Paul Gallen vs Darcy Lussick: Ex-NRL star previews blockbuster boxing fight

Paul Gallen says he fears for Darcy Lussick’s health ahead of their blockbuster fight, admitting he considered whether the fight should be going ahead.

Paul Gallen and Darcy Lussick face off ahead of Wednesday. Picture: No Limit Boxing/Brett Costello

Paul Gallen has sensationally suggested Sonny Bill Williams is running from an $8 million super fight proposal that would see the pair compete twice in 2022.

The revelation comes as the Cronulla premiership hero also expressed fears Darcy Lussick will be seriously hurt in Wednesday’s hyped Main Event bout, warning: “I really think it’s dangerous to his health”.

Now eight years on from his professional debut, Gallen has morphed into a genuine Australian pay-per-view headliner whose three most recent rivals include Justis Huni, Lucas Browne and Mark Hunt.

Watch Paul Gallen vs Darcy Lussick LIVE on Main Event available on Foxtel & Kayo, Wednesday 22nd December from 7pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >

On Wednesday night at The Star, the NSW Origin great headlines an Xmas Footy Fight card set to explode in all the festive chaos that is Origin bad boys, an Olympic debutant, one 135kg strongman, the Ross Dog, even Joey Leilua making throat slitting gestures.

Elsewhere, the TAB also has Gallen at $2.30 to finish Lussick and potentially score himself a $20,000 bonus from promoters for knockout of the night.

Paul Gallen fears for Darcy Lussick’s safety. Picture: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

Yet even if he secures a highlight reel finish, the 40-year-old insists he will only spend one more year in boxing, with potential rivals including Sam Burgess and Williams.

Yet while SBW has publicly agreed to a future showdown between the pair, Gallen says the New Zealander is in fact dodging a multimillion-dollar deal being pitched by famed British promoter Eddie Hearn.

As part of a push to expand streaming service DAZN in Australia, Hearn apparently wants to have Gallen and Williams fight twice next year – with each man earning $2 million per showdown.

Yet Gallen says while his advisor Peter Mitrevski Jnr approached Williams’ team about the fight, it has not been accepted by the Roosters premiership hero.

“So I’m f…ing filthy,” Gallen said.

Paul Gallen is one of Australian boxing’s biggest draws. Picture: Richard Dobson

“We’re talking about life changing money - two fights, $4 million each.

“Who else is getting that sort of cash? There are world champions who don’t get that money.

“It’s unbelievable.

“So given his response do you think that fight with Sonny ever happens? I doubt it.”

Elsewhere, Gallen also suggested Lussick could be the last footballer he ever fights given the beating he expects to put on the former Manly and Parramatta forward.

While the retired Kangaroo has now fought 13 times – and lost just once, against Huni – his rival boasts only the 39 seconds it took to finish Justin Hodges in 2019.

“So I really think this is dangerous for his health,” Gallen said.

“Two weeks ago it started crossing my mind that (the fight) would be something I didn’t want to do.

“Because I could seriously hurt this bloke.

“I deadest thought I might have to stop my body shots so I don’t hurt him.

“But I can’t.

“Over the past couple of years I’ve built up a profile by taking big fights.

“Those fights against Mark Hunt, Lucas Browne and then Justis Huni, they’re three fights nobody else in Australia would have had.

“At the time everyone thought they going to kill me. People thought they were literally going to kill me.

“So initially, I felt sorry for Darcy.

“But I can’t now. I’ve got to smash him.

“I have to destroy him.”

Should Gallen win on Wednesday night, there has been talk of him earning $1 million for a heavyweight showdown with South Sydney premiership hero Burgess.

But as for these former footballers having any idea of what they are up against?

“They’ve got no idea,” Gallen said.

“They’re all macho tough guys, just as I was once. But I’m on a different level now.”

$20k bounty on Gal’s head

Darcy Lussick has vowed to snare a $20,000 bounty placed on the head of Paul Gallen, warning: “If I land my right hand flush, it’s game over”.

Already famous for knocking Justin Hodges cold in only 39 seconds, Lussick is now looking to double down on his reputation as a State of Origin slayer and become the first man to put the lights out on NSW great Gallen.

In an intriguing twist to Wednesday’s Main Event card, promoters No Limit Boxing have promised a $20K bonus to whichever fighter scores the night’s best knockout.

While Gallen has never been kayoed in either boxing or rugby league, Lussick has told The Daily Telegraph he will do exactly that while also suggesting Melbourne prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona “s… himself” when offered a fight.

Asked about earning the Gallen bounty, Lussick replied: “If I land my right hand flush, it’s game over.

“This is the heavyweight division. So you only need that one punch.

“And I do have respect for Gallen.

“In his last fight against Justis Huni, he took a lot of punishment over 10 rounds. I don’t know how he kept going at times.

“So you have to respect that.

“But once the bell goes, it’s all out the window … I’m going in there to win.”

Gallen, meanwhile, suggested Lussick was only now starting to realise the enormity of what he has signed up for, suggesting the former Manly forward is “s....ing himself”.

“I can hear it in your voice,” Gallen said at a Monday press conference inside The Star.

“As a guy, you’re a good guy. It’s nothing personal but I’ve got to smash you.

Joey Leilua was in rare form. Picture: Matt King/Getty

“It [the payday] is all you’re here for. You’re not going to be able to handle what’s coming. I’m going to smash you.”

Back in 2019, Lussick kayoed Hodges in spectacular fashion before then being called out on social media by towering Storm forward Asofa-Solomona.

So what chance Lussick, who has signed a three-fight deal, will go after the Storm enforcer sometime in 2022?

“F… that guy,” Lussick fired.

“He called me out after I beat Hodges, saying ‘don’t fight a retired back’ and stuff like that.

“So I said we’d fight but I don’t know what he’s doing.

“Right now, I think he’s more concerned about his vaccination stance.

“He s… himself.”

But as for who earns that $20,000 bonus on Wednesday night?

Certainly there is no love lost between Joey Leilua and Chris Heighington, with the pair trading barbs at a press conference that also saw Hodges promising to knock retired Newcastle winger Nathan Ross cold.

“I don’t give a s… about him,” Leilua said of Heighington. “I’m going to break him.

“He will be lying on the ground crying for his mummy.

“I’ve told them (No Limit Boxing) do you want me to knock him out quickly, or do you want me to toy with him for three rounds?

Justin Hodges is out for redemption. Picture: Matt King/Getty

“People can say I’m unfit, but you will see Wednesday what I do to him. I’m going to break his nose, break his chin.”

Leilua later added that Heighington had spent his career “on the bench” and had “won nothing”.

To which Heighington quietly pointed out he has actually won two NRL premierships.

“You said f…. f…, f… afterwards in your interview, that’s all anyone remembers you for,” Leilua continued. “You did nothing on that field.

“If it wasn’t for Benji (Marshall), you wouldn’t have won the grand final.”

Hodges, meanwhile, also suggested he would be gunning for that $20K bonus himself against Ross Dog.

“Obviously Darcy got me last time so I’m looking for redemption,” the former Brisbane centre said, referencing the Lussick loss. “The Ross Dog is talking about going to round four, it won’t.

“At some stage I’ll catch him and knock him out.”

Too which, the R-Dog said he was too fast to be caught.

“Too fast,” Hodges replied. “I’ve seen you play football.”

To which Ross shot back: “I’d out run you.”

Originally published as Paul Gallen vs Darcy Lussick: Ex-NRL star previews blockbuster boxing fight