Paul Gallen denies he is set to fight Aussie UFC veteran Mark Hunt
CRONULLA skipper Paul Gallen has hosed down talk of a lucrative money fight with UFC veteran Mark Hunt, stressing: “It’s not something I’m looking for”.
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CRONULLA skipper Paul Gallen has hosed down talk of a lucrative money fight with UFC veteran Mark Hunt, stressing: “It’s not something I’m looking for”.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that, despite headlines to the contrary, neither Gallen nor Aussie heavyweight Lucas Browne are looking to box Hunt should his UFC contract expire this year.
While Hunt and his management team have been approached several times in recent weeks by fight promoters looking to stage one, or both, bouts, the Sharks skipper insists none of the offers are coming from him.
Facing American Curtis Blaydes at UFC 221 in Perth this Sunday, Hunt has only three fights left on his current contract.
And given the 43-year-old is involved in ongoing legal proceedings against the UFC, there has been talk the Sydneysider will finish his storied career inside the boxing ring.
As a result, Gallen has been talked up as a potential rival, given the Sharkies favourite currently sits undefeated after eight professional fights.
The other is Browne, who briefly held the WBA world title before being stripped in contentious circumstances.
Yet when asked about the rumours on Tuesday, Gallen said the Hunt fight wasn’t one he was chasing.
Instead, the NRL forward remains hopeful of earning his match-anticipated bout with All Black Sonny Bill Williams.
“A bloke called me and asked if I’d fight Mark Hunt,’’ the Cronulla captain said. “It wasn’t me pursuing it.
“And they’ve obviously gone and done the same thing with Mark.
“All I said was that we’re friends and I wouldn’t contemplate it without talking to him first.
“He’s preparing for a UFC fight so I haven’t spoken to him ... (but) it’s not something I’m looking for.
“There’s nothing there. It’s definitely not me looking at a fight like that.”
Browne, too, said he had no interest in challenging the knockout artist dubbed ‘Super Samoan’.
Currently, the tattooed heavyweight is preparing for his own return to the ring against Englishman Dillian Whyte, at the 02 Arena in London next month.
Asked if he was interested in a boxing showdown with Hunt, Browne laughed: “Nope, not in anyway.
“I’m a boxer who wants to seriously box. Not play games.”
Hunt has been at war with UFC president Dana White ever since July, 2016, when he fought American superstar Brock Lesnar at UFC 200 in Las Vegas.
Shortly after their bout, which Hunt lost, the hulking WWE Superstar popped for performance enhancing drugs.
The Sydneysider has since taken White, Lesnar and the UFC to court, alleging in his suit that the defendants “affirmatively circumvented and obstructed fair competition for their own benefit”.
As a result, Hunt believes he now has just three fights to win himself that elusive UFC heavyweight title.
Should he beat Blaydes on Sunday, the MMA veteran will most likely be given an opponent inside the division’s top 5. Win that, and Hunt would then put himself in contention for a championship bout.