Nelson Asofa-Solomona has declared himself keen to “dance” with Paul Gallen in 2026 should the NSW Origin great want to come out of retirement for one last bumper headliner – and payday.
The announcement comes as No Limit’s hyped new signing also admits to having no idea how much he will weigh for his professional debut in two weeks’ time – and on the undercard of Michael Zerafa versus Nikita Tszyu – but reveals he was “mid 130s” when last on the scales.
Tszyu vs Zerafa: Bad Blood | Friday 16 January from 7pm AEDT | One of Australian boxing’s most heated rivalries finally hits the ring as Nikita Tszyu defends his family name against Michael Zerafa. Plus former NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s pro boxing debut | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
Only weeks after walking out on the Melbourne Storm, Asofa-Solomona has told Fox Sports Australia he would love for Gallen to again unretire for one last fight – and earn – following his emphatic win over Sonny Bill Williams in July.
Apart from enjoying a stellar NRL career, Gallen has also spent 12 years as something of an Australian crossover boxing star; grossing $25 million during his three biggest years in the sport.
Unsurprisingly, a farewell fight against Asofa-Solomona would also be a huge event, and easy to make given No Limit’s Rose boys already share a close relationship with ‘Gal’.
However given the Cronulla premiership hero would be conceding some 15 years to NAS, and likely double-digit kilos, any fight between the duo would appear at incredibly long odds.
Regardless, and before all that, Asofa-Solomona will first make his professional debut against Jeremy Latimore on January 16 in Brisbane.
Better, the anticipated bout is taking place on a stacked showcase which, apart from being topped by Zerafa and Tszyu, also includes an IBF welterweight title eliminator for Liam Paro.
Gallen, meanwhile, only came out of fight retirement earlier this year – earning a split decision win over SBW – but suggested immediately afterwards he would again be hanging up the gloves for good.
“I got the win, that’ll be there forever,” he said immediately after the scorecards were announced. “[But] at the end of the day, I’m 44 in a month. I’ve finished my fights.”
However, should Asofa-Solomona get past Latimore first up, the 200cm giant said he would be keen to challenge the man who has squared off with the likes of Justis Huni, Lucas Browne, Mark Hunt, Barry Hall, even Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant on the same night.
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Asked by Fox Sports Australia about a potential Gallen fight, Asofa-Solomona replied: “Yeah, I’d love to dance with him.
“Obviously, right now, Gal is retired and doing his media thing.
“So I’m definitely not calling him out.
“I’m not that guy.
“But if he did want to come back? I know there would be a lot of hype around any fight between us.
“And we could both make some decent money from it.
“But Gal has already done plenty in the fight game and had a great run. So if it’s a rest that he wants, he definitely deserves it.”
As announced only last week, Asofa-Solomona is set to make his pro debut against Latimore.
Apart from boasting over 180 NRL games, or being affectionately dubbed ‘GOAT’ during his playing days, the former prop also has two heavyweight fights himself – both wins.
Yet apart from being a decade older than NAS, the other big question involves just how many kilos Latimore may be conceding on fight night.
Previously, the retired St George Illawarra prop has fought at 113kg.
Asofa-Solomona, meanwhile, boasts a reported NRL playing weight of 130kg.
However, the former Stormer admits to being clueless regarding where he will be on the scales come weigh-ins and again inside Brisbane Entertainment Centre on fight night.
In his one previous exhibition fight in 2023, where he stopped fellow NRL player Jarrod Wallace, NAS weighed in at 131.6kg.
“But my weight now? No idea,” he shrugged. “I haven’t touched the scales since I left the Storm.
“And right now I don’t want to dictate anything off numbers.
“Instead, it’s all about how I feel.
“So I’m just going to keep putting in the work. Then whatever I weigh on the day will be what it is …”
But as for where your last recorded playing weight was at?
“Last time? Mate, I honestly can’t remember exactly,” he continued. “But I would’ve been mid 130s”.
Despite the hype around his impending debut, Asofa-Solomona’s limited highlight reel includes only the Wallace finish and that now infamous 2019 Bali fight video.
Yet there are hopes the heavyweight can follow in the footsteps of Gallen, who also fought Kris Terzievski in 2022 for the Australian heavyweight title.
Which is why despite taking up the sport relatively late, promoters No Limit are keen to make some big fights, and quickly, for their newest signing.
Certainly NAS is also keen to make his own mark in a sport he initially took up aged 12.
Back when the old man took him to a local gym in Wellington … and the boy announced himself by beating up the gym trainer’s 16-year-old son in sparring.
“And heavyweights can go for a long time,” Asofa-Solomona said when asked of his goals. “You look at history and you’ve got guys boxing into their early 40s.
“Yes, I’m still a baby in this sport.
“But I’d also be foolish to come into this, or anything else, and dream small.
“So I’m dreaming big.
“And eventually, I want to eventually mix it with the best.
“Right now though, I’m a sponge, learning the craft.
“I just need to do my time and go from there.”
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