Heavyweight star Nelson Asofa-Solomona has won his first fight as No Limit’s newest crossover weapon, knocking out fellow former rugby league enforcer Jeremy Latimore in the first round with a “brutal” uppercut.
Asofa-Solomona quit the Storm following the conclusion of the 2025 season, signing a lucrative boxing contract, despite interest from rival NRL clubs.
The 29-year-old proved his switch could be a fruitful one, disposing of Latimore in his professional debut on the Michael Zerafa and Nikita Tszyu undercard.
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Asofa-Solomona quickly worked his opponent out, finding his distance before collecting Latimore with a punch that floored him. Latimore could do nothing but lay flat on the canvas.
“That was huge and he has sent him down hard… Nelson Asofa-Solomona, we knew it was the upper cut most likely,” Ben Damon said.
“When it came it was brutal, a one-punch highlight reel from Nelson in his professional debut.
“He was never chance of getting up, try as you might.”
Shawn Porter also added: “It’s a punch that you don’t see coming, Latimore never saw that coming”.
Asofa-Solomona, meanwhile, said he was “not happy with the performance” but gave
“I want to give credit to this man right here, a lot of people wouldn’t dare step in this ring,” he said, pointing at his opponent.
He was then asked if he was pleased with his fight-defining punch.
“It was good, it was a bit wild but I will go back to the drawing board and try and perfect everything in the game,” he said, in true rugby league fashion.
As for who he wanted to fight next?
“Any NRL player can get it, I want to clean up the whole NRL division and then we can go from there,” Asofa-Solomona explained.
The former Storm star’s No Limit contract is three years long with Fox Sports Australia revealing his next opponent could be former Rabbitohs forward George Burgess.
The brother of legendary lock Sam Burgess, who played 160 top grade games for Souths, St George Illawarra and Wigan, is currently negotiating his own contract.
Burgess was also in the crowd to watch Asofa-Solomona’s brutal knockout — watching on to potentially eye up his opponent.
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Elsewhere, bouts against Paul Gallen and Curtis Scott have also been floated, but it remains to be seen who will next step in the ring with the man who stands 200cm tall and weighs 130 kilograms.
Gallen was in the crowd during Friday night’s card, while Scott was in Latimore’s corner.
Prior to his first professional bout, Asofa-Solomona took a handful of pot shots at the former NSW and Sharks captain.
“Gal likes the coin, I heard,” NAS grinned.
“So for the right price he’ll come out of retirement. That’s a fight we can make down the track.”
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