NewsBite

Watch Junior Paulo’s KO and all the results from NRL All Stars Fight Night

The All Stars Fight Night has delivered with some big knock downs a brutal TKO and some controversial results.

Junior Paulo stands over Neville Costigan.
Junior Paulo stands over Neville Costigan.

The NRL All Stars Fight Night has delivered in spades with Eels forward Junior Paulo unlikely to get in many scraps this season after knocking out Neville Costigan.

The rest of the fights went the distance in the three two-minute round fight night but the six clashes on the main card have delivered knockdowns and some controversy.

Check out all the results from the NRL All Stars Fight Night.

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 >

PAPALII’S STUNNING ADMISSION IN WIN

It’s another tight one to finish with Josh Papalii and Ben Hannant putting on a good show with the Raiders enforcer getting the win.

But even he didn’t think he’d won it.

The result could have come down to the final moments where Papalii landed two big shots that saw Hannant start to bleed inside the dying seconds.

It was just enough as the Canberra Raiders star won a unanimous decision with two judges scoring 29-28 and the third scoring it 30-28.

Ben Hannant and Josh Papalii couldn’t believe the result.
Ben Hannant and Josh Papalii couldn’t believe the result.

But Papalii said he didn’t think he deserved the result, with the vocal crowd behind the ex-NRL star.

“He just kept coming and to be honest I think the crowd was leaning the blue (corner) way, and so was I,” Papalii said.

“That was benny’s fight, and I’m just going to get back to another 9-week camp.

“He should have (won the fight), I’m not going to sit here and be biased. He came in with three-four weeks preparation and my hat goes off to him. I’m just glad I wore the headgear tonight.”

Hannant on the other hand was ready to go again.

“Josh Papalii is an absolute champion on-and-off the field,” he said. “Tonight I was a bit unlucky but I was lucky enough to be in the ring with the best prop in the world – let’s do it again Papa.”

JUNIOR PAULO KOS NEVILLE COSTIGAN

We have our first early finish of the night with Junior Paulo knocking out Neville Costigan in the second round of their fight.

Both entered with headgear one and showed intent from the opening bell.

Costigan threw and landed some big ones early before Paulo settled into his work.

But early in the second, Paulo floored Costigan with a stunning combination to finish the first fight of the night early.

WATCH THE TKO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Junior Paulo destroys Neville Costigan.
Junior Paulo destroys Neville Costigan.

BIG WILLIE CELEBRATES WITH A BEER

Willie Mason has claimed the win over Sam Thaiday with the retired forwards slugging out a tough result.

But Mason claimed the split decision before celebrating in the laid back style he’s showed throughout the preamble to the fight night — drinking a beer on the way out of the ring.

The fight was super close with Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech even believing it would be a draw before the results came down.
But Mason claimed the 30-27, 28-29 and 29-28 scorecard.
“I signed that contract to get punched in the head, and I did,” Mason said of the victory.

“I didn’t come in here thinking I was Ali or anything like that.

“I know Sammy is a hometown boy but it could have gone either way.”

HODGES FLOORED IN HUGE HIT

Justin Hodges’ boxing career is not off to the ideal start.

After he was KO'ed by Darcy Lussick in his first fight in 39 seconds, Hodges was staring down another early finish against Sandor Earl.

Hodges was knocked down by the former Storm star in the first round.

While the 39-year-old did bounce back, it was not enough as the 31-year-old Earl won a massive unanimous decision.

In fact, only one judge gave one round to Hodges with Earl sweeping the rest.

COMMENTATORS BAFFLED AS GOWER BEATS BOWEN

It’s been a controversial start to the night with Craig Gower given a points decision over Matt Bowen.

The two NRL greats went head-to-head with Bowen appearing to get the better and cleaner of the punches.

But in the end, the judges handed a split decision to the Panthers great.

Paul Kent wasn’t having it though, saying “Matt Bowen was the superior fighter in there”.

Hard to argue with shots like this.

Bowen appeared set to win this fight.
Bowen appeared set to win this fight.

Paul Kent was baffled by the judging once again and said you could give Gower points for being aggressive but that Bowen was the better fighter.

“I’m not going to say anything more about the judging tonight, but I don't know what they’re looking at,” he said.

“Matt Bowen was the better boxer in there tonight – the fight was won by Matty Bowen.”

CONTROVERSIAL ‘SLIP’ KICKS OFF NIGHT

Todd Carney and Scott Prince have fought out a majority draw in a strong start to the main card at the NRL All Stars Fight Night.

Prince had headgear while Carney went without but it appeared to come down a moment that was ruled a knockdown in the first round.

Carney, who came into the fight nearly 10kg heavier than the 40-year-old Prince, rocked him in the first round with a right hand dropping Prince to his knees.

It was called a knockdown with Prince coming back to win the next two rounds.

The judges called it a majority draw with the scores 29-28 to Prince along with two scoring it 28-28.

Prince bristled somewhat at the result.

“I thought it was a slip, must be the humidity up in Townsville,” Prince said of the knockdown.

READ MORE: NRL bad boy saved by ‘slip’ controversy

Todd Carney was awarded the knockdown.
Todd Carney was awarded the knockdown.

NRL ALL STARS FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS

NOTE: All fights will be three rounds of two minutes each.

Todd Carney drew with Scott Prince (29-28, 28-all x2)

Craig Gower defeated Matt Bowen by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Sandor Earl defeated Justin Hodges by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 30-26)

Willie Mason defeated Sam Thaiday by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Junior Paulo defeated Neville Costigan by second round TKO

Josh Papalii defeats Ben Hannant by unanimous decision (30-28, 29-28 x2)

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/boxing/all-the-results-from-nrl-all-star-fight-night/news-story/a9f2162e5eea3ac888fdd2dec8c04046