‘Put on a show’: Aussie gun’s mammoth KO blow; promoter’s $4m Gallen play — Boxing LIVE

Eddie Hearn has revealed he once offered Paul Gallen “millions” to join his famed Matchroom Boxing stable – while also giving his take on the chances of Matchroom signing an NRL player to rival new crossover star Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia in Melbourne this week, the popular UK promoter has confirmed the longtime whisper that he once made a significant play to make a pair of showdowns between Gallen and duel international Sonny Bill Williams.

While the pair eventually threw down last year, the Matchroom offer came back when Gallen was in a crossover prime that saw his fights gross $25 million across three years.

Yet despite the revelation, Hearn says his new push into the Australian boxing scene is unlikely to include fighting footballers, even despite No Limit’s new poster boy Asofa-Solomona having become an overnight heavyweight favourite.

Widely regarded as the world’s biggest fight promoter, Hearn has jetted into Melbourne this week for the first of what will be seven Matchroom shows over the next year, and as part of a new broadcasting deal.

On Wednesday night at the Melbourne Pavilion, Skye Nicolson defends WBC interim gold against Mariah Turner, while the co-main sees Teremoana Jnr looks to take his unbeaten heavyweight tear to 11 straight.

As part of his new Australian push, Hearn has already confirmed himself keen to make huge fights Down Under for both Nicolson and Teremoana, while also expressing interest in potential opponents for both Tim and Nikita Tszyu — including his American superstar Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and new IBF champ Josh Kelly.

Hearn’s IBF welterweight champ Lewis Crocker will also face Queenslander Liam Paro this year.

Elsewhere, the English promoter has expressed interest in a 5V5 showdown with counterparts No Limit, and is keen to put another client, Justis Huni, into either a Trans Tasman showdown against Joseph Parker or bout with American Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller.

And while announcing Matchroom keen to sign several domestic fighters moving forward, Hearn has also this week finally opened up on that play, several years ago, to have ‘Gal’ join a stable including the likes of Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor.

While unsure of exact timing, Hearn confirmed he did once try to make a crossover bout between Gallen and New Zealand duel international Sonny Bill Williams.

While the fight eventually took place last year, Gallen was by then four years removed from the insane seven-month run that saw him beat UFC legend Mark Hunt, former world champion Lucas Browne and go 10 rounds with Justis Huni before being stopped late.

And it was also towards the end of that same year, 2021, when the NSW Origin star first revealed to us how Williams was effectively running from an $8 million Matchroom proposal that would involve the pair fighting in two headliners the following year.

Speaking only days out from a December bout against Darcy Lussick, the Cronulla premiership hero had explained how, with the DAZN streaming service moving into Australia, Hearn wanted himself and SBW to throw down twice within the ensuing 12 months – and was offering each man $2 million per showdown to make it happen.

“So I’m f…ing filthy,” Gallen said at the time.

“We’re talking about life changing money – two fights, $4 million each.

“Who else is getting that sort of cash? There are world champions who don’t get that money.

“It’s unbelievable …”

When asked about the story this week, Hearn confirmed its validity, although wasn’t sure the price tag was that high.

Quizzed on offering Gallen $4 million, Hearn laughed: “That sounds a little expensive, but I do recall an offer.

“It was many years ago. Maybe five years ago I think when DAZN was just coming into the market here.

“And of course, we’ve been looking at Australia for a long time now.

“I’ve always believed there is real potential here.

“They [DAZN] were looking for something and I definitely made an offer for that fight.”

So as for how much he offered the NRL warhorse?

“I can’t remember off the top of my head,” he said. “But it was definitely a few million.”

So what chance Hearn now jumps into the crossover space again?

Especially given, right now, there is plenty of noise emanating from the shock switch into the heavyweight division of Asofa-Solomona, aka Big Nasty.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’d rather not,” Hearn said of having footballers fight on his Matchroom shows in Australia.

“I never blame anyone for doing it.

“Because at the end of the day you have to produce the numbers. And if you can produce the numbers with that, so be it.

“Plus, it’s not like Paul Gallen was a Youtuber.

“He went in and had a proper tear up.

“Those fights of his were fun to watch.

“But if we’re going to do this in Australia, we need to do it properly and we need to give things a real chance.”

Ironically, Hearn’s newest Australian star, unbeaten KO King Teremoana Jnr, actually grew up in western Sydney idolising Gallen, the footballer.

Should he win on Wednesday night against Tupou, the 120kg wrecking ball then wants to go straight into a fight for against Australian heavyweight champ Stevan Ivic.

Gallen also twice fought for the national heavyweight strap, losing to Huni and Kris Terzievski.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Teremoana Jnr credited Gallen for helping create the exposure a rising heavyweight like himself is getting now.

And as for why he always idolised the backrower growing up?

“Because even when we were getting belted by Queensland, he was always there ripping in,” the 2024 Olympian explained.

“Same as whenever things got ugly on the field, he was always right there on the front lines, too.

“[Laughs] And this was back in the days where you could throw a punch, so that always made things fun.”

And as for what the man Hearn says will become a world heavyweight champion thought of Gallen’s own time in boxing?

“Oh, I loved what he did,” the 28-year-old continued. “Because Gal brought so many eyeballs to the sport of boxing, which in turn has had a huge impact for us fighters.

“Obviously in NSW and Queensland, it’s all about the NRL. Everyone watches it.

“And given everything that Gal did, I can only say ‘thank you so much’.

“Remember too, that he took Justis Huni 10 rounds. Paul Gallen got into the ring with one of Australia’s best fighters and went 10 rounds which is an incredible statement.”