Paul Gallen and Justin Hodges have traded verbal blows all week, but now it’s time for the pair to put their differences aside in the ring.
The two rugby league legends go head-to-head in what will be Gallen’s final professional fight and this is just one of the highly anticipated bouts on Wednesday night’s stacked card.
Headlining the event will be Australian boxing villain Michael Zerafa, who will be looking to take one last step towards a world title blockbuster when he takes on Danilo Creati.
You can follow it here at foxsports.com.au for all the latest updates on every fight!
Watch Gallen vs Hodges 2 and Michael Zerafa’s return to the ring LIVE in the main event available on Foxtel & Kayo Sports, Wednesday 23 November from 19:00 AEDT ORDER NOW >
Gal & Hodges CLASH on long rounds | 01:07
NRL BEAST COPS REALITY CHECK ON PRO DEBUT
Rabbitohs forward Daniel Suluka-Fifita’s professional boxing debut has not gone to plan, comprehensively beaten by Bryce Jones in a unanimous decision loss (39-37 x3).
Suluka-Fifita, who was highly rated as one of the NRL’s top boxing prospects, was quite busy in the opening round, working the body of Jones.
Newcastle heavyweight Jones, however, began to find plenty of success with his big right, forcing Suluka-Fifita to the ropes in the first round.
The Rabbitohs beast didn’t back down, but as he swung with intent, it was Jones who was actually landing and doing plenty of damage too.
Suluka-Fifita did well to withstand the onslaught and send him into a third round, having appeared to be in serious trouble in the latter stages of the second round.
In the end, though, Suluka-Fifita needed something decisive in the final round and couldn’t find it, with Jones taking the win after hitting 78 from his 217 shots to Suluka-Fifita’s 37 to 11.
Daniel Suluka- Fifita battles Bryce Jones. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“He’s exhausted,” Jeff Horn said in a commentary.
“I can’t even get back to the corner. Just more grounded by Jones, all bigger shots. Fifita started off really strong but Jones’ punch build-up wore him down. Jones just kept coming and wore him down. Jones he just got clean shots, backing him up.”
‘YOU SHOULD TUNE IN’: HODGES’ CHEAP SHOOT WARNING TO GALLEN
Hodges lit the fuse for Wednesday night’s fight with Gallen when he claimed at Monday’s press conference that he had been taking “cheap shots.”
“I have to,” he said, turning to Gallen and adding, “Yes.”
“I hear he’s been doing it, so why not? I’ve been learning from some good opponents at home and why not. If the ref doesn’t break it up. You’ll just have to tune in on Wednesday.”
The last fight between the two was marred by Hodges’ accusations of an “illegal jab,” which Jeff Fenech claims would have won by disqualification had it stood.
Gallen, however, has consistently defended himself by claiming that the punch was legal if he had regard to the referee’s instructions before the fight.
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He also accused Hodges of hitting him “late” on one occasion in the fight, but it seems his Queensland rival is ready to test the limits again.
Although tell Gallen that and he doesn’t seem too concerned, it suggests that Hodges will have a much tougher challenge this time around as he is no longer trailing Ben Hannant.
“You’re on your own this time,” Gallen said at the news conference earlier this week.
“What are you going to do? You’ve got to screw yourself. You’re not the third man in this weather. You go in alone, I’m not going to get tired, you’re not going to have your 110-pound striker doing all the damage yourself.
“You’re going to be screwed. It’s in every type and I know it’s in every type.”
‘DELUSIONAL’ RIVAL IN THE WAY OF ZERAFA’S TITLE DREAMS
While Gallen and Hodges will look to put their differences aside on Wednesday, there is much more in store for Zerafa.
He is eyeing a blockbuster world title fight with boxing superstar Gennady Golovkin, but to get there he must first defeat Danilo Creati, who Zerafa branded “delusional” earlier in the week.
Michael Zerafa and Danilo Creati pose before their fight. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
This came after Creati, who you can read more about here , claimed he had seen hours of footage of Zerafa’s previous fights and was unimpressed.
“I literally know his every move, his favorite combo, what he does, when he hits his body, how many times he blinks from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to sleep, so I don’t think he understands what he’s going through posing [into]Creati said.
“Every fight is not impressing me.”
Zerafa, however, had plenty to say in response, calling Creati “delusional” and hoping for a chance to “shoe” his chatty rival.
“For me, I’m 30-4 and 30 of those fighters, I’ve stopped 20 of them,” Zerafa said.
“He stopped one of them. I’m excited and can’t wait to shut him up once and for all.”
Speaking at fight night, Zerafa even admitted that he hadn’t seen a second of Creati’s previous bouts.
“No, not at all,” he said.
“Respectfully, I’m not saying it’s because he’s not a name or because he hasn’t had that many fights, I just haven’t seen him, I don’t really look at any of my opponents. I just play Michael Zerafa and if that wasn’t enough, it wasn’t meant to be.”
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Zerafa to a fight win GGG | 02:29
EX-ROOSTERS STAR, RISING BUNNIES GUN FAN DEBUT
Elsewhere in the early hours of the night, all eyes will be on former Roosters front rower Sio Siua Taukeiaho as he makes his pro boxing debut against former NRL tough man Jaiman Lowe.
Lowe, who has one professional fight to his name, a third-round TKO loss to undefeated John Maila, knows he is the underdog for Wednesday’s fight.
It’s not a label he necessarily believes, though, especially considering Taukeiaho has yet to prove himself in the ring.
Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Jaiman Lowe face off. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“Everyone praised me, including my middle daughter,” he said at this week’s press conference.
“She thinks they’re going to kill me. It’s interesting that everyone has such a strong favorite when nobody has seen him fight and very limited people have seen me fight. Let’s see what happens.
“I know what I can do.”
“You must be a piece of shit yourself!” | 01:20
Taukeiaho also seems to know what he’s going to do and has been planning accordingly, preparing for Lowe to come out hard but tire as the fight wears on.
“He’s going to bring power, that’s for sure,” Taukeiaho said.
“I’m pretty sure there’s no speed, I’ll work with him and see how we go, if not I’ll close it out in the second round. I definitely want to win if not I’ll knock him out.”
WHAT TIME DO THE FIGHTS START?
The first fight is scheduled for 4:35 p.m., with the main card and pay-per-view event officially kicking off around 7 p.m.
Gallen and Hodges should take the walks around 9:00 PM, with Zerafa and Creati shortly after around 9:30 PM, depending on how long the previous fights last.
FULL FIGHT CARD
Michael Zerafa vs. Danilo Creati – Middleweight
Paul Gallen vs. Justin Hodges II – Heavyweight
Paul Aokuso vs. David Zegarra – lightweight
Sio Siua Taukeiaho vs. Jaiman Lowe – heavyweight
Ty Telford vs. Joel Taylor: Welterweight
Liam Talivaa vs. Louis Marsters – heavyweight
Micky Pengue vs. Ben Hussain: Super Welterweight
Koen Mazoudier defeated. Wade Ryan by unanimous decision (77-76, 77-75, 77-75) – super welterweight
Shanell Dargan vs Chandni Mehra ends in a draw (39-37, 37-39, 38-38) – Featherweight
Bryce Jones def. Daniel Suluka-Fifita (39-37 x3) — heavyweight
Tommy Browne defeated. Jorge Kapeen by unanimous decision (59-55, 60-54, 59-55) – super welterweight
Deanha Hobbs def. Tywarna Campbell by Unanimous Decision (49-46 x3) – Super Featherweight
George Peterson vs. Gary Phillips ends in a draw (39-37, 37-39, 38-38) – Heavyweight
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