Ex-Sea Eagle star ready to KO Justin Hodges in pro boxing debut
HE has undergone an amazing transformation into a boxer and now a former Sea Eagles star is ready to put ex-NRL player Justin Hodges on the canvas in his pro fight debut this Friday.
Manly
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AFTER undergoing an amazing transformation into a boxer, former Sea Eagles star Darcy Lussick is ready to knock out ex-NRL star Justin Hodges in his first pro fight on Friday night.
The Beacon Hill Bears junior, who is now playing for the Toronto Wolfpack, returned home to the northern beaches to undertake a punishing preparation for the fight at the First State Super Theatre.
“I’m feeling great, my dad (Jason) has been training me, it’s been a bloody tough six weeks,” the hardman prop said.
“It’s been a lot tougher than I thought it would be.”
Now Lussick, 30, is ready to reap the benefits from all that hard work when he steps into the ring for his boxing debut against the former Kangaroo and Queensland State of Origin centre.
“There is a lot of difference between rugby league fit and boxing fit, but this is probably the best physical shape I’ve been on for a couple of years,” he said.
“My body shape has changed a lot, I’ve lost some weight and put on a bit of muscle.”
He has one goal in mind when the gloves are on- and that is to put Hodges onto the canvas.
“That is the plan, 100 per cent … hopefully in the first (round),” Lussick said.
He said the fight was originally set for three two-minute rounds, went to four two-minute rounds and will now be three three-minute rounds.
“They have tried changing up the rounds on me, they are doing everything they can to help him but I don’t really care what they change it to,” Lussick said.
Nor is he bothered by the trash talk from Hodges, which included saying he had never heard of Lussick before.
“I don’t really pay attention to it, it’s not going to help him on Friday night,” Lussick said.
“I’m not nervous yet but I’m sure on the night I will be.”
The proud Manly local junior left the Sea Eagles in April last year after a falling out with then-coach Trent Barrett and joined the Wolfpack where he has played a key role in the club’s stunning elevation to the Super League competition.
Next season he4 will have Sonny Bill Williams as new teammate.
“I always wanted to play for Manly since I can first remember, so to be able to do that was a lifelong dream,” Lussick said.
“I met some great people and am still friends with a lot of people there.”