John Hopoate ready to ‘KO’ Paul Gallen in heavyweight stoush

Former Sea Eagles star and NRL bad boy John Hopoate has shed 10kgs in six weeks as he prepares to “bash” Cronulla Sharks star Paul Gallen in their much anticipated boxing showdown.

• Sea Eagles stars help lift image of NRL
• how punters rate the Sea Eagles 2019 premiership chances

Former Sea Eagles star and NRL bad boy John Hopoate has shed 10kgs in six weeks as he prepares to “bash” Cronulla Sharks star Paul Gallen in their much anticipated boxing showdown next month.

“I’m going to knock him out,” Hoppa said in an exclusive interview after a demanding sparring session at the South Sydney PCYC. “You’ve got to give it to him, he has been in the ring eight times but he has fought guys who have never fought before.

John Hopoate sparring with Bowie Tupou at South Sydney PCYC in preparation for his boxing bout against Paul Gallen. Picture: John Appleyard.

“It was their first fight so he’s done nothing really.”

And Hopoate warned that the Gallen camp was going to get a rude shock when the Sharks’ skipper steps into the ring at the Hordern Pavilion on February 8.

“They have picked me thinking it is going to be an easy fight for him, they’ve got another thing coming,” Hopoate said.

“Just because I haven’t fought in a few years I still spar every week, I’ve still been in the game.

“I am going to bash Gall and he is going to know it.”

And Hopoate has been putting in the hard yards as he prepares for his first fight in eight years.

“Training has been hard, I have lost 10kgs in six weeks.

John Hopoate has been undergoing a massive fitness regimen. Picture: John Appleyard.

“I’m feeling really good, I’m feeling really confident.

“It is the best I’ve been since I’ve started fighting

“It’s the best condition I’ve been in and my boxing now is better than when I fought for an Australian title.

“Come February 8 I am going to be ready and Gall is going to know I am ready.”

Hopoate, now 44, started his boxing career back in 2005 when he was banned by the NRL.

IN OTHER NEWS