Rugby league great turned boxer Paul Gallen has blasted Manly’s Josh Aloiai over a disagreement in length of rounds as speculation continues to swirl around the prospect of a showdown between the pair.
Aloiai, 25, has made headlines over the past week after he went public with his bid to get into the ring with Gallen, 40, who has a professional record of 11–1–1.
Despite recently losing to Australian boxing prodigy Justis Huni, Gallen has made no secret of his desire to continue fighting. He recently signed a deal committing to three fights over the next 12 months.
Ever since the Huni loss, Gallen, who’s become one of Australia’s top prizefighters, has indicated on several occasions the amount of “unbelievable” offers that continue to come his way.
Now it appears Aloiai could be that next bout for Gallen, but for that to happen, the former Cronulla Sharks captain says Aloiai must agree to three-minute rounds and no less.
“He’s (Aloiai) now saying he’s only going to fight four two-minute rounds, which is ridiculous,” Gallen said in a video posted to Instagram.
“I fought a fight a couple of years ago with two-minute rounds (against Barry Hall), I’m not doing that again. It’s not the right thing to do.
“He chased this fight big time… he said he would give me a boxing lesson. I said if he’s that good, let’s fight the fight over eight or 10 rounds. He said no.
“Six rounds [three-minute rounds] were agreed upon.”
Gallen in 2019 fought AFL great Barry Hall in a fight with two-minute rounds, which he was heavily against at the time.
That bout ended in a draw.
https://twitter.com/PaulGallen13/status/1452143130745135104
“Here’s a guy (Aloiai) 15 years younger than me… talking up a big game saying he’s going to beat me. Say he’s got more experience than me in boxing as far as training and sparring goes,” Gallen added.
“He’s talked up a big game… so let’s fight the fight properly. Let’s do it properly on what was agreed upon, which was six three-minute rounds.
“You’re getting paid way too much to fight the fight over two-minute rounds.
“Do it properly. Don’t dog [it].”