Former NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona signs professional boxing contract

Despite attracting lucrative offers from Parramatta and the Warriors in the NRL, Nelson Asofa-Solomona has opted to hang up the footy boots and instead put on the boxing gloves.

Former Storm and NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona is ready to shock the world in professional boxing.

Code Sports can reveal Asofa-Solomona has signed a professional boxing contract in his plan to emulate Sharks NRL legend Paul Gallen and become a heavyweight star.

Gallen once estimated he pocketed more than $5 million from boxing and now the monstrous ‘NAS’ is following in his footsteps to test himself in the fight game.

The 130kg giant has been weighing up his future for the past month in the wake of his shock decision to quit the Storm despite having two years left to run on his NRL contract.

Asofa-Solomona attracted lucrative offers from NRL rivals Parramatta and the Warriors after severing ties with Melbourne following their grand-final loss to the Broncos.

The New Zealand Test prop was also linked with R360 and confirmed he had fielded an approach from the controversial rebel league.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s NRL days are over. Picture: NRL Photos

But R360’s decision to delay its unsanctioned league by two years until 2028 has convinced Asofa-Solomona to abort plans to play rugby in favour of a career in professional boxing.

It is understood the veteran of 215 first-grade games is not planning to return to the NRL next season.

Asofa-Solomona told Code Sports last month his management were in talks with No Limit and he is expected to formally join forces with Australia’s No.1 boxing promotional firm.

No Limit is home to a coterie of Australian boxing stars, including the Tszyu brothers, Tim and Nikita, and world-title challengers Sam Goodman, Liam Wilson and Michael Zerafa.

Now Asofa-Solomona is committing himself to one of the world’s most brutal sporting professions in his bid to become a heavyweight pay-per-view star.

Gallen underwent a stunning career metamorphosis from State of Origin and NRL champion to prize fighter, winning 16 of his 19 professional bouts _ including a brilliant first-round knockout of former heavyweight world champion Lucas Browne in 2021.

At 200cm and 130kg, Asofa-Solomona has the size and power to be one of the most intimidating heavyweights in Australian boxing.

The 29-year-old showcased his frightening power two years ago, destroying former NRL rival Jarrod Wallace in a three-round demolition in his boxing baptism in Townsville.

Asofa-Solomona was hoping to juggle boxing with a monster payday playing R360, but the rebel league’s two-year setback will see him turn pro in the fight game.

Many boxing pundits believe Asofa-Solomona has the ability to win an Australian heavyweight title, if not be competitive on the world stage with dedicated training.

Asofa-Solomona told Code Sports during the recent Pacific Championships that he was eyeing a career in boxing.

Former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker training with Melbourne Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Picture: No Limit Boxing.

Now, his defection to boxing is complete.

“Boxing is something I’m passionate about,” he said last month.

“When I wake-up in the morning you know that (in boxing) someone is trying to take off your head, so you’ve got to train hard and you’ve got to stay on.

“You don’t have to rely on other people to get the job done, it’s just you and your team.

“They (his boxing management) have been working with (No Limit) to get a fight.

“I’m looking for something that gets me up in the morning and that’s (boxing) one of them.

“I’ve got a lot to give. I still believe my best years are in front of me.

“I just need to find a place that can unlock that.”

Asofa-Solomona’s trainer Jake Ellis, the son of Australian boxing legend Lester Ellis, recalled in 2023 how the Storm prop wreaked carnage in sparring before his fight against Wallace.

“We’ve had about half-a-dozen spars over the last six or seven weeks and everyone Nelson has sparred he has either knocked out, cut open or we’ve had broken bones,” he said at the time.

“He was sparring one kid. He threw an uppercut and it hit the kid’s forearm so hard that his arm just snapped completely.

“I have never seen an uppercut break someone‘s arm in half.

“I’ve worked with a lot of professional boxers, including Michael Zerafa (Australia’s No.1 middleweight), but I’ve never seen a guy Nelson’s size do the stuff he is able to do.

“There’s a lot of hype, but he is a frightening prospect.”

Originally published as Former NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona signs professional boxing contract