Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Paul Gallen isn’t fazed one bit about coming out of retirement to step back into the ring against a much younger and bigger opponent.
That’s despite the 45-year-old former Cronulla Sharks champion not being tipped to win his bout against ex-Melbourne Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona in four weeks time.
Asofa-Solomona is much heavier than Gallen at 130kgs, about 20cm taller and 15 years younger.
Those differences were noticeable when the two faced off at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday.
Gallen is the toughest Australian sports person of all time but Asofa-Solomona is arguably the biggest in terms of size, boxing promoter George Rose said.
“I have warned (Gallen) from the start that he shouldn’t have taken this fight, that this isn’t one that he needs, or that he could compete with Nelson,” Rose said.
Those comments didn’t impress the former NSW Blues captain.
“I’m going to be 45-year-old man that’s going to smash this bloke and then hopefully you can get off your knees to him,” Gallen responded to Rose.
“Honestly, it’s been been embarrassing the way you’re talking about his three awesome fights”.
Asofa-Solomona’s three professional bouts were against fellow ex-NRL forwards Jeremy Latimore, Jarrod Wallace and George Burgess.
And each came by knockout.
But Gallen has faced legitimate opponents and made $25 million from his 19 professional fights, having won 16 of those and eight by knockout.
“He’s not f***ing good,” Gallen added.
“He’s a big man, you can’t take that away from him. He’s dangerous. But if he hits me its not going to be that great.
“At the end of the day, unless you have some sort of background in combat sports, you can’t start boxing at 30 years of age or 29 years of age and think you’re going to be that good”.
Asofa-Solomona was a little more respectful when discussing his adversary at Moore Park.
“He called me a rat, dog and a pig,” Asofa-Solomona said.
“But there’s respect there. He’s had a great boxing career.
“This is the fight I need to go to that next level. And now we’re here. I’m just so glad that he’s here.”
The main event fight will take place at Sydney’s TikTok Convention centre on November 6.
