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Paul Gallen lashes out at boxing promoter

3 minute read

Rugby league great turned undefeated heavyweight boxer Paul Gallen is furious about the terms of his scheduled fight with Justis Huni.

PAUL GALLEN. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Paul Gallen has accused Justis Huni's camp of being cheapskates and using the rugby league great to raise the profile of the little-known boxing star.

Gallen fears his fight with Huni, slated for June 16, won't go ahead if the Australian heavyweight champion is hurt in a low-key bout next week with Christian Tsoye in Sydney.

Although Huni is putting his national heavyweight belt on the line against Tsoye, no spectators other than media will be allowed to watch the 10-round tussle.

Gallen says it's a joke and is demanding Huni's agent Dean Lonergan stump up expenses for the NRL premiership winner if his pay-per-view fight with Huni is cancelled.

"There's a chance that it won't even happen if he (Huni) gets hurt or cut. I mean, Christian Tsoye is as tough as nails," Gallen told AAP on Monday.

"I've even asked for compensation if he does get injured and I'm not asking for a fee. I'm only asking for the costs that it's cost me to prepare for this fight - to travel to Melbourne, to travel to Queensland trying to get sparring partners.

"It'd be chump change to cover my costs. It might be like a couple of grand, but Lonergan won't do it. He won't give me anything."

Despite Huni's status as the first boxer in more than a century to win the Australian heavyweight title on his professional debut and a genuine Olympic gold medal contender, he's no household name and Gallen will reportedly receive 85 per cent of the takings from their scheduled fight.

Little wonder Gallen is nervous about Huni stepping into the ring just three weeks before.

Lonergan, though, says Gallen has nothing to worry about.

"Obviously 'Gal' is going to make a lot of money out of the fight. So no matter what happens, we'll do the fight at a later date," Lonergan told AAP.

"Gallen's going to get his beating no matter what."

Gallen's not so sure.

"I've been trying to get this Christian Tsoye fight cancelled from the start," he said.

"What's more important? "For him, Lonergan just wants the profile. That's all he wants.

"I just see part of it as him doing it for publicity and our fight's not even going to happen.

"He says 'oh, we'll do it after the Olympics'. He's got that attitude.

"But, mate, I'm f****** 40 years old this year. I'm not about to wait around for this bloke.

"Everything's always on his terms. It's frustrating."