Paul Gallen v Justin Hodges fight: Sonny Bill Williams cops epic spray from Gal
After taking down his great rival Justin Hodges, Paul Gallen used his time in the spotlight to land some vicious verbal jabs on Sonny Bill Williams.
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Paul Gallen has revealed his one regret through his incredible sporting career was never fighting Sonny Bill Williams, and in his last press conference as a professional athlete slammed his rival for the insult that ended any chance of a bout between the pair taking place.
Gallen defeated Justin Hodges by unanimous decision at Sydney’s ICC on Wednesday night, concluding an 18-fight career that followed his immeasurable rugby league career.
But the one fight everyone wanted to see, Gallen vs SBW, will never eventuate because Williams questioned Gallen’s character.
“We’ve never had much beef along the way, I’ve always just said he’s scared to fight me,” Gallen told reporters as he was surrounded by friends and family after his victory.
“He called me out saying 60-40 contract, we’ve never had beef.
“And then a couple of months ago he came out and said ‘He’s just not a good person’. That was the end of it for me.
“Who the f--- is he to judge me as a person? That was the worst thing.
“Like I said, there was no beef between us, it was just tit-for-tat, I want to fight you, you want to fight me. But for him to try to judge me as a person, that’s the end of it.
“So I came out and said what I thought about him, so there’s no relationship there. I never want there to be, I don’t really care.
“It ended when that comment came, I told everyone what I thought, I went back twice as hard.
“It will be a pub debate forever.”
Gallen, 41, earlier this week said not even a guaranteed $5 million payday would entice him out of retirement to fight Williams, because it would mean his rival also earning a huge payday.
“I’ve never had an issue with Sonny Bill Williams, I’ve always liked him, always respected him,” Gallen said.
“But he always waits for someone to get too old to fight them, and that’s what he’s waiting for with me, and I’m not going to give him that chance, now that I’m past my best.
“He’s done it to all his opponents, and he got caught out recently. That’s life.
“I am disappointed we didn’t do it, we should have fought twice. We should’ve fought four or five years ago when I was calling him out, and whoever lost could’ve said ‘We were footy players back then, we’re professional boxers’ and do it again and made more money.
“And then if it’s one-all, do a huge decider. And if someone has won 2-1 full credit to that person.”
Williams lost his first boxing match recently when stopped by Mark Hunt, who Gallen defeated two years ago, but the former NSW Origin skipper believes Williams should fight on.
“I don’t like him, but I said to someone the other day, ‘Would you keep fighting if you were Sonny Bill?’ Yeah I would. He’s 37 years of age,” Gallen said.
“Look what I’ve done, I retired [from the NRL] at 38, look at the blokes I fought, the money I made.
“He’s still got it, he can still do it. He got beaten by Mark Hunt who is a legend, one of the hardest punchers in the world.
“I’m not saying Sonny should stop, I’m just saying I’ll never fight him.”
‘I’VE HAD ENOUGH’: GALLEN SIGNS OFF HIS WAY
Paul Gallen has retired on top, defeating his great rival Justin Hodges in the final act of his remarkable sporting career.
The NRL legend won a six-round decision over the Queenslander at Sydney’s ICC, ending his 18-fight career with a record of 15-2-1 (8KO).
“I did what I had to do, didn’t take any risks, he’s a big boy and has a lot of power, I wasn’t prepared to take too many risks,” Gallen said.
“Not many people get to go out with a victory, especially in boxing, so it’s good to.
“I’m just glad it’s all over, I’ve had enough. It’s time to pull the pin.”
Gallen won every round on two judges cards, and five-one on the other, with scores of 60-54, 60-54, 59-55.
Gallen was busier in the first round, backing Hodges against the ropes twice.
Things got heated in the second after Hodges complained of Gallen hitting him to the back of the head. Hodges then landed a string of sharp jabs, before Gallen fired back with a strong hook.
There was more back-end-forth action in the third but Hodges was again aggrieved at Gallen, complaining to the referee about an illegal blow to the back of the head. Gallen continued to press forward and work on Hodges on the ropes.
Gallen landed a flush right on Hodges in the fourth, the best punch of the fight to that point, as Hodges sought to land the one big shot to turn the tide.
Gallen remained tenacious in the fifth, and while Hodges landed some jabs it wasn’t enough to deter his opponent.
In fact, it was Gallen who landed the better shots in the sixth and final round to stamp his authority on the bout and finish victorious.
Zerafa loses crowd but gets what he came for
Michael Zerafa overcame a hostile crowd and a wily opponent in Danilo Creati to record victory in his return to Main Event.
It was a far from explosive performance as Creati proved tough to hit, forcing Zerafa into a tactical middleweight battle that was razor thin until the final rounds.
While the judges had Zerafa winning by wide margins — 99-91, 98-93 and 98-92 — it was a close fight that the Italian felt he’d won as the crowd chanted “Zerafa’s a wanker”.
“It was a pretty shitty performance from my end,” Zerafa said.
“I overlooked him. He’s just awkward, I got the W, that’s what we came here to do, now I’m on to bigger and better things.”
Zerafa (31-4, 19KO) inflicted the first loss on Creati (8-1, 1KO), and then called out Tim Tszyu and Gennady Golovkin.
