Curtis Scott’s surprise UFC reveal as Sea Eagles star chases opponent for boxing debut

Curtis Scott has opened up on plans to punch his way into a UFC crossover bout as promoters No Limit also scour the NRL for anyone willing to face veteran prop Matt Lodge.

Fox Sports Australia can reveal Scott is one of several names being considered for a ‘Footy Fight Night’ that will see some of the rugby league’s biggest rivalries – male and female – settled inside a boxing ring.

Slated for November, the event is part of a huge end to the year for Australian promoters No Limit, whose star client Tim Tszyu is now readying for his latest title blockbuster in the United States this Sunday.

Tszyu is not only looking to become a two-time world champion this weekend, but the first man to beat Russia’s undefeated IBF super welterweight king Bakhram Murtazaliev.

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A win will see Tszyu catapulted into a host of massive fight opportunities against the likes of Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jnr, even a rematch with Sebastian Fundora – who beat the Sydneysider in a bloody title upset earlier this year.

Scott, meanwhile, has drawn up his own hitlist of hyped crossover rivals, with his agent Titus Day revealing his client wants to use a Footy Fight Night win to catapult closer to a showdown with Sonny Bill Williams and, eventually, a UFC crossover fighter — which in the past year has seen the likes of Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen and Jorge Masvidal all box.

Day stated that if Scott keeps winning he could eventually enter the mix against someone like Englishman, Darren Till, who is still only 31 and made a dozen Octagon appearances.

Back in 2020, Paul Gallen shocked the fight game when he scored a huge upset over UFC heavyweight legend Mark Hunt.

While there has recently been rumours of Scott potentially chasing a fight with Australian UFC favourite Tyson Pedro, who is also readying to make his professional boxing debut, it is understood that fight will not happen.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Scott confirmed he was still after Sonny Bill Williams and, eventually, wanted to have a crack at the Australian cruiserweight title.

However he said, down the track, taking on a name from the UFC was also in the plans.

Asked if there is anyone specifically he wants, the man who has also been linked to showdowns with both SBW and Parramatta prop Junior Paulo said: “Look, I don’t pick and choose.

“Right now, I don’t have that luxury.

“At this stage of my career, I’m taking whoever No Limit gives me.

“So who knows?

“Eventually, I wouldn’t even mind taking some fights against overseas guys.

“Somebody like Darren Till.

“Not right now, of course.

“But if I keep working with the guys that I am, keeping build up here in Australia – keep winning – then we might be able to jag some interest overseas.

“But I’m ready for anyone.

“I’ve been hassling No Limit because I want to get through these crossover fights before taking on the Australian cruiserweight champion.”

No Limit CEO George Rose confirmed Scott would almost certainly be on the November card, while also revealing Lodge, coming off a season with the Manly Sea Eagles, is also keen to make his professional heavyweight debut.

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Rose said he was exploring “several options” for 117kg enforcer Lodge, who is among a host of possible fighters including Adam Elliott, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Royce Hunt, Josh Aloiai, while NRLW stars Ali Brigginshaw and Tiana Penitani have also been approached to throw down.

“And I know Lodge has been sparring some of Australia’s best heavyweight fighters,” Rose said.

“He’s done a lot of rounds and by all reports has been holding himself well.

“Obviously, there’s a big difference between sparring and the real thing, but Matt Lodge definitely shows no fear on a footy field and I know there are a lot of people interested in seeing how he goes.

“I’m sure a lot of people would like to see him get hit too.”

It has now been almost two years since Lodge, then a Sydney Roosters prop, secretly signed for a heavyweight boxing debut in Dubai – only for the event to be sensationally canned due to a runaway promoter.

Just before Christmas in 2022, Lodge was sensationally caught up in a boxing scandal where Australian fighters were robbed of their purses, left “on the street” in the Middle East, while the promoter disappeared.

The NRL enforcer had been planning to compete alongside Aussie like Lucas Browne, Paul Fleming and Alex Winwood before the card collapsed in what one Aussie boxing manager described as “the worst sh**fight I’ve ever seen.

More recently, Lodge also offered to fight Paul Gallen, who has also been rumoured for a return for a card that will see fighters placed onto two teams headed by captains Gorden Tallis and Willie Mason.

Scott is another obvious choice for the Footy Fight Night given the former Melbourne Storm centre is undefeated in all three professional bouts and, as part of his continuing growth, has recently sparred Australia’s cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia and UFC middleweight star, Robert Whittaker.

While he eventually wants a crack at the Australian cruiserweight title in 2025, Scott stressed he would eventually like to take on other former UFC fighters who have switched sports – among them popular Liverpool product Till, who made the Octagon walk 12 times and has also hinted at a boxing foray.

Only recently, Scott had sparring sessions with Opetaia and Whittaker, the latter of whom he knows well due to the pair sharing the same coach and manager.

Despite admitting to “s***ing himself” prior to the sessions, Scott said such opportunities had been outstanding for his rapid growth in the sport.

“What I’ve learned sparring Rob is that he doesn’t take long to work you out,” Scott said, grinning.

“And when he does, he makes you pay.

“It was the same with Jai.

“Lean forward too much and you’re coming onto a nasty uppercut; or a body punch that very nearly cuts you in half.

“(Laughs) I wore one of those in there.

“Definitely took the wind out of me for the last round.”