Junior Paulo demolishes Ben Hannant amid 'disgusting' boxing scenes
The Eels forward was absolutely devastating against the NRL great.
Parramatta Eels forward Junior Paulo has absolutely demolished NRL great Ben Hannant in his post-season boxing foray, but their was anger over the referee and corner not stopping the fight earlier in the one-sided bout. Paulo was fighting former Maroons forward Hannant, who had recently stepped into the ring with Paul Gallen, at the Battle of the Reef on Saturday night.
However, it didn't take viewers long at all to realise their was a mismatch in power when a right-hand from Paulo sent the 38-year-old crashing to the canvas. Hannant was wobbly and clearly dazed, but managed to get back to his feet.
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And the younger Paulo jumped on the big man with a barrage of punches that had the former Maroons forward wobbling through the ring. Hannant was clearly just holding on when commentator Andy Raymond called for the referee to intervene.
"He struggled to get to his feet and he is going to get hurt if they allow this to continue," Raymond said as Hannant was taking damage from a range of punches. "It needs to be waved off," Raymond's co-commentator added.
Seconds later Hannant's team threw in the the towel, which saw the referee intervene and stop the fight. "The towel has finally come in, but it's too late. I am going to hold my breath. This is the part of boxing that I absolutely hate," Raymond said. Hannant was as tough as they come during his playing career, but at 38-years-old viewers felt their was a mismatch against Paulo and the fight should have been stopped earlier.
Hannant was clearly out of his depth against a man nearly 10 years his junior. Paulo was devastating and was relentless, but fans agreed with Raymond and questioned why the fight was not called before Hannant took more damage.
That was bad bad reffering Paulo Vs Hannant . Disgusting!!
— Rodderz_Now (@RodderzNow) October 7, 2023
Well said Andy Raymond!! The ref absolutely needed to stop that, but how the corner allowed Hannant to keep going after that first knock down is just so wrong. #BattleOntheReef #Boxing
— Craig M (@diminutiverowdy) October 7, 2023
Brave man Hannant to even get in the ring with jnr he never had a chance
— sam (@AzzSam) October 7, 2023
Who allowed this thing to go ahead?
— KeepItSimpleStupid (@michael77280811) October 7, 2023
Parra 2-0 for #BattleOnTheReef! Paulo an absolute weapon, never looked like losing and RCG proved to himself he’s got what it takes, I think he’s earned a confidence boost after that 💪
— KaiEnstein (@KaiEnstein) October 7, 2023
What a knockout from Paulo 😳 #BattleOnTheReef
— Gilly (@2S2Q39) October 7, 2023
No.ides how Ben Hannant got up from some of those shots. Paulo can throw them, wow. 🥊#BattleOnTheReef pic.twitter.com/wsri5tca3E
— Elliott Lovejoy (@ElliottLovejoy) October 7, 2023
Tevita Pangai Junior delivers professional win
Paulo wasn't the only Eels forward to win on the night. Reagan Campbell-Gillard defeated Jason Taumalolo in another all NRL battle. Campbell-Gillard was the busier fighter of the two and was able to win a controversial split-decision against Taumalolo.
Tevita Pangai Junior made his first professional bout since leaving the NRL and he defeated Frank Amato in a majority decision. The fight of the night saw the two heavyweights throw until the final bell and leaving nothing out there.
Pangai Junior said he would be willing to rematch Amato in an attempt to get a more decisive result. And Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona delivered one of the punches of the night to floor fellow NRL star Jarrod Wallace in the first round.
Wallace amazingly battled on, but the fight was called in the third round.
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