Paul Gallen v Mark Hunt fight: Fists fly at weigh-in at Taronga Zoo

Just one day before one of the biggest fights in Australia, a pre-fight media event has been scrapped after Mark Hunt tried to punch Paul Gallen at the weigh-in.

Paul Gallen was amused by Mark Hunt’s antics at the weigh-in. Picture: Getty Images

A pre-fight press conference at the Sydney Opera House scheduled for Wednesday has been cancelled after Mark Hunt tried to punch Paul Gallen at the weigh-in.

Clearly riled by Gallen’s claims he will “embarrass” and “retire” him at Monday’s media event, Hunt took a swing at the rugby league legend during the weigh-in at Taronga Zoo on Tuesday afternoon.

It was a bad look for the Sydney Superfight at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta, headlined by Tim Tszyu’s super-welterweight showdown against Bowyn Morgan, and fight promoters No Limit have been forced to cancel Wednesday’s press event that was designed to push through last-minute sales for the pay-per-view show.

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Paul Gallen was amused by Mark Hunt’s antics at the weigh-in at Taronga Zoo. Picture: Getty Images

“Both parties had agreed to do media on Wednesday, in the build-up to the fight on Wednesday night, it’s now all canned, it’s all off,” promoter Matt Rose said.

“Neither will do it, they’re both refusing, and we can’t risk having them in the same spot now.

“Mark walked out on his interviews today, and ones that were lined up in New Zealand, it’s not ideal from our perspective.

“To leave us in the lurch like that, and not do their media commitments on the last day, it’s extremely frustrating because we go to all this effort and now it’s all off.

“Obviously they’re now at the point of, someone’s getting knocked out.

“You could really start to feel the animosity and dislike for each other at the press conference, and this was just the explosion, it’s now here, it’s 24 hours before the biggest fight in Australia this year and possibly the world.”

Mark Hunt has just thrown a punch at Paul Gallen at the weigh-in. Hunt very annoyed by Gallen’s talk pic.twitter.com/EpHbYh6dXz

— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) December 15, 2020

Hunt stormed out of the weigh-in without talking to the waiting press, and at the exit made a quick pointing gesture to Rose, who glared at the fighter.

Paul Gallen said he has had Mark Hunt “rattled from the start”. Picture: Getty Images

Asked outside the venue what Gallen had said to upset him, Hunt told The Daily Telegraph: “I’m not really like that. I’m not normally like that but things get heated and emotional at times”, before he jumped in a car and sped off.

Later, Rose revealed why he was so annoyed.

“I nearly got hit, if I’d been hit I would have been knocked out on stage and there would’ve been another drama,” Rose said.

“It missed by that much, I felt the punch fly past my face.

“If I’d have been hit by Mark Hunt, the show would’ve been off, there’s no promoter for the fight.”

Hunt weighed in at 127.1kg, holding an imposing size advantage over Gallen (103.6kg).

Gallen stuck to his media commitments after the weigh-in, and slammed Hunt’s behaviour.

“We both said from the start you’ve got to be professional, we’re both getting paid, he’s getting paid a s---load of money, more money than he could earn anywhere else,” Gallen said.

“As I’ve said, that’s annoyed me. He should be sticking around and doing these things.

“At the end of the day it’s about promoting Australian boxing, promoting guys like Tim Tszyu and all these other guys. He’s made his money elsewhere, he’s done all right, so he’s let down everyone else, not just himself.

“I think he’s feeling the pressure. I said from the start I’m going to shock everyone, I’m going to embarrass him.

“A bloke who has been involved with the sport for 30 years is under pressure - I’ve had him rattled from the start.”

GALLEN v HUNT

Paul Gallen (9-0-1, 5KO) vs. Mark Hunt (0-1-1). Heavyweight, 6 rounds.

Gallen

Age: 39

Height: 179cm

Weight: 103.6kg

Hunt

Age: 46

Height: 178cm

Weight: 127.1kg