Mark Hunt slams 'grub' Paul Gallen after 'silly' pot shot

They may have "broken bread" together but it appears there's no love lost between Paul Gallen and Mark Hunt, ahead of their highly anticipated boxing bout later this month.

The NRL legend and the former UFC star are set to go toe-to-toe in Sydney on December 16 and the verbal barbs between the pair are starting to heat up.

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Gallen has said his 46-year-old opponent is not the same one that became a UFC icon in Australia and New Zealand, insisting he's only interested in making some money off the fight.

The Cronulla Sharks great has constantly talked his own chances down, however, referring to himself as a "part-time boxer".

While that assessment is essentially true for the 348-game NRL great, Gallen still has more professional experience in a boxing ring than his opponent.

"He’s had a lot more boxing fights than I have," Hunt said.

"I can’t take that from him. He does say he is a part-time fighter.

"Part-time fighter, full-time grub."

Hunt says Gallen's attempts to criticise him for wanting to make money off the fight are "silly", and he has no shame in admitting that's the case.

“It is a bit silly knocking me for fighting for the money because that’s what a prize-fighter does,” he said.

“I’m fighting for my family because I love my family.”

Despite Gallen questioning whether Hunt has what it takes to last more than four rounds, the 39-year-old still has plenty of respect for his Sydney-based opponent.

“He’s almost like the godfather of combat sports in Australia and all these guys look up to him,” Gallen said on Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast.

The NRL legend says the respect the fighting community has for Hunt has made it difficult for him to find a sparring partner for the bout.

“Guys that I would normally spar, a lot of guys from western Sydney who have a relationship with Mark Hunt, they wouldn’t spar,” he said.

“I don’t think it was Mark, I don’t believe he is that type of guy to say don’t help him out. I think it was more the respect they have for him.”

Leaked text leaves Gallen fuming

Gallen was this week left incensed by a leaked text from Hunt asking whether the rugby league great was "taking steroids" to recover from a torn bicep in training.

The comment was clearly a cheeky reference to the peptides scandal that embroiled the Cronulla Sharks in 2011, while Gallen was at the club.

“I'm surprised and disappointed that Mark Hunt would reveal a personal conversation,” Gallen told the Sydney Morning Herald in reference to the leaked text.

“We've broken bread and sat down plenty of times and I don't think he should have gone there.

“Me and Mark have had some pretty in-depth conversations, he may have forgotten what some of those are about.

“It's frustrating that after 10 years I'm still the only one having to answer questions or be linked to this. No other player is and no other official even has a mark against their name.”

Gallen fiercely defended himself in his reply to Hunt’s message about steroids, insisting blame for the NRL peptides scandal lay with the Cronulla Sharks, and that he had been unaware of what had been transpiring.

“What happened at Cronulla was the club's fault and wasn't steroids. I'm happy to be drug tested any time of day or night,” Gallen’s message read.

“NO I'm not cheating and I wouldn't do that my coach wouldn't train me if I was and I wouldn't risk my life after football with my media deals.

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