Zerafa used his jab to find range in round one, but Creati effectively used his defence in round two to make life tricky for his opponent, and landed a flush body shot.
Both were tentative in the third, but opened up more in the fourth with Zerafa targeting the body and Creati landing a hook.
Creati countered well in the fifth, and after landing a hook smiled and raised his eyebrows at Zerafa.
In the sixth, Zerafa was more aggressive and hit the body, while Creati continued manoeuvring in and out of range but absorbed shots.
The seventh was Zerafa’s, as he landed some flush right hands with Creati backing up. Zerafa also had the better of the eighth, controlling the ring and pressuring Creati who was not busy enough.
The ninth was a similar affair as Zerafa managed to land the crisper shots and Creati struggled to manufacture a tide-turning moment.
BEST OF THE UNDERCARD
AOKUSO KEEPS FENECH’S RECORD WITHIN REACH
Paulo Aokuso scored a sizzling second-round knockout of experienced Peruvian David Zegarra (35-8-1, 22KO).
Aokuso, walked to the ring by his NRL star cousin Joseph Sua’ali’i — who was draped in a Samoan flag — showcased all his brilliant skills in a comfortable victory.
Aokuso (3-0, 3KO) dropped Zegarra in the first round with a short right, but had earlier hurt him with a body shot.
He then stalked Zegarra in the second, and the southpaw landed his signature power left, leaving his rival on the canvas while Aokuso stared at his lethal left glove.
Light-heavyweight star Aokuso afterwards reiterated his desire to break Jeff Fenech’s Australian record of becoming the fastest man to a world title — in six fights.
ROOSTER SHOWS PLENTY OF SMARTS ON DEBUT
Roosters prop Sio Siua Taukeiaho looked like an experienced campaigner on debut, defeating the 135kg Jaiman Lowe via unanimous decision.
Taukeiaho won 40-35, 40-35 39-36 and showed far more boxing skill than some of his NRL colleagues who’ve stepped into the ring.
He used his jab effectively, moved off both feet well and showed pugilism smarts in a promising first fight.
Taukeiaho avoided Lowe’s lurching hooks and peppered the former league prop with a sharp left jab.
Lowe slipped into the ropes in the second round but it was ruled a knockdown, and Taukeiaho controlled the third, putting him in the precarious position of needing a knockout in the final round.
But Taukeiaho cleverly jabbed the body of Lowe (0-2) in the last round to ensure a win.
TAYLOR-MADE FOR BIGGER THINGS
Joel Taylor claimed the Australian welterweight title with a stoppage of Ty Telford, marking him as a bona fide prospect in the division.
The undefeated Taylor (9-0, 4KO) began cautiously and suffered a cut over his left eye in the second round as Telford landed some big shots.
But in the third Telford was momentarily stunned by a thudding Taylor combination as the contest ebbed and flowed.
Taylor continued landing telling shots in the fourth, then rocked Telford in the fifth with a flurry that knocked out his mouthguard.
The game Telford (8-2-1, 4KO) kept coming forward in the sixth but absorbed tremendous punishment, and by the end his corner had seen enough and threw in the towel.
DOMINANT DISPLAY CONTINUES UNBEATEN RUN
Heavyweight Liam Taliva’a continued his unbeaten start to his career, defeating Louis Marsters via unanimous four-round decision.
Taliva’a dropped Marsters with a left hook in the first round, but was fortunate not to have been deducted a point for landing another punch as Marsters sat on the canvas.
Taliva’a (3-0, 1KO) used his significant size advantage — nearly 10kg heavier — to bust open the nose of Marsters in the second, causing him to spray bloody mist through his nostrils.
While Marsters (2-4, 2KO) tried to rally in the third and fourth, Taliva’a used his jab and heavier blows to seal victory 40-35 on all cards.
KEON COMBOS GET THE JUDGES’ APPROVAL
Koen Mazoudier (11-2, 4KO) avenged last year’s defeat to Wade Ryan (20-11, 7KO) by claiming a unanimous points decision in an exhausting battle.
The pair traded leather for eight gruelling rounds, and while Ryan landed more blows to the body, the judges favoured Mazoudier’s tricky combinations.
Mazoudier prevailed 77-75, 77-75 and 77-76 in the super-welterweight fight.
LUCKY ESCAPE WITH SCORES ALL TIED UP
Shanell Dargan was lucky to escape with a draw against Indian Chandni Mehra in a women’s flyweight battle.
Mehra landed the cleaner shots throughout, but the judges were split, with one scoring it 39-37 for Dargan, another 39-37 for Mehra and the third giving it a 38-all draw, resulting in a split draw.
It was the second draw for Dargan (1-1-2), while Mehra moves to (9-4-1 (2KO).
BUNNY COMES UP SHORT IN DEBUT
South Sydney Rabbitohs prop Daniel Suluka-Fifita fell short in his professional debut, losing a four-round decision to Bryce Jones.
While he looked solid attacking the body early, Suluka-Fifita was repeatedly caught by Jones (2-1, 1KO) off the break and all three judges gave him three rounds to one, 39-37 across the board.
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