‘It’s illegal’: Paul Gallen batters ex-NRL star Darcy Lussick after dodgy tactic

Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech has criticised former NRL star Darcy Lussick for an “illegal” strategy during his loss to Paul Gallen.

Paul Gallen secures the win.

Former Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen defeated ex-rugby league star Darcy Lussick via TKO on Wednesday night, with the referee stopping their heavyweight bout in the third and final round.

Lussick was the dominant fighter in the opening round, but Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech criticised him for holding Gallen around the neck while throwing punches.

“It’s illegal, he held him around the head and hit him,” Fenech said.

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Gallen charged forward in the second round before Lussick responded in kind, driving the former NSW skipper up against the ropes as he let his fists fly.

But the 40-year-old is tough, and he replied with some seriously heavy uppercuts. He absorbed punishment but dished out big blows of his own and regained the ascendancy as Lussick tired dramatically.

A couple of brutal body shots from Gallen were followed by more uppercuts, and at the end of the second round he scored the first knockdown of the night. Another blow rocked Lussick badly and he wobbled before falling down just before the bell.

The former Manly forward was exhausted.

“I think they’ve got to stop this,” Fenech said. “He’s going to get hurt.”

More big body shots were on the menu to start the third and 30 seconds into the round, the referee called the fight off.

“I felt pretty in control of that fight,” Gallen said after the victory. “I just did what I had to do.

“Got the job done at the end of the day, which I wanted to do.

“He was very brave, I knew he was going to be tough

“Footy players are tough, and that’s why we didn’t see many knock-outs tonight.”

Fenech wasn’t happy with Lussick for holdnig Gallen’s head. Photo: Main Event.

Paul Gallen and Darcy Lussick. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

Gallen won a $20,000 bonus for KO of the night but in a classy gesture, he gave the cash away to Aussie fighters Harry Garside and Sam Goodman — who both won their bouts at The Star.

“I want to say something quick. A lot of people tonight copped a lot of flack because footy players were fighting,” Gallen said post-fight.

“I watched (Tuesday) night where the boxers were fighting and about 100 people turned up to watch them. So where’s all these boxer people out there supporting boxers? I don’t see it.

“So Sam Goodman and Harry Garside, come and see me in my shed. I’ll give you a bit of cash.”

Main Event commentator Paul Kent praised Gallen’s generosity.

“It was a great gesture and he’s got a really valid point,” Kent said.

“A lot of boxing people complain about the footballers coming into the boxing industry and taking all their crowd and their numbers and all the money. But (Tuesday) night when it was a pure boxing crowd, they didn’t turn up - and they don’t turn up. They’ve got to get out and show that’s what they want.

“We’ve seen better fights (than on Wednesday night), there’s no doubt about that. But the fascination with these guys and the fact they’ve been able to go out and sell a fight … it’s such an important part.”

Gallen was originally due to face Sea Eagle Josh Aloiai before he pulled out of the fight after testing positive to Covid-19.

No Limit promoter George Rose announced the fighter who delivered the best knockout of the night would be awarded a $20,000 bonus, and Gallen was declared the winner.

Wednesday evening’s undercard also featured ex-NRL stars Joey Leilua and Justin Hodges and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Harry Garside, who made his professional debut against Sachin Mudaliar, a southpaw who boasts a strong 9-1 record.

Lussick went back to his footy days. Picture: Jeremy Piper

There was only ever going to be one winner. Picture: Jeremy Piper

‘Disgusting’: NRL star a bloodied mess

Freddy Lussick’s introduction to professional boxing was a vicious affair, with the 20-year-old copping 89 blows to the head in his four-round bout with Taylan May.

When the Sydney Roosters young gun retired to his corner after the first round, blood was smeared across his lips after May landed several well-directed jabs to the face.

Lussick bravely powered through to the third round, where May continued peppering him with a flurry of punches — however, the Penrith Panthers recruit was undeniably tiring.

In round three, Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech said: “He didn’t need to take these 300 punches he’s taken already, especially when you don’t know how to take a punch or how to ride a punch.

