Paul Gallen may have wound up losing his fight against Kris Terzievski, but did not lose a single fan after threatening one of all-time great boxing comebacks.
After being thoroughly beaten through the first six rounds of the fight, Gallen launched a stunning comeback in the final four rounds, but it proved to be a case of too little, too late as Terzievski secured a unanimous decision win.
However, the result did not come without an almighty scare for the Victorian native, particularly during a stunning ninth round performance from Gallen.
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The NRL legend unloaded shot after shot on Terzievski, who looked increasingly fatigued, as the Newcastle crowd suddenly began baying for the Victorian’s blood.
It was performance that left those watching simply in awe of the 40-year-old Gallen’s immense intestinal fortitude.
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Following his brave effort, the former Cronulla Sharks skipper admitted that father time had caught up with him.
“There’s an old saying, age is undefeated, and it probably caught up with me a little. What can I do? Everyone grows old, don’t they,” he said.
“Unfortunately it happens quick. I felt really heavy and slow… I tried to dig in late, but he’s obviously a good boxer.”
Despite pre-fight rumours that his fight against Terzievski would be his last, Gallen was not ready to call time on his boxing career.
“I really don’t know. I’m not going to make any decisions now,” he said.
“I just felt, in between those rounds, I couldn’t go like I normally go. I can’t control it, that’s life. It happens to everyone. I got in here, I trained really well.”
It was a performance that also left Gallen’s victorious opponent in awe.
“That was an amazing crowd to fight in front of,” Terzievski said.
“I said in the build-up Gal was going to test me to my limits, and he did. What a warrior, man.”