Paul Gallen v Lucas Browne locked in after promoter paid $100,000 demand

The biggest fight of Paul Gallen’s career will go ahead after his camp ceded to a staggering ultimatum by rival Lucas Browne’s promoter.

Paul Gallen taking on Mark Hunt last December. Picture: Getty Images

Paul Gallen will fight former heavyweight world champion Lucas Browne after promoters No Limit caved in to the demands of rival Dean Lonergan for an astonishing $100,000 fee.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal former NRL star George Rose, now CEO of No Limit Boxing, has agreed to the payment and will transfer the six figures to Lonergan’s D&L Events early next week before an official announcement is made.

The fight will be held on April 21, with the venue to be determined.

The unbeaten Gallen faces his toughest test, with ‘Big Daddy’ Browne having held the WBA belt in 2016 after stopping Ruslan Chagaev, the first Australian to hold a recognised heavyweight world title.

Watch Boxing Live & On-Demand on Kayo. Selected international fights, classic bouts and more. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

Lonergan made the $100,000 demand after signing Browne to a two-fight contract that would see the 41-year-old face his rising star Justis Huni in the second fight, in June.

Gallen (10-0-1, 5KO) then called out Browne (29-2, 25KO) but because he is with Lonergan’s rival No Limit, Browne could not get a release.

Lonergan said that should Browne lose to Gallen, the money he spent to sign Browne, and the mooted fight with Huni, would go down the drain.

After a week of deliberation, Rose has made the decision to pay Lonergan $100,000, on top of Browne’s purse of $130,000 as well as Gallen’s fee, which will be significantly higher.

“I was taken aback by the demand for that sort of money, I won’t deny that, my initial reaction was to reject it,” Rose said.

“But before I became involved in boxing as a promoter, I was a fan. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been left disappointed by major fights that all fight fans wanted to see that never happened, or happened years too late, because of promotional greed.

Paul Gallen will now fight Lucas Browne after their promoter’s came to an agreement.

“Yes, $100,000 is a lot of money to pay to someone not involved in the event, but I truly believe this will be the biggest heavyweight fight in the modern era in Australia.

“And if I’m wrong and end up losing six figures, well, I will still be proud to have been involved in putting on an event that I know fight fans around the country want to see.

“I never want to be the guy that holds back a fighter’s ambition. I know Gallen desperately wants to fight Lucas.

“To deny him that chance because of bickering with another promoter — I don’t want that to be the reason he is denied a major milestone in his sporting career.”

Lonergan refused to comment when contacted.

Gallen, 39, has fought nobody of the calibre of Browne, who has fought the likes of James Toney and Dillian Whyte, and knocked out Gallen’s foe John Hopoate in his last bout in November 2019.

While Gallen’s professional boxing record constitutes a line-up of novices, NRL players and former AFL star Barry Hall, with whom he had a draw, his last victory against UFC legend Mark Hunt solidified his reputation as a genuine boxing prospect.

Ultimatum threatens Gallen’s blockbuster bout

A fight between Paul Gallen and former heavyweight world champion Lucas Browne hinges on a $100,000 payment demand between rival boxing promoters.

Browne’s promoter Dean Lonergan has set a deadline of next Friday for No Limit Boxing – who promote Gallen – to transfer the $100,000 into his account so the pair can face off on April 14.

Lonergan signed Browne to a two-fight deal, with the plan of having him face his rising heavyweight star Justis Huni in June.

Gallen had chased a fight with UFC champion Robert Whittaker, but the financial demands from the mixed martial artist saw talks collapse.

Now No Limit must decide whether they fork out the $100,000 to Lonergan, on top of Browne’s purse of $130,000, to make the fight happen against Gallen.

It’s no secret that Lonergan and No Limit – run by brothers George and Matt Rose – have been warring for some time, after Lonergan lost out to them for the signature of Tim Tszyu four years ago, before Liam Wilson left Lonergan to join No Limit last year.

But for Lonergan, the six-figure demand is to protect his investment in former WBA champion Browne (29-2, 25KO) for the major showdown against Huni later this year.

“I’ve signed Lucas to a two-fight deal because I want him to fight Justis and that will be a major event, but if Lucas loses to Paul Gallen he’s no value to me for that show,” Lonergan said.

Lucas Browne’s promoter is chasing a $100,000 payment to fight Paul Gallen.

“I’m not in the business of risk, and I’ve got a show in Canberra on April 23 that I’d intended to put Lucas on, so if they want to get the deal done, they’ve got to pay the $100,000 and have it done, tied up and agreed by close of business Friday, otherwise we’ll move on.

“It would be a shame for Paul Gallen, Lucas Browne and boxing if the deal isn’t made.

“I could’ve priced it a lot more expensively, but I am pricing it at the worth of Browne against Huni.”

No Limit chief executive George Rose said: “Paul Gallen is the A-side, he is the pay-per-view draw, we’re weighing up a number of options for Gal including Lucas Browne.

“We’ll make a decision as to whether Gal fights in April or later in the year.”

Gallen (10-0-1, 5KO) is furious at the situation.

“I’ve said I’ll fight Lucas on April 14, the problem with Lucas is that he has multiple contracts with multiple people and one of those promoters wants heavy compensation to release Lucas to fight me, that compensation number is extreme, more than six figures … after he said he’s bash me for nothing,” Gallen said in a Facebook video.

“Lucas if you want to fight me I’ll give you the opportunity in April – because I’ve got bigger fish to fry later in the year, not bums like you – you need to sort yourself out with your promoter or take a reduced fee.

“The fight is there for you on April 14, stop carrying on like I’m the one dogging it.”