Boxing 2022: Queensland Origin stars Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant to face off in the ring

Mate against mate has taken on a new meaning for ex-Queensland Origin teammates Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant when they step into the ring. And the winner wants only one man next.

As teammates in the State of Origin arena, Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant spilled blood for Queensland.

As fighters, they are ready to go to war as the former Maroons duo chase a potential $1 million Origin super fight with former NSW rival Paul Gallen.

Hodges and Hannant will swap Queensland jumpers for boxing gloves when the Maroons legends collide in a heavyweight showdown at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, June 29 — three days after Origin II.

World-ranked super featherweight Liam Wilson (10-1, 7KO) will headline the main event, to be screened on Fox Sports, but Hodges and Hannant are hellbent on producing fireworks on the undercard.

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Things between Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant are about to become a lot more serious. Picture: Scott's Shotz

The duo took part in the NRL All Stars boxing event in Townsville last year. Hodges lost to Sandor Earl, while Hannant claims he was “robbed” against Josh Papalii, but the former Broncos cohorts now have a shot at redemption with a view to a bigger scalp on the horizon.

Gallen has made more than $2 million from his conversion to boxing and Hannant and Hodges believe victory can set them up for a big-money blockbuster with the NSW Origin legend.

“I know it’s still the fight up here that everyone wants to see,” Hodges said of the possibility of taking on Gallen.

“He’s done some good things in the ring but it doesn’t wash away the sins of wearing a Blues jersey for more than a decade.

“Everyone still hates him up here.

“Everyone hates me down there (NSW), too, so it’s a fight that makes sense, especially here in Queensland.

“Gal’s been the best for so long and I’ve always wanted to test myself against the best. He might not think it, but I know I’ve got the power to knock him out.

“Neither of us are getting any younger and Gal has said he’s hanging up the gloves after this year.

“Obviously, I’ve got to earn the right to fight him and that’s through Ben in two weeks’ time.

“We were supposed to fight in Darwin earlier this year. I know the big boy wanted to get his hands on me then and I thought Gal and him both have a similar build and an incredible self-belief, so it’s the perfect test.”

Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant know that victory could lead to one of them taking on Paul Galen in the ring. Picture: Scott's Shotz

Hannant is renowned for his engine and he believes Hodges may have a glass jaw.

“Hodgo called me out last week in the lead up to Origin and said why won’t you fight me?” Hannant said.

“I said I’d sleep on it, but then I found out he was running his mouth around town telling people I was too soft and too scared to face him, so my mind was made up.

“I thought at this time of year Queenslanders were supposed to stick together.

“He can’t question my integrity and get away with it.

“Hodges has been smashed twice by footy players already (Darcy Lussick and Sandor Earl) and I can’t wait to be the third on June 29.

“He’s already thinking this is going to be a walk in the park, calling out Gallen and Barry Hall to get another payday.

“When I knock him out, it’s going to be me having the negotiations with George Rose and No Limit about taking on Gal and the payday that comes with it.”