The former Melbourne Storm forward moved to 4-0, then called out Tommy Fury after his first-round win in Sydney.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona stopped Paul Gallen in the first round of their heavyweight fight in Sydney on Friday, November 6, on Kayo Sports. He later apologised for going over the ropes and throwing a punch towards a spectator. The punch did not land.
The finish came near the bell. Gallen had landed punches of his own in the opening round, but Asofa-Solomona caught him with a jab and followed with four uppercuts. Gallen went down against the ropes and the referee waved off the fight.
“That was nasty. Oh my goodness, one and done for Nelson and Paul Gallen is down and hurt. Oh that’s sickening,” Main Event commentator Ben Damon said on the broadcast.
Gallen stayed down for several minutes before sitting up and getting to his feet, according to Matthew Sullivan’s live report. His former Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan and ex-teammate Michael Ennis were in attendance and had expressed concerns about the size difference before the fight.
The 45-year-old Gallen had faced professional boxers during his crossover career. This time he gave away substantial height and weight to another former rugby league player, and the contest ended before he could get back to his corner.
Asofa-Solomona Explains Why He Went Over the Ropes
Asofa-Solomona left the ring after the stoppage and threw a punch towards a spectator. Sullivan reported that a barrier prevented him from moving further into the crowd and that the punch missed.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Asofa-Solomona said he had seen a racist gesture while celebrating. “I looked in the crowd and someone was doing an ape gesture,” he said.
He also said he thought someone had thrown something at him. “I stood on the ropes and it looked like someone threw something at me and I just lost it.”
Asofa-Solomona apologised for his reaction. “If I could have my time back, I would because that’s not on … but what that guy did to me in terms of gestures is not on either,” he said. His account of what prompted the confrontation was not independently confirmed in the report.
Tommy Fury Call-Out Follows Fourth Pro Win
The stoppage took Asofa-Solomona’s professional boxing record to 4-0. He used the occasion to call out Tommy Fury, naming the English boxer as a possible opponent after beating Gallen. No fight between Asofa-Solomona and Fury was announced.
