Former Manly hardman Darcy Lussick promises victory over Justin Hodges

Darcy Lussick has guaranteed he’ll beat Justin Hodges when the two former NRL hardman meet in a blockbuster boxing bout in December.

Lussick is hard at work for his professional debut. Picture by Sam Ruttyn.

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Darcy Lussick has guaranteed a victory over Justin Hodges when the two former NRL hardman meet in the boxing ring in December, and if he doesn’t he faces an embarrassing predicament.

“Darcy will be walking home if he doesn’t beat Hodges,” Lussick’s father and trainer Jason said.

The two heavyweights will clash on the undercard of the Tim Tszyu v Jack Brubaker fight on December 6 at Darling Harbour’s ICC Exhibition Centre.

“I’m going to win,” Lussick declared.

“We haven’t seen what Hodges (2-0,2KO) can do as a boxer because his two opponents have been poor,” he said, before Jason added: “It’s a bit embarrassing”.

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Lussick is hard at work for his professional debut. Picture by Sam Ruttyn.

Hodges’ two previous opponents, Rob Baron and Troy McMahon, were both debutants and easily outmatched but Lussick said he would be in tip-top shape for his professional boxing debut.

“I’m training three times a day, I’ve got a good seven weeks and I’m going to be well prepared,” Lussick said.

“There’s plenty of people who will want to see me knock him out, but there will also be plenty of people wanting to see me get knocked out.”

Lussick left the NRL under controversial circumstances when he and Jason - respectively playing and working for the Manly Sea Eagles - verbally clashed with then coach Trent Barrett before Darcy was given an early release.

He joined the Toronto Wolfpack and has helped them get promotion to the English Super League for next season.

Lussick was known for his fiery temper on the field. Picture by Sam Ruttyn.

Jason Lussick, a notable security figure in Sydney who has protected international royalty and celebrities as well as local billionaires, will train his son for the fight.

“I’ve got three boys and I taught all of them how to throw punches from a young age,” Jason said.

“When he was younger I had him training with Johnny Lewis, but footy took over and he concentrated on that, but we’ve tried to get fights in the past couple of years and it hasn’t worked out.

“Hodges will know how to prepare as an athlete because he’s played footy at the highest level, but I’m not sure he’ll be able to prepare as a boxer going by his last two fights, if you can call them fights.

Lussick has guaranteed victory over Hodges. Picture by Sam Ruttyn.

“If Darcy loses he’ll be walking home.”

Hodges, 37, is eyeing an eventual showdown with State of Origin rival Paul Gallen, but will need to dispatch of Lussick to have any chance.

Lussick, 30, is on a mammoth three-year deal with Toronto worth a reported $450,000 a season.

“I don’t need the money, I’m not doing this for money, I just want to test myself,” Lussick said.

“I do have a lot of respect for boxing. You switch off for one second in league, and the other team scores a try. You switch off for one second in boxing and you get knocked out.

“It is much tougher sport than rugby league.”

Originally published as Former Manly hardman Darcy Lussick promises victory over Justin Hodges