“The referee is disgusting at the moment. My god, mate they’re football players.”

Soon after, both fighters were deducted a point for separate offences — Lussick for putting his opponent in a headlock and May for repeatedly ducking.

“The ref’s lost all control,” Fenech added.

“They don’t need to go through that. We talk about looking after people. He won’t cop that in 30 football games. In 50 football games, he’s not going to get hit that many times.

“And we’re trying to say we’re looking after people? That’s c**p – c**p by his corner, c**p by the referee.

“There’s total nil care shown for the human being in this. I just don’t like it, I don’t like even sitting here watching it.

“They had a go, they had a dig – one guy was totally outclassed, let’s leave it at that and let’s stop it while we can and while we can look after their health.”

Freddy Lussick copped plenty of punishment. Photo: Fox Sports.

May and Lussick exchanged a few more sloppy throws late in the fourth round before they were saved by the bell.

The Panthers youngster was proclaimed the victor by unanimous points decision, with judges scoring the dominant performance 38-36, 38-35, 39-35.

Rugby league icon Phil Gould tweeted: “Boom! Never underestimate those Minchinbury lads Young Lussick showed a lot of courage. But took a lot of punches. Taylan May just had that ‘brawler’ look about him. Kept finding the mark. Good win.”

‘Terrible’: Aussie Olympic hero’s controversial win

Olympic bronze medallist Harry Garside has won his debut professional bout in controversial circumstances, with the referee calling the fight to a “somewhat premature” finish.

Garside was peppering opponent Sachin Mudaliar with a flurry of punches in the first round when the referee ended the bout because the Fijian was not fighting back.

However, replays showed that Mudaliar had attempted a punch moments before the referee ended proceedings.

“Geez, he wasn’t done,” Main Event commentator Ben Damon said.

“He deserved the chance to fight on.”

Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech muttered: “Terrible.”

Garside apologised to Mudaliar camp moments before he was proclaimed victor via TKO.

Main Event’s Paul Kent said: “That decision just stinks.

“It was such a poor call from the referee.

”Even though he was taking a lot of punches, he wasn’t hurt.

“To kick off his career with a decision like this … I just can’t believe it.

“Very few of those of those punches were landing on the head.”

Harry Garside on professional debut and Sachin Mudaliar. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

Sports reporter Simon Brunson tweeted: “That’s a s**t way to end Harry Garside’s pro debut, even though he won. He was on top but let the fight go, bloody hell. Ref stops it in the first round. Give us a break.”

Leilua claims unanimous decision win

Former Wests Tigers star Joey Leilua has defeated ex-rugby league player Chris Heighington via unanimous decision following their four-round heavyweight bout in Sydney.

The 30-year-old was unable to unearth the decisive blow, but judges scored the fight in his favour 39-38, 39-37 x 2.

“For all those haters that f***ing said I can’t last four rounds — thanks mate, you gave me inspiration tonight,” Leilua said.

“I knew I could fight. I just wanted to show the world that I could f***ing last four rounds.

“The stereotype of me being fat and can’t last four rounds, you know what, f*** yourselves — there you go.”

Joey Leilua and Chris Heighington. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

135kg giant disqualified for ‘bizarre’ act

Australian strongman Alex Simon has been disqualified in the second round of his heavyweight bout with Tavita Vaoga.

The fight started with a series of wild, inaccurate swing in the first round.

After being warned twice by the referee, Simon, who was once proclaimed Australia’s strongest man, tripped his opponent and flipped him onto the canvas. To make matters worse, he threw a punch at Vaoga while he fell to the deck.

The referee immediately called the fight to an end, disqualifying Simon without a second thought.

Main Event commentator Ben Damon described it as “one of the most blatant trips you’ll ever see in a boxing ring”.

“Bizarre stuff,” he said.

“He’s not happy at all.”

Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech continued: “He was trying to show his strength in the wrong areas.

“These things are unnecessary.”

