But I\u2019ve recently been for scans, been cleared to fight, and so now I\u2019m just keen to chase big fights and do as much as I can while the body can still handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about the initial diagnosis, Vatuvei says: \u201cIt was a real scare and meant I had to stop fighting.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then recently, the boys approached me about coming back to the sport and I thought \u2018Ok, maybe we can give this a go\u2019. So I went for another scan and got cleared by the doctors.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo now, I\u2019m good to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is nothing to worry about and I can focus on everything that\u2019s ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"He\u2019s the NRL cult hero who once chased a heavyweight boxing showdown with Paul Gallen \u2014 only to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":413760,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[212699,85,2652,212724,212711,212729,212708,212713,212718,33595,212710,2024,212715,212717,212728,212707,212704,212719,212727,169622,212725,212703,212722,212702,212720,212700,212709,212716,212723,2648,111,139,139680,139682,69,2659,212705,100762,158331,212721,212701,212726,206092,212712,187380,2029,213,103966,212706,77388,212714],"class_list":["post-413759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-amateur-boxing-career","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-barry-hall","tag-boxing-return","tag-brain-cyst","tag-chaotic-swirl","tag-crossover-fighters","tag-crossover-showdown","tag-cult-hero","tag-eddie-hearn","tag-europe","tag-favourite-grins","tag-fight-back","tag-genuine-heavyweight-boxers","tag-gold-teeth","tag-guy-getting","tag-heavyweight-boxing","tag-heavyweight-boxing-showdown","tag-hit-list","tag-incredible-life-story","tag-initial-health-scare","tag-jarrod-wallace","tag-jay-younis","tag-justin-hodges","tag-lucas-browne","tag-manu-vatuvei","tag-mark-hunt","tag-mega-fights-looming","tag-new-south-wales","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nick-walshaw","tag-nikita-tszyu","tag-nz","tag-oceania","tag-oscar-diaz","tag-paul-gallen","tag-premiership-hero","tag-professional-heavyweight-boxing","tag-remarkable-pre-fight-admission","tag-routine-pre-fight-testing","tag-rugby-league-field","tag-shane-cameron","tag-southern-europe","tag-spain","tag-sports","tag-tim-tszyu","tag-tszyu-diaz","tag-wollongong","tag-world-title-dream"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=413759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413759\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/413760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=413759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=413759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=413759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}