‘I don’t give a s***’: Justin Hodges vows to knock out influencer in boxing fight

A social media personality is talking a big game ahead of his boxing debut, but ex-NRL star Justin Hodges has promised to humiliate him.

Justin Hodges and Jordan Simi exchanged some barbs ahead of their fight. Photo: Fox Sports.

NRL legend Justin Hodges has vowed to knock out Jordan Simi when he steps in the boxing ring with the social media personality on Wednesday night.

Hodges (4-1) easily accounted for Ben Hannant in his last fight just three weeks ago and is eyeing a fight with Paul Gallen.

The Battle Of The Brothers: Watch as unbeaten Nikita Tszyu faces Ben Horn live on Wednesday 20 July from 7pm AEST on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

But the two-time premiership winner’s next assignment is Simi, who is making his boxing debut against Hodges on the undercard for the fight between Nikita Tszyu and Ben Horn.

Simi, a podcaster and influencer, was talking a big game at Monday’s press conference and said Hodges’ age will catch up with him when they go head to head.

“Justin’s been getting away with bloody robbing Australians of their hard-earned money with his past performances,” he said.

“It was pretty sloppy,” Simi added, referring to Hodges’ recent win over Hannant.

“The boys looked like they gassed out pretty quickly, slow punches … I’m excited to jump in there. I’ve been watching his past fights … he’s a bit slow to be fair, just comes with age respectfully.

“I think the youth is just going to step up. I’m going to be faster than him and maybe a little bit fitter.”

Hodges was having none of it and said Simi, who he has labelled a “Jake Paul wannabe”, will be humiliated when he gets knocked out.

“I’m just gonna take my time and if he thinks I’m old and slow, it’s gonna look pretty bad for him when a 40-year-old knocks him out,” the former Bronco said.

Justin Hodges and Jordan Simi exchanged some barbs ahead of their fight. Photo: Fox Sports.

Asked if having no footage of Simi to use as preparation was an issue, Hodges replied: “I don’t care.”

“It’s a fight,” he said.

“I’m just gonna jump in, that’s all I know. I don’t give a s*** what he does. The last two guys have said that they’re gonna take me to deep water and they’re the ones that went to deep water themselves.

“He’ll have to knock me out to win. There’s no doubt about that.”

Nikita Tszyu (2-0, 2KOs) will headline the card against Ben Horn in a fight billed as the battle of Tim Tszyu and Jeff Horn’s younger brothers.

Nikita will go in as the red-hot favourite but was keeping his cards close to his chest on Monday.

“It makes the event a bit more interesting when you don’t know what is going to happen,” he said.

“If I give a little bit of a prediction, if I say my game plan, there is a bit of an expectation but we’ll see what happens.”

Nikita Tszyu and Ben Horn will fight at the Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday night. Photo: Gregg Porteous/No Limit Boxing

Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings was more forthcoming and predicted the 24-year-old to put on a show.

“We’re super excited to revisit the Tszyu, Horn legacy one more time,” Jennings said.

“We’re quietly confident that we’ll take a clean sheet 2-0. Nikita is aware of what Ben is going to bring to table but Tim put Jeff on his back and we expect Nikita to do the same thing.

“The Nikita you see every time is a little bit more refined but we cannot get the butcher out of him. So, expect fireworks. I think Nikita is going to bring it to the top.”

Also appearing on the card is undefeated Australian Sam Goodman, who will be defending his WBO Oriental super bantamweight and IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight titles against Filipino Juan Elorde (29-2, 15KO).

TSZYU VS HORN FULL FIGHT CARD (Watch it on Fox Sports channel 503 or Kayo)

Nikita Tszyu vs Ben Horn — 6 rounds (super welterweight)

Sam Goodman vs Juan Elorde — 10 rounds (WBO Oriental & IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight titles)

Ty Telford vs Ricky Colosimo — 8 rounds (ANBF Australasian welterweight title)

Justin Hodges vs Jordan Simi — 4 rounds (heavyweight)

Shanell Dargan vs Jaala Tomat — 4 rounds (super featherweight)

Darragh Foley vs Hunter Ioane — 6 rounds (welterweight)

Ashleigh Sims vs Jessica Adams — 5 rounds (super featherweight)

Jackson Murray vs Parminder Singh — 4 rounds (heavyweight)

Michael Hall vs Joel Taylor — 8 rounds (super welterweight)

Kate McLaren vs Connie Chan — 4 rounds (welterweight)

Angel Rushton vs Ange Harries — 4 rounds (super featherweight)