TKO win the perfect start to NRL premiership year for Paul Gallen
Just two months before kicking off the 2016 season Paul Gallen made a decision that could have cost him an NRL premiership. We look back at the night the Cronulla Sharks and NSW Blues star went head-to-head with one of Australia’s top young boxers.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Brendon Smith is a proud country Queenslander but the boxing promoter and coach admits he has a soft spot for NSW Blues legend Paul Gallen.
Just two months before kicking off his 16th NRL season, the year he and the Cronulla Sharks won the premiership, Gallen made the bold decision to fight one of Australia’s most promising heavyweights at the time - Toowoomba’s own Herman-Ene Purcell.
Purcell was looking to square the ledger on home turf after a TKO loss in Gallen’s first ever professional boxing match.
Gallen last fought in 2022 finishing his career with unanimous decision win against Justin Hodges but the heavy hitter has been formally approached to make a comeback.
No Limits boxing are trying to entice Gallen out of retirement for “one last hurrah” against Manly Sea Eagles forward Josh Aloiai – a player Gallen once labelled a “dog and coward”.
With Gallen back in the headlines we look back at how the 348-game veteran ended up fighting in the Garden City.
“We thought fighting Paul the first time was a good move for Herman,” Smith said.
“Herman was a young boxer and league player at the time so we reached out.
“They met in Sydney and it was such a good fight.”
Two years after that 2014 showdown Smith reached out to the Gallen camp in a bid to secure a rematch.
Terms were agreed and Gallen gloved up in the Garden City.
“It was an amazing fight,” Smith said.
“It was in the balance and could’ve gone either way right up to the moment Paul got the win in the fourth.
“I have a lot of respect for Paul, he’s never been the most liked bloke here in Queensland, so to come up here in the peak of his NRL career and fight an up and comer like Herman you have to give him the credit he deserves.
“He and Herman put on a show and I know Paul left here with a lot of love for the city and the fans had a lot of respect for him after that fight as well.”
Since that night Gallen has kept in touch with Smith and has visited the city a number of times – sparring with Purcell and promising Toowoomba league star and boxer Xavier Va’a.
The content summaries were created with the assistance of ai technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.
Brisbane 2032 ‘army’ tasked with special Games mission
Thousands of Queenslanders are being recruited to build an army tasked with a special mission for the 2032 Games.
2025 QRSS calendar released exposing key clashes
The 2025 Queensland Representative School Sport calendar has been released, with some surprise clashes posing questions for many cross-code athletes across the state. View the full list:
REVEALED: Queensland’s best school tennis program named
Tucked away in a quiet leafy suburb a small school with just four courts has been named Queensland’s Most Outstanding Tennis School. Find out why and meet their new stars.
POLL: The 100 best footballers in regional Queensland
Find out which Aussie rules footballers in regional Queensland made the cut for the 100 best in the state, and VOTE for who you think is the best here.
Transfers hub: Movers and shakers of Sapphire, Ruby 2025
The rumour mill is churning a mere three months post-2024 Sapphire Series grand final. While players reveal their new colours, coaches are getting a look at what their squads can achieve in 2025. Full story and transfers hub inside:
‘Person of love’: Award recipient’s tribute to friend killed in crash
A Toowoomba teen has made a touching tribute to a friend with ‘a lot of heart’ who was killed in a crash earlier this year after being given an award in his honour. Read more from inaugural Gage Fowler School Spirit award recipient here.