Gallen sends Hopoate crashing down in second-round KO
Paul Gallen has beaten John Hopoate with a second-round knockout at the Hordern Pavilion on Friday night.
In what was a mismatch between heavyweight fighters with eight years and more than 10kg separating them, Gallen dominated the early exchanges.
He sensed his chance, cornered Hopoate and ended the fight in the second of what was to be six two-minute rounds.
Gallen, 37 and heading into another NRL season with the Cronulla Sharks, stood over Hopoate to check on the beaten fighter after he was helped up off the canvas.
The fight extends Gallen’s professional record to 9-0, while Hopoate – a former Australian heavyweight champion – is now 12-6.
“When I knew I had him I looked at the ref to stop punching, I had to do what I had to do,” Gallen said.
“I feel like I’m getting better, I’m looking forward to getting back to the footy, I’ll maybe have one more fight at the end of the year.
Too easy for Gallen. Hopoate knocked out in the second round by the Cronulla captain. Hoppa helped back onto his stool, clearly worse for wear.
— George Clarke (@GLR_Clarke) February 8, 2019
Second round ko for Paul Gallen . Mismatch
— NBT BOXING (@BoxingNbt) February 8, 2019
come on @SonnyBWilliams after you win the super 15 title with the blues and win the rugby world cup this year can you put paul gallen to sleep please lol 👌
— CS (@Chrzko) February 8, 2019
“Hoppa is known as a bad guy but I know the bloke, he’s made mistakes but