You put two of the baddest boys ever to walk onto a football field into a boxing ring. What could possibly go wrong? On Thursday afternoon, we got a sneak peek.
Paul Gallen and John Hopoate were standing toe to toe at the Hordern Pavilion at the official weigh-in on fight eve. They stared off for the money shot, nose to nose. What happened next was inevitable. They push and shove, wrists get cocked and burly boxers fly in from everywhere to separate them. Part with $49.95 and you can see how it ends.
Fisticuffs: Paul Gallen and John Hopoate had to be separated as tensions bubbled over at Thursday's weigh-in. Credit: AAP
Gallen is adamant that, at least from his end, the pre-fight theatrics weren’t staged.
“I didn’t know what to expect then,” Gallen said moments afterwards. “I thought something was going to happen, but I didn’t know what.
“We understand what we’re here for, we have to sell the fight. Everyone can tell that the hatred is pretty real.”
Gallen was on the field way back in 2001 when John Hopoate, in one of the grubbiest acts in league history, flew in with an elbow on Keith Galloway. The senseless act sidelined both players for a protracted period. Gallen remembers not only the act but Hopoate carrying on afterwards.
No love lost: 'The hatred is pretty real', Gallen insisted.Credit: Janie Barrett
“His comments around that are stupid,” Gallen said. “That’s not tough. No one in their right mind can think that’s a good thing to do for their sport. It wasn’t a good look for anyone.”
Whether Gallen and Hopoate stepping into the boxing ring is a good thing for that sport remains to be seen. Undoubtedly it will be a big talking point late on Friday night and well into the weekend.
There is plenty of scepticism when footballers brawl for bucks, as anyone who paid to watch Blake Ferguson, Todd Carney or Chris Sandow will attest. However, it should be remembered that Gallen’s toughest fight came from another leaguie, a ding-dong battle in which he briefly buckled by Parramatta prop Junior Paulo.
We know what to expect from Gallen, but Hopoate is the great unknown.
“I could get disqualified, you never know,” Hopoate mused after tipping the scales at 112kg.
One thing both men agree on is it won’t go the distance. Hopoate has promised to retire Gallen from both his footy and fighting careers, while the former NSW captain reckons he’ll pick off his opponent in the latter rounds.
“I posted a couple of pictures a couple of weeks ago of him scoring two tries down his edge, which he wasn’t that happy with,” Gallen said. “My friend isn’t too happy about that, but that’s all part of the promotion. He’s obviously still upset. He will be more upset tomorrow night.”
Debut: Former Broncos centre Justin Hodges will face Brisbane heavyweight Rob Baron.Credit: Janie Barrett
There will be 10 fights on the Star of the Ring promotion and it’s likely the better bouts will involve those never to lace a footy boot. However, there will still be plenty tuning in to see the NRL boys bring back the biff.
In his first crack at it, champion Brisbane and Australian centre Justin Hodges is pitted against Ipswich heavyweight Rob Baron. Baron, for his part, was happy to play the bad guy. As they posed for the cameras, Baron chest-bumped his opponent, gave him a kiss and then suggested the former Broncos' three-quarter get life insurance.
“He’s got himself into a world of hurt,” Baron said. “He hasn’t got 12 teammates to help him. Once he’s in the ring, it’s just him and I.
“I’ve had a few fights in the ring, a few pub fights, street fights. They wanted a nobody (as his first opponent) but they made a dead-set mistake.”