‘Big Nasty’: Nelson Asofa-Solomona hasn’t turned his back on rugby league as he calls out first boxing opponent
Nelson Asofa-Solomona is on the hunt for an opponent for January 16, but the former enforcer hasn’t shut the door on rugby league.
Former Melbourne Storm wrecking ball Nelson Asofa-Solomona hasn’t closed the door on returning to rugby league, but says he has fallen out of love with the sport after 10 years and 215 NRL games under his belt.
The front-rower had an offer from breakaway rugby competition R360, and was approached by the Parramatta Eels, but has snubbed footy in favour of boxing.
No Limit swooped in last week, offering Asofa-Solomona a lucrative three-year deal, with “Big Nasty” set to make his shock promotional debut on the undercard to Nikita Tszyu’s grudge match with Michael Zerafa on January 16 in Brisbane.
The 201cm tall Asofa-Solomona doesn’t have an opponent yet, but put the entire heavyweight division on notice on Wednesday.
“I just want to put everyone on highlight reels, to be honest,” he said. “Just keep adding people to the highlight reels on YouTube.
“I’d be disappointed if they don’t think the same way.”
The 29-year-old currently has one fight and one devastating knockout on his record, after destroying Jarrod Wallace in 2023.
Asofa-Solomona’s defection to boxing comes after he played just 12 times for Melbourne last season and missed the Grand Final through suspension.
“You can’t get sent off in boxing,” he joked, before telling Code Sports about his decision to turn his back on rugby league.
“I woke up one morning and it felt like a chore,” he said. “I had a great time in rugby league, but it’s the rollercoaster.
“I was on the rollercoaster too long and felt sick.”
Code Sports understands the Eels were interested in signing Asofa-Solomona, while R360 had offered him a deal before hitting a roadblock last week.
“My big toe is still in the door. I never say never to nothing,” he said about returning to footy one day. “I told every NRL club that I spoke to the same thing: my heart’s not in it right now, but never say never.
“They (R360) were interested, and I was interested as well, but in my mindset I was always going to have a rest and maybe just travel.
“We play and we miss the European summer, so I wanted to experience that.
“I started training again with Team Ellis in Melbourne and fell in love with boxing again.
“The cool thing about boxing is it gives you a bit of flexibility. You can box and then have some time off, so I’ll just play it by ear.”
Asofa Solomona’s first taste of boxing was as a 12-year-old in Upper Hutt, and these days he loves watching YouTube highlights of the modern day greats, including Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Deontay Wilder.
Another former rugby league legend is also a favourite.
“I remember watching Sonny back in the day, sitting in front of the telly on the floor back in NZ and my mum would say, ‘Son, you could fight Sonny Bill one day’,” he said. “I just thought maybe I could be in the ring one day.
“And here we are right now.”
The hardest part of Asofa-Solomona’s transition will be finding opponents willing to step in the ring with him, with Curtis Scott, Matt Lodge and Junior Paulo all in the mix.
SBW even remains a possibility.
“Who knows, bro?” he said when asked if he could ever fight Williams.
“I’m assuming that once I have a fight and get my name out there, I’m sure there will be some money in it and they’ll be keen.
“If it makes sense, we’ll make it work.”
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Originally published as ‘Big Nasty’: Nelson Asofa-Solomona hasn’t turned his back on rugby league as he calls out first boxing opponent
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