04-22-2021, 02:14 PM
'I was really scared': Paul Gallen's stunning post-fight admission after stopping Lucas Browne
Tim Elbra
SKY SPORT
Former NRL star Paul Gallen makes short work of Lucas Browne, knocking his heavyweight rival out in the first round.
Paul Gallen has made the remarkable admission that he was scared before fighting Lucas Browne – as he was before games throughout his rugby league career.
Gallen played more than 400 elite-level league matches and was in his 12th pro boxing bout against Browne, a far bigger man boasting 25 professional knockouts.
While fearless is an easy adjective to use for the NRL legend, courageous seems more accurate; Gallen has learned to master his fear and dispatched Browne in a stunning first-round TKO in Wollongong on Wednesday night.
As a former WBA heavyweight world champion, Browne was a big step up for Gallen's boxing career, as ex-UFC destroyer Mark Hunt was in his previous fight. Gallen beat them both to improve his record to 11-0-1 (6 KOs), despite having misgivings about both fights.
"I remember saying at the time, 'That's too big a fight, that's too big a fight'," Gallen told Main Event after beating Browne.
Former NRL star Paul Gallen throws his final punch in his stunning first-round TKO defeat of Lucas Browne in Wollongong.
"The when the Hunt option came out, they all told me, 'Do it, do it, do it – you don't understand how good you can be'. So I did that and got through that, then obviously this option came up.
"And I was pretty fearful tonight, I'm not the toughest guy in the world who doesn't get scared. I was really scared, even though how hard I trained."
Gallen said that he had relied on his old methods for overcoming fear; trusting in his meticulous preparation, which for the Browne fight meant an 11-week camp.
"I do it the same way as in rugby league. I was always scared before a footy game, always," Gallen said.
Lucas Browne had no answer to Paul Gallen’s aggression as the veteran slugger was blasted out in the opening frame.
"But I reverted back to what I've done, the preparation that I've done, and when I prepare well, I can do anything. I know I can do anything. My mum always told me when I was a kid, you can do anything you set your mind to.
"I did that in rugby league and now I'm doing it in boxing. I'm not sitting here saying I'm the most talented fighter in Australia because I'm not, but there's no way anyone's going to beat me on effort and I'm happy to have a crack at whoever comes my way if the bottom line's right."
Lucas Browne falls through the ropes after being knocked down by Paul Gallen before a raucous crowd in Wollongong.
That may be Australian champion Justis Huni, the young superstar who will represent Australia at the Olympics later this year.
"If the money's right, I'll fight him. I'm not against anything, I've said that from day one. If the money's there, I'll fight him," Gallen said.
"He's going to represent Australia later in the year and if we fight before that, I'm happy to do it, I'm not against it. But Dean [Lonergan, Huni's promoter] – show me the cash, baby. Give me the money."
It has been speculated that Gallen could make A$1 million (NZ$1.08 million) fighting Huni, though it would represent another huge leap in class, with the young heavyweight tipped as a possible future world champion.
Tim Elbra
SKY SPORT
Former NRL star Paul Gallen makes short work of Lucas Browne, knocking his heavyweight rival out in the first round.
Paul Gallen has made the remarkable admission that he was scared before fighting Lucas Browne – as he was before games throughout his rugby league career.
Gallen played more than 400 elite-level league matches and was in his 12th pro boxing bout against Browne, a far bigger man boasting 25 professional knockouts.
While fearless is an easy adjective to use for the NRL legend, courageous seems more accurate; Gallen has learned to master his fear and dispatched Browne in a stunning first-round TKO in Wollongong on Wednesday night.
As a former WBA heavyweight world champion, Browne was a big step up for Gallen's boxing career, as ex-UFC destroyer Mark Hunt was in his previous fight. Gallen beat them both to improve his record to 11-0-1 (6 KOs), despite having misgivings about both fights.
"I remember saying at the time, 'That's too big a fight, that's too big a fight'," Gallen told Main Event after beating Browne.
Former NRL star Paul Gallen throws his final punch in his stunning first-round TKO defeat of Lucas Browne in Wollongong.
"The when the Hunt option came out, they all told me, 'Do it, do it, do it – you don't understand how good you can be'. So I did that and got through that, then obviously this option came up.
"And I was pretty fearful tonight, I'm not the toughest guy in the world who doesn't get scared. I was really scared, even though how hard I trained."
Gallen said that he had relied on his old methods for overcoming fear; trusting in his meticulous preparation, which for the Browne fight meant an 11-week camp.
"I do it the same way as in rugby league. I was always scared before a footy game, always," Gallen said.
Lucas Browne had no answer to Paul Gallen’s aggression as the veteran slugger was blasted out in the opening frame.
"But I reverted back to what I've done, the preparation that I've done, and when I prepare well, I can do anything. I know I can do anything. My mum always told me when I was a kid, you can do anything you set your mind to.
"I did that in rugby league and now I'm doing it in boxing. I'm not sitting here saying I'm the most talented fighter in Australia because I'm not, but there's no way anyone's going to beat me on effort and I'm happy to have a crack at whoever comes my way if the bottom line's right."
Lucas Browne falls through the ropes after being knocked down by Paul Gallen before a raucous crowd in Wollongong.
That may be Australian champion Justis Huni, the young superstar who will represent Australia at the Olympics later this year.
"If the money's right, I'll fight him. I'm not against anything, I've said that from day one. If the money's there, I'll fight him," Gallen said.
"He's going to represent Australia later in the year and if we fight before that, I'm happy to do it, I'm not against it. But Dean [Lonergan, Huni's promoter] – show me the cash, baby. Give me the money."
It has been speculated that Gallen could make A$1 million (NZ$1.08 million) fighting Huni, though it would represent another huge leap in class, with the young heavyweight tipped as a possible future world champion.