Paul Gallen has confirmed his next fight – a radical double bout on the same night billed as the Blues great against Queensland.
The retired Cronulla champion told Wide World of Sports he hopes to punch on with Justin Hodges and another Queenslander back-to-back to headline a card in September.
The details aren’t yet finalized but former Queensland star Hodges is expected to be one of the two opponents.
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“The way he’s been carrying on lately I presume he would be one of them,” Gallen said of Hodges.
“The other one I’m not sure – it’s going to be a footy player, though, it’s not going to be (heavyweight champion) Justis Huni.
“Pretty sure it’s going to be in Queensland… I’m hoping it’s going to be (against) two Queenslanders. Get a bit of an Origin feel about it.
“I’d say it will be six or eight three-minute rounds, and two opponents will do half each. That’s what I think it will be.
“It’s really only one fight, just two opponents.”
Gallen carved out a stellar rugby league career but his boxing feats are impressive in their own right.
He’s had 15 professional bouts and won 12, losing two and having a controversial draw against AFL great Barry Hall. His last fight against him was a unanimous decision loss to Kris Terzievski in May.
But the notion of fighting two different people in the one night is certainly a first for boxing.
His fitness, though, is still up to scratch and he will only need about a month to prepare.
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“I’ve got COVID at the moment so I’ll start next week. The preparation for a fight like this isn’t going to be like the preparation for a Huni or Terzievski, I’m not going to be sparring 25-30 rounds a week,” he told WWOS.
“I might only spar 10 rounds a week, so it’s going to be a lot better for my body and my head long-term.”
Gallen reaffirmed his commitment to retire from boxing before this year is out.
But he’s unsure if the September double header will be his last appearance in the ring, floating to a final fight in December.
Fans will be hoping that is against Sonny Bill Williams, who Gallen has been chasing for years.
“I’ve told everyone this is my last year. I have one more fight booked in for December, no idea who,” he said.
“This could be it, I don’t know. But this is my last year without a doubt.
“If I have one at the end of the year it will be a proper six-eight round fight, if it happens.”
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