So what happens when your mum hears you’ve signed on to fight Nelson Asofa-Solomona?
“Oh, she’s absolutely filthy,” laughs Jeremy Latimore.
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“Even when I first suggested the idea a few weeks back, my mum was like ‘no, no, no’.
“But then eventually I had to ring her back and say, ‘ah, I’ve now signed the f***ing contract’ …”
And then?
“Then,” he shrugs, “it was ‘mum, I love yah, but I don’t give a s*** what you say’.”
While he may now be aged 39, and seven years removed from his old life as an NRL prop, Jeremy Latimore – aka ‘The GOAT’ – can today be unveiled as the first opponent for Asofa-Solomona’s hyped pro boxing switch on January 16.
Despite having most recently fought on something called the Podcast Royale, Latimore is now set to throw down on a stacked No Limit card set to be topped by the all-Australian blockbuster between Michael Zerafa and Nikita Tszyu.
Fox Sports Australia can reveal that while not the man first contacted by No Limit for said challenge, Latimore is absolutely the first to agree.
Which is no small thing.
Especially given how promoters No Limit believe, in big NAS, they have a crossover boxing poster boy.
That, and a heavyweight capable of replicating the success of no less than NSW Origin great Paul Gallen – who grossed an estimated $25 million during his three biggest years fighting.
A run too, that saw Gal not only earn consecutive wins over Lucas Browne and Mark Hunt, or take a gutsy loss to Justis Huni, but also fight and beat both Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant on the same night.
And now Australia’s No.1 promoter is looking to again double down with the former Melbourne Storm prop who, in October, and still aged only 29, announced he was quitting his $800,000-a-year career to fight.
Which goes some way to explaining why Latimore’s decision has caused even his closest family and friends a little, err, trepidation.
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Take the other week, when the father-of-two first announced his eagerness to challenge Asofa-Solomona via social media.
“And immediately I had my own mates texting me,” Latimore grins, “saying ‘you’re gunna f***ing lose’.
“But I get it.
“Nelson’s a big guy.
“He’s had that one fight against Jarod Wallace [and won by KO], so I’m under no illusion about how much power he’s got.
“With the 10 ounce gloves on too, if he clips me I’ll definitely feel it.
“Same as I also know there are some guys who didn’t put their hand up for this one.
“But I don’t plan on going punch for punch with him.
“I plan on fighting my fight.
“I’m going in there to box, and I’m backing myself.”
Which, you should know, is how it’s always been for this North Coast product who – in a sport where the average career span tops out at 43 games – went and plied his trade for 11 years and 182 appearances.
Did it in the toughest of ways too, smack bang in the middle.
And all while a fella eventually, and lovingly, branded G.O.A.T by fans, would hump his swag through stints with the Eels, Warriors, Dragons, Panthers, Sharks and Dragons again.
“Growing up in Port Macquarie, there were a lot of people who doubted me,” Latimore recounts. “People who said there was no way I’d ever play in the NRL.
“But I’ve always backed myself.
“Before all this came up, I was actually trying to get a fight with Matt Lodge.
“I initially contacted him via [Manly coach] Anthony Seibold.
“I ran into Seibs who spoke with Lodgey, and he was keen to have a crack. So I then sent that through to the Rose boys but I never really heard anything.
“[Laughs] So eventually I messaged George again. I’m sure he was probably getting sick of me in his DMS …”
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But when nothing still eventuated?
“I didn’t throw the toys out of the cot,” Latimore says, “but it did seem like nothing was going to happen.
“So I started running heaps …”
And by running heaps, Goat means completing a half marathon.
“But then I got the text from the Rose boys saying this was on,” he says of the January showdown.
“So next morning I was straight back in the gym.”
After farewelling rugby league at the end of 2019, Latimore then turned his competitive instincts to boxing, where he now works with both Mark Gambin and Brian Doyle, the latter of whom also trains UFC fighter Robert Whittaker and crossover slugger Curtis Scott.
Apart from winning his professional debut last year against Alexander Ale, Latimore also won an exhibition bout on a Podcast Royale event in April on the Gold Coast.
And as for now stepping up against NAS.
“I honestly feel like this is the perfect time to get the bloke,” he says. “Because the more Big Nels fights, the better he’ll get.
“But the only fight he’s had so far has been over two-minute rounds.
“And no matter how much you prepare for threes, you get in there and it’s like you’ve got concrete boots on.
“Then too, throw in the pressure he’s going to be under coming into this.
“That’s why I think he’s going to get out under those bright lights in Brisbane and get a shock.”
But Latimore?
“For me, I only see opportunity,” he grins. “And that’s why I can’t wait to run towards the fire.”
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