Raiders coach Ricky Stuart issues blunt boxing warning to Josh Papalii

Ricky Stuart doesn’t want any losers at the Raiders, so big Josh Papalii has a lot on the line when he fights Josh Hannant in February.

Ricky Stuart has issued a blunt warning to Josh Papalii.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has given star prop Josh Papalii a brutal warning ahead of his boxing clash against Ben Hannant.

“He’s given me one message,” Papalii said. “Ricky said; ‘Don’t come back to Canberra if you’re going to lose’.”

But Papalii’s task just become tougher, after Hannant enlisted former world champion Michael Katsidis to prepare him for the bout in Townsville on February 12.

While many expect Papalii to storm through Hannant as he has similarly done to NRL rivals on the field in recent seasons, becoming the best prop in the game, Katsidis is planning a major upset.

Ricky Stuart has issued a blunt warning to Josh Papalii.

“Bring it on,” Katsidis said. “We can’t wait for this fight.

“Everyone is expecting Papalii to knock Ben out, but from what I’ve seen, we are going to see a true champion’s performance from Ben, an Aussie underdog come through.

“Not many people were willing to step up and take this fight.

“Each week we’ve spent together, Ben has given me more confidence. He has a huge heart.”

Papalii had planned to travel to Queensland to train with his cousin, former heavyweight world title contender Alex Leapai.

However, COVID-enforced border closers ruined those plans, and he’s been left to do body sparring with Raiders teammates Curtis Scott and Dunamis Lui, and padwork with wrestling coach Steve Babic.

“I’m not going to settle for any less than winning,” Papalii said.

“I’m pretty confident in myself, I’m really passionate about boxing as well.

“I love the training. I love the one-on-one battle, you don’t have to rely on the player next to you, it’s just you and yourself.

Ben Hannant will not be overwhelmed when he fights Josh Papalii in the All Stars Rugby League Rivals fight night in Townsville.

“I’m really enjoying the preparation. Normally during the off-season, even though I’m on a break, I am thinking about footy 24/7. I’m never too far away from a footy field, playing touch with my cousins.

“This has been a change-up, the boxing training is giving my mind a rest from footy thoughts, and mentally it’s giving me a new challenge. I’m learning to adapt, I’ve sparred bigger guys and smaller, quicker guys, and you have to adjust quickly.”

The three-round fight between Papalii and Hannant is part of the All Stars Fight Night at Townsville Entertainment Centre, and will be broadcast pay-per-view on Main Event and Kayo.

Michael Katsidis has been training Ben Hannant for his fight. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Katsidis, a legendary warrior who held the interim WBO lightweight title twice and had epic battles with Juan Manuel Marquez and Joel Casamayor, said Hannant will not be overwhelmed.

“There are different stresses in boxing, fear when you’re walking into the ring, and in training you can push a guy too far but with Ben, I can push him as far as he can go and he’s like a robot,” Katsidis said.

“Ben has done an Ironman triathlon (a 3.8km swim, 42.2km run and 180km bike ride in over 11 hours in 2018), and he told us the story of what kept him going. He’s got eight kids, and he’s told them from a young age, ‘Hannants don’t fall’.

“Before the triathlon, his eight-year-old daughter told him, ‘Dad, Hannants don’t fall’. When he felt like giving up on that run, he had his daughter’s voice in his head.

“Hannants don’t fall. Hannants don’t get knocked out.”

Originally published as Raiders coach Ricky Stuart issues blunt boxing warning to Josh Papalii