Only a day after igniting a surprise NRL Las Vegas brawl, Nelson Asofa-Solomona suddenly finds himself in another shock new heavyweight boxing challenge — and it’s not with George Burgess.
Only weeks on from his hyped debut with Australian promoters No Limit – an opening round KO of Jeremy Latimore — Asofa-Solomona is back making headlines on the eve of the NRL season opener.
Initially, the hulking Melbournian was caught up in a wonderful war of words with North Queensland prop Matt Lodge, who is currently in the world’s entertainment capital with the Cowboys.
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Yet now in a second twist in as many days, retired Queensland Origin forward Jarrod Wallace has also told Fox Sports Australia his own name must be tossed into the mix.
Back in 2023, Wallace fought Big NAS in an exhibition bout – and was eventually stopped within three rounds.
However, the former Brisbane, Gold Coast and Dolphins forward is now demanding a rematch, convinced he can himself finish Australia’s newest crossover boxing star.
While the 135kg Burgess has also offered himself up as a potential challenger, Wallace laughed off the suggestion as nonsense.
The Queenslander added that with Lodge unable to throw down until after the NRL season, he should get to rematch the man who earlier this year walked out on a Melbourne Storm contract worth $800,000 annually to box.
Asked why he should get the fight over Burgess, Wallace laughed: “Mate, George Burgess has no interest in fighting Nelson.
“For a start, he’s never been inside a boxing ring.
“And if that fight was happening it would have already been announced by now.
“I saw his call out after Nelson beat Jeremy Latimore — that was all bark from George. It’s not happening.
“But I’m here with my hand up … because I know I can get him.”
Pushed on why he should be granted a rematch, Wallace continued: “Right now, there is nobody else who wants to fight the bloke.
“And I have no idea why.
“Yeah, he’s a big man. A strong boxer.
“But Nelson really is beatable.”
What about that right hand?
“Honestly, his power doesn’t worry me,” the 34-year-old continued.
“I’ve been hit by him before.
“And take nothing away, he’s a big strong fighter who got me with an uppercut that first time we fought.
“But I also got up.
“I’ve got a strong jaw.
“And I just know that if given a second go at him, it will be a lot different to our first fight.”
The Wallace challenge comes only 24 hours after Lodge also confirmed he is also eager to throw down with ‘Big Nasty’ later this year – but only after his commitments with the Cowboys are done.
“Unlike Nelson,” he said, “I’m not gonna quit footy to get in the ring”.
It was that statement which, within hours, prompted a fiery Instagram response from Asofa-Solomona.
Apart from taking a swipe at Lodge’s infamous 2015 New York rampage – which saw him arrested at gunpoint and jailed – NAS also revealed the veteran prop wouldn’t still be in the NRL if he were.
After quitting his Storm deal to take up boxing this year, it was confirmed Asofa-Solomona had also been fielding lucrative offers from the Parramatta Eels, Warriors and rugby’s mooted R360 competition.
However, NAS has now revealed the Cowboys were also interested in his services — and for the exact spot that was eventually offered up as something of a lifeline to former Manly Sea Eagle, Lodge.
Taking to Instagram, NAS wrote: “Funny that, you wouldn’t have a job if I took the contract you’re currently on right now. Thank me later @matt_lodge.”
Yet with that fight no chance of happening before at least October, Wallace wants in.
During their 2023 bout, the former Origin forward was dropped in the opening seconds of the bout by a right uppercut, however quickly found his feet and then fought on solidly until the third, when another right hand finished things.
“But first time around, I had a lot of stuff going on in the background,” he said.
“My son had just been born and was in and out of hospital [with health issues].
“So I was sleeping in a hospital bed, going from there to training — my head just wasn’t where it needed to be for the fight.
“But this time, I’ve got nothing else going on.
“As soon as that Latimore fight was over I had the boys texting me saying ‘mate, you’ve got to go round two’. And I would love that.
“Because I’ll be a lot fitter this time around, my boxing IQ is better and I haven’t got all that external stuff going on with my son being in hospital.
“And that’s why I believe it will be a different outcome.”
So as for his keys to victory?
“Nelson has an uppercut and an overhand right,” Wallace said.
“So moving him around, that’s key.
“And being smart with your shots.
“It’s about restricting his opportunities to use that power.
“And while making him throw punches, making him miss.
“Tiring him out.
“Make the guy frustrated.
“That’s a situation he hasn’t been in before.”
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