Danny Green has branded Paul Gallen’s “junkyard dog” style absolutely capable of earning a $1 million KO bonus against Nelson Asofa-Solomona tonight.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on fight eve, the Australian boxing great also questioned if Asofa-Solomona’s press conference antics this week – where he brought up Gallen’s wife – may now backfire against him.
“Because,” Green says, “it feels a bit like Big Nasty might’ve tugged on the tail of a hungry f***ing python”.
Gallen v Asofa-Solomona | TONIGHT from 7pm AEDT | Australian sporting icon and crossover boxing king Paul Gallen returns to the ring to face his biggest opponent yet, Nelson ‘Big Nasty’ Asofa-Solomona. | Order now on Kayo Sports.
The question comes as NRL legend Willie Mason has also warned against counting out Gallen, who at 45 is also the $2 Sportsbet outsider.
NAS, meanwhile, is $1.72.
Speaking about his former NSW and Kangaroo team-mate, Mason branded Gallen “a f***ing animal” whose history against the likes of Justis Huni and Mark Hunt could prove the difference.
After weeks of trash talking, Gallen and NAS are finally set to throw down in what has been dubbed the battle to become Australia’s undisputed crossover heavyweight king.
When asked for a prediction, Green said he was backing Gal, while also explaining how the NSW Origin great differs from other footballers who’ve come into boxing and fought “complete bozos”.
Mason agreed, suggesting Gallen’s three fights against Huni, Hunt and Lucas Browne had convinced the Australian sports public that he was a legitimate professional heavyweight.
“That fight against Huni,” Mason enthused, “that’s where everyone just went ‘f*** Gal, you’re the f***ing man’.
“It was people saying ‘I don’t care what you do after this, you are a boxer’.
“Watching at the time, we were all thinking ‘f***, throw the towel or something’, but Gal just wouldn’t stop. He just doesn’t have that quit in him.
“And that’s why it’s going to be so hard for Nelson in this fight.
“Yes, Nelson is a big bastard, man. And he’s got power.
“But Gal is not only tough, and refuses to quit, he also understands boxing. He’s been trained by the best (Graham Shaw) and isn’t just going to be chasing Nelson around the ring all night.
““I mean, Gal’s a Hall of Fame rugby league player who, when you look at his boxing career — the people that he’s fought — he hasn’t ever ducked or dodged anyone.
“Like, Justis Huni, a ranked heavyweight.’ And Mark Hunt … who the f*** would fight him?”
In an intriguing twist to the Sydney showdown, promoters No Limit are said to have coaxed Gallen out of retirement by offering a lucrative bonus if he finishes their unbeaten heavyweight.
And while not known for boasting one punch power, Green insists there is every chance Gal finishes NAS as he’s previously done to several opponents – including former world champ Browne.
NAS: “All the talking’s done now!” | 02:54
Apart from suggesting Gallen could win by KO, Green also wondered if NAS erred at Wednesday’s press conference by mentioning the Origin great’s wife – which ignited a fiery back ‘n forth between the two.
Initially making his prediction, the former two-division world champion said: “I can’t get past the experience and junkyard dog mentality of Gallen. I’m a big fan.
“And if Gal can get through those early rounds, if he can shake the rust off and allow the muscle memory starts kicking in … yeah, he’ll be OK.
“But Big Nasty? He hasn’t been in that position. And hasn’t been in with anyone like Gallen.
“Remember, Paul Gallen has been in there with Justis Huni, with Kris Terzievski, while Nelson has beat three guys who’ve got almost zero experience.
“It’s a big difference, and if Gal gets through the early fire, I reckon he might f***ing hose him down.
“I think Gal could stop him. He really could.”
Elsewhere, Green said Gallen’s boxing efforts had changed up his thinking on the Australian crossover space.
“Look, I’m a boxing purist – love guys like Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard,” Green started. “But Gallen’s changed my mind about rugby league players boxing.
“And it’s because he really has been a professional fighter.
“Which still isn’t to say I’m a fan of everyone.
“Because what frustrates me is that anyone can come into combat sports, fight a complete bozo and then they’re considered a fighter, yeah?
“Whereas I can’t just go and play a game of AFL. Or play in the NRL.
“(Laughs) Apart from the fact I’m going to get snapped in half — and I wouldn’t get the ball – nobody will allow me to do that.
“I just can’t do it.
“And so I do believe there should be some type of stipulations and regulations around the same in boxing.
“But when it comes to Gal, I’ve absolutely got my head around what he’s doing. And I respect it.
“Because Gal has never once talked of becoming a world champion, of being the best, nothing like that.
“His greatest aspiration was winning an Australian title.
“He’s trained hard and fought hard.
“He’s also given other fighters a platform.
“Remember, Tim Tszyu initially got his platform because of Paul Gallen. So you have to give him respect for that.”
NAS recalls 2019 run-in with Gallen | 00:52
Mason agrees.
“Gal’s an animal, man. An animal,” he said.
“He’s one of those blokes who just doesn’t quit. Doesn’t give in.
“He was like that in rugby league and now he’s taken that into the boxing ring.
“And that’s why you just know he’s going to be annoying the f*** out of Big Nelson in there.
“Because Nelson, yeah, he has been taking heads off.
“But Gal’s been hit by the hardest hitters of all time.
“Like Mark Hunt, Justis Huni … c’mon man, let’s rewind a little and have a look at who Gal has fought because it’s f***ing astounding.
“But he’s just one of those dudes, man. Ultimate competitor. And you cannot take that away from him.
“We’ve played lot of Origins and Tests together, played against each other plenty too, and we’ve always had a mutual respect.
“We’ve both got in fights on the field because that was the era back then, but we’ve never had a fight with each other and we never wanted to.”
Unlike some of Gallen’s critics, Green also has no problem with the NRL great’s motives for coming out of retirement one last time.
“People criticize him, say ‘oh, you’re only doing it for money’,” the former world champ says.
“Then Gal laughs at them and says “correct”. I think that’s fantastic.
“He’s a prize fighter. And I wonder how many of these same critics would go to work for nothing?”