Referee Les Fear disqualifies ‘Godly Strong’ Alex Simon. Tbf, Les had warned him twice in the first round. #Boxingpic.twitter.com/zxhiPX8DDe

— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) December 22, 2021

Whoops!! #fightnight

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) December 22, 2021

Title fight ends in bizarre circumstances

Australian fighter Sam Goodman has claimed the WBA Oriental super bantamweight title following a bizarre end to his 10-round bout with Richie Mepranum.

In the sixth round, Mepranum attempted an inconspicuous right throw before quickly spinning around dropping to the deck.

The Filipino star was unable to continue, and the referee had no choice but to call off the fight — it later emerged that Mepranum had suffered a hand injury.

It marks Goodman’s 10th consecutive victory in the ring.

Hodges claims majority decision victory

Former NRL star Justin Hodges has claimed a surprising majority decision victory in his heavyweight bout with Nathan Ross, the third win of his boxing career.

Hodges was wobbling in the first round after Ross landed an early blow, but both fighters seemingly hit a wall in the second term.

An uppercut from the former Queensland representative broke Ross’ defences in the third round as Hodges started to rediscover his mojo in the second half of the bout.

One of the judges scored the fight 38-38, while the other two were in favour of Hodges 39-38 and 39-37.

“I’m getting too old for this crap,” Hodges said after the win.

“I was s***ting myself early when he got me (in round one).

“I don’t have the strongest chin after Lussick knocked me out.”

Justin Hodges lands a punch on Nathan Ross. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

British model secures majority draw on debut

The opening fight of the night has ended as a majority draw, with two of the judges unable to separate UK-born model Kate McLaren and opponent Malakay Moukayber.

Although Moukayber seemingly landed more punches in the four-round bout, the pair escaped with a draw to their professional record.

Two-time Australian Olympian Brad Hore tweeted: “Draw my arse that first fight. Moukayber won that.”

McLaren, who is coach by boxing legend Jeff Fenech, was supposed to take on Arabella Del Busso, the ex-girlfriend of former NSW five-eighth Josh Reynolds, but promoters reportedly took her off the card because of backlash to her inclusion.

Del Busso appeared on reality TV show SAS Australia last year, where she was interrogated over her alleged lies — which included faking being pregnant while she was with Reynolds.

However, Del Busso denied suggestions her past had anything to do with her fight against McLaren being wiped, saying instead it was because of weight issues.

Malakay Moukyaber and Katie McLaren fight. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

Gallen fears for Lussick’s safety

Gallen has admitted he considered pulling the plug for his bout with Lussick because he was worried for his opponent’s safety.

“So I really think this is dangerous for his health,” Gallen told The Daily Telegraph.

“Two weeks ago it started crossing my mind that (the fight) would be something I didn’t want to do.

“Because I could seriously hurt this bloke.

“I deadset thought I might have to stop my body shots so I don’t hurt him.

“But I can’t.

“Over the past couple of years I’ve built up a profile by taking big fights.

“Those fights against Mark Hunt, Lucas Browne and then Justis Huni, they’re three fights nobody else in Australia would have had.

“At the time everyone thought they going to kill me. People thought they were literally going to kill me.

“So initially, I felt sorry for Darcy.

“But I can’t now. I’ve got to smash him.

“I have to destroy him.”

Paul Gallen. Picture: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

Full fight card

Paul Gallen defeated Darcy Lussick via TKO (R3)

Harry Garside defeated Sachin Mudaliar via TKO (R1)

Joey Leilua defeated Chris Heighington via unanimous decision (39-38, 39-37 x 2)

Taylan May defeated Freddy Lussick via unanimous decision (38-36, 38-35, 39-35)

Sam Goodman defeated Richie Mepranum via TKO to claim WBA Oriental super bantamweight title

Justin Hodges defeated Nathan Ross via majority decision (38-38, 39-38, 39-37)

Tavita Vaoga defeats Alex Simon via disqualification

Ella Boot defeated Enja Prest via unanimous decision (40-36 x 3)

Natalie Hills defeats Linn Sandstrom via unanimous decision (58-57, 59-55, 58-56)

Kate McLaren vs Malakay Moukayber — majority draw (38-38 x 2, 39-36)