NRL news 2024: Teen Titans star Alex Leapai quits NRL for boxing career

One of rugby league’s brightest young prospects is officially walking away from a lucrative NRL contract, in a bid to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

One of the NRL’s most promising prospects has quit rugby league with teenage sensation Alex Leapai Jr walking away from the Titans to chase his dream of winning a heavyweight boxing world title.

As revealed by this masthead on Monday, Leapai Jr was weighing up severing ties with the Gold Coast to follow in the footsteps of his famous father Alex, who fought for the heavyweight world title in 2014.

Leapai Jr made a definitive call 24 hours later, revealing he is turning his back on a three-year deal with the Titans to focus full-time on the fight game in a massive coup for Australian boxing.

Just turned 18, Leapai Jr stands 195cm and weighs a whopping 120kg and will make his professional fight debut on April 3 in Adelaide on a card featuring some former AFL stars.

Titans youngster Alex Leapai Jnr and his father Alex Snr. Picture: NRL Imagery

Gold Coast fought hard to retain his services and while Leapai Jr has no issues with the Titans, the hard-punching front-rower believes he is capable of title-winning fireworks in the boxing ring.

“I want to pursue the path of boxing,” Leapai Jr said.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but I am stepping away from the NRL dream and I’m on a mission now to chase a heavyweight world title.

“It took a lot of independent thinking.

“I asked for the advice of my dad and mum. It was still a hard decision to make, but one day I woke up and felt like hitting the bag and that’s why my heart is with boxing.

“I believe in myself and I believe I can finish the job my dad started.”

Leapai Sr is one of Australia’s most decorated heavyweight boxers.

Nicknamed ‘Lionheart’, the Logan slugger won 32 of 44 professional bouts, 26 by knockout, and fell at the final hurdle, losing to Ukraine legend Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in 2014.

Leapai Jr is walking out on a lucrative NRL deal to chase a career in boxing. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

Leapai Jr has reams of becoming the heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

Current heavyweight champion Tyson Fury rates Leapai Snr the hardest puncher he ever saw and Lionheart backed his son to leave a trail of destruction in the ring.

“Junior has that dedication and I believe he will take it all the way,” Leapai Sr said.

“I fought a lot of the best fighters in the world and this kid is just 18.

“He has world-class power right now and he is just starting.

“Boxing is not an easy game. It takes a lot of dedication and you have to train hard and do the hard work behind the scenes.

“When everyone is chilling out, you are working.

“Noel Thornberry (veteran boxing trainer) took me to the top and he will take Alex to the top.

“If my son was to win the heavyweight championship of the world, it would feel like I’ve conquered it as well.

“It would be a dream come true.”

A young Leapai Jr on the charge for the QLD U18s in 2022. Picture: John Gass

Such is his size, Leapai Jr would have been pushing for a senior Titans debut in the next 12 to 18 months and believes he could have dominated in the NRL.

“I value myself as a good prospect of the game and the Titans,” he said.

“f I kept playing, I think I could have been one of the best props in the game.

“The main thing I will miss is being with the boys and getting the ‘W’ (win) at the end of the game.

“The Titans left the door open for me in case I changed my mind, but I’m choosing boxing.

“Dad went a pretty long way in boxing, he was a contender for the heavyweight world title … I want to complete the journey for him and win a world title.”

Originally published as NRL news 2024: Teen Titans star Alex Leapai quits NRL for boxing career