Paul Gallen vs Mark Hunt: NRL champ’s plan to win in four rounds

Paul Gallen has boldly declared he’ll knock out Mark Hunt in four rounds and has a defiant message for his haters. Here’s how he plans to maintain his unbeaten boxing record.

Paul Gallen has vowed to stop Mark Hunt within four rounds by overwhelming the Super Samoan with a flurry of shots from all angles.

While Gallen had earlier forecast victory via points over six rounds against the heavy-handed Hunt, after completing some sizzling sparring sessions last week he is now predicting a stoppage.

“I know he’s going to throw these big hooks, big right hands, and I’ve got to weather the storm – and I don’t think the storm is going to last that long,” Gallen said.

“My fitness, and my ability to constantly make him work and constantly think about where I’m at, I’m thinking I can get him out of there now.

“I may not have that one punch where I’m going to be able to knock him out, but I can absolutely overwhelm him.

“By the third or fourth round, I think he’ll have had enough. That’s my plan.”

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Paul Gallen is aiming to down Mark Hunt by the fourth round. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Gallen, 39, says 46-year-old Hunt is too old and too slow to trouble him in their bout on December 16 at Parramatta’s Bankwest Stadium.

“People are remembering Mark Hunt as the K-1 champion, which was 20 years ago,’ Gallen said.

“A lot happens in 20 years. I remember at the back end of my football career, there were blokes getting on top who in my prime were nowhere near me, they become hard to handle as you get older.

“People remember Mark Hunt as a K-1 champion, as an MMA champion – which he was – but that’s not him anymore. He is past that, and I’m going to prove everyone wrong on December 16.

“MMA is not boxing, the distance in MMA is a whole lot more than in boxing because you’ve got a whole lot of other things to worry about, front kicks and leg kicks and all sorts.

“So the distance you keep is bigger, it is a totally different sport. People just assume that because Mark’s been a K-1 world champion and an MMA world champion he’s going to walk in there, knock me out and walk off inside the first round.

“They’ve got no idea, that is laughable to me.

“I can’t stand there and trade with him, that’s common sense.

“I don’t think he’s fast, he’s certainly older, he’s not fit.

Paul Gallen lands a blow on former AFL player Barry Hall.

“To tell you exactly what I expect, I don’t know. Is he going to come out and be lightning fast for two minutes and try to get me out of there inside that first round? I don’t know, I don’t think he’s fast. I don’t think he’s got quick hand speed.

“I know he’s going to come forward and try to knock me out, he’ll walk forward and throw big right hands, big hooks, I know that’s coming and I’ve just got to try to be fast than him – and I am faster than him.

“I’ve got to put my training into the ring and I have no doubt I will get it done.”

Hunt has an MMA record of 13 wins and 14 defeats, while Gallen is 9-0-1 (5KO) in his boxing career.

“He’s not the Mark Hunt people think he is. Mark Hunt is a legend, I won’t take that away from him, I’m not one to talk s--- just for the sake of it, everything he’s done he deserves all the credit he’s got,” Gallen said.

“But as I said, I saw in rugby league, unfortunately time catches up with people, and someone is always coming to get you.

“And I’m coming to get him.

“I’ve trained a whole lot harder than he has, and I’ll be definitely ready and putting on a show for everyone and getting a win.”

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Gallen is undefeated in his boxing career, with a draw against Barry Hall in his previous bout.

Hunt has no wins from his two professional boxing fights, suffering a points loss to John Wyborn in 1998, and a draw against Joe Askew in 2000.

In 2001, Hunt became a K-1 kickboxing world champion, and by 2004 was embarking on a mixed martial arts career with the Pride organisation that would eventually be taken over by the UFC.

Hunt made his UFC debut in 2010, and quickly established himself as one of the most feared heavyweights in the sport with a string of highlight reel knockouts over notable opponents including Roy Nelson, Stefan Struve, Cheick Kongo and Frank Mir.

He finished his UFC career with three losses in 2018 to fulfil contractual obligations, but has since commenced legal action against the company for allowing him to compete against Brock Lesnar in 2016 when it was revealed the former wrestler had tested positive to banned substances.

Gallen and Hunt will fight over six rounds in the heavyweight division, as the co-main event to Tim Tszyu’s fight against Bowyn Morgan.

Originally published as Paul Gallen vs Mark Hunt: NRL champ’s plan to win in four rounds