Paul Gallen might have to shelve upcoming retirement plans if either Justin Hodges or Ben Hannant defeats the former NSW captain in Thursday night’s boxing double-header in Brisbane.
Promoters No Limit confirmed to Wide World of Sports either Hannant or Hodges can activate a clause in their fight contracts and trigger a second match up before Christmas worth $1 million, if either man can beat Gallen at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
The former Maroons stars are each earning around $100,000 each for the fight, but that figure will skyrocket for a second fight if either man pulls off an upset.
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The pair will take on Gallen in four, three-minute rounds. It’s understood Gallen will take an hour break between bouts and who he will face first has not been confirmed.
The former Sharks captain had threatened to pull out of the fight over the length of time between bouts.
“I was nervous about the break in between. A guy who is getting on a bit like me in age, I’m worried about the stoppage, totally stopping, totally letting my hair down, and then having to come back and fight again,” Gallen said.
“After a fight, you don’t understand the euphoria and the relief that it’s all over. To have to get back up again, that’s what I was worried about.
“I’ve been training like that for the past two weeks, I’ve got my head around it now. We’ve been training closer together, I’ve been doing the same amount of training – the same sparring, the same amount of pad work, running and cardio work – but rather than doing one in the morning and one in the afternoon, I’m doing it back-to-back. It has been a little bit tough but I’ve got through it all and I’ll be ready to go.”
However, there are suggestions Hannant will enter the ring first before Hodges tries to capitalise on any signs of fatigue from Gallen and secure a $1 million pay cheque for a December rematch.
Both rivals asked to fight Gallen first, according to promoter George Rose.
“It surprises me. If I’m in their shoes, I want to fight him second. I want to get him when he’s tired, but both of them want to go first. That’s why we’ve got the dilemma we’ve got, and it will probably come down to a coin toss to see who goes first,” Rose said.
“We’re doing something we haven’t seen before. If there’s ever somebody who can do the unthinkable, do the undreamable, it is Paul Gallen. He managed to beat the unbeatable Origin team. He’s broken their hearts before, and we’re thinking he can do it again.”
Should Hannant enter the squared circle and beat Gallen, it would mean Hodges misses out entirely on the $1 million rematch.
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