NRL enforcer Matt Lodge is ready to take the next step in his boxing career
Rugby league great Matt Lodge made a successful transition to boxing, with a knockout win over professional boxer Alex Ale. WATCH HIGHLIGHTS
NSW
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Rugby league enforcer Matt Lodge has called out for a fight after making a successful transition to boxing with a knockout win over professional boxer Alex Ale.
With former teammates James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks and Aaron Woods in support, Lodge put a two-round beating on Ale, pummelling his more experienced opponent in the corner before the referee stepped in to stop it. After an eight week training camp, the former Warriors, Sea Eagles, Roosters and Broncos player said he had been in talks about fighting Gallen previously, but that the fight had fallen through.
“Gal had his chance, I offered to do it for free and donate it all and he back-doored it and took the Justin Hodges fight,” Lodge said. “Gal’s done a lot for boxing, I respect him, he was a really good fighter and he’s done a lot for the sport.
“I’ll never say anything disrespectful towards Gal, and if he wants to go to a happy retirement, he deserves it.
“If he wants to come back, it is what it is. Gal’s in it for the money, we both have to be – I offered to do it for free and it didn’t happen.
“I offered to do it for free, for charity, now I get to do it on my terms.”
Gallen has been in talks about having one last fight before permanently hanging up the gloves.
After Lodge’s impressive debut, a match with his heavyweight counterpart would be one of the biggest cross over matches the sport has seen.
Lodge is adamant he’ll give the Cronulla premiership winning captain his toughest fight to date, but revealed there’s a few other footy players calling him out.
“I’ve got a few boys asking to fight, but they can join the back of the queue,” he said. “There’s a long list of them.
Ale has developed a reputation for targeting rugby league players in the ring.
Just two months ago, the heavyweight took on former Dragons prop Jeremy Latimore in a barnburner clash.
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