“I will rebuild and go back to footy”: Knockout ends Tevita Pangai Jr’s boxing career for now

Tevita Pangai Junior can now switch focus back to rugby league after he was knocked out in the first round of his final fight before a possible return to the NRL.

Tevita Pangai Junior outside Suncorp Stadium with the Wally Lewis statue. Picture: Liam Kidston

Tevita Pangai Junior Jr’s boxing career is in tatters after the NRL convert suffered a devastating first-round knockout loss in Brisbane on Saturday night.

On the day the Storm ruled out making a play for Pangai Jr, the former Broncos and Bulldogs star copped a double whammy when he was bashed by Kenny Niko in just 69 seconds at the Greek Club in West End.

Just last week, Pangai Jr revealed plans to put professional boxing on hold after his fight with Niko to focus on making a comeback to the NRL code he quit last August.

Those plans will now be accelerated after Pangai Jr crashed to his first defeat in five professional fights after being rocked by a massive left-hand bomb from hulking rival Niko.

Niki (0-3) went into the bout winless from three fights but he chalked up his first victory in style, claiming a big-name scalp in Pangai Jr, who was the main event on his own TPJ Promotions card.

With former Broncos teammates Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan watching on in the crowd, a disappointed Pangai Jr said his immediate focus is resuming his rugby league career, but hasn’t ruled out an eventual return to boxing.

“That’s the heavyweight division, it only takes one punch,” Pangai Jr said.

“I haven’t been concussed in footy for 10 years and I have been rocked once in sparring.

“I will rebuild and go back to footy.

“I’m not going to quit boxing (forever), hopefully I can get a rematch with Kenny and prepare a bit better.”

Pangai Junior says his retirement from retirement from boxing is not forever. Picture: Liam Kidston

Pangai Jr entered the ring as the raging favourite, wearing a Brisbane Lions AFL jersey, but the 114kg former State of Origin star was in major trouble within a minute after eating a savage left from Niko.

Clearly seeing stars, Pangai Jr slumped against the ropes and Niko went for the jugular with a flurry of punches, prompting referee Phil Austin to call off proceedings as the shell-shocked pro-TPJ crowd were plunged into silence.

“There’s plenty of time to fight back,” Pangai Jr said. “I win humble and lose humble.

“Niko trained hard and he only had five weeks’ notice, so well done to him.

“This isn’t the end for me, I will go back to footy and see what happens.

“This will show who my true friends are.”

Pangai Jr’s return to the NRL may not be as swift as originally hoped.

The Broncos have ruled out a Red Hill resurrection and Melbourne CEO Justin Rodski has also closed the door after Pangai Jr revealed he had held preliminary talks with Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

Storm CEO Justin Rodski has closed the door on a Pangai Junior recruitment. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The 28-year-old Pangai Jr will look to return to Broncos feeder club Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup in the hope of auditioning for an NRL lifeline in the coming months.

“He hasn’t been playing rugby league and if we’re going to be looking at filling a gap for our list this year we needed someone that would be ready to come in and play straight away,” Rodski told Sydney radio.

“So I don’t think there’ll be any movement there.”

Originally published as “I will rebuild and go back to footy”: Knockout ends Tevita Pangai Jr’s boxing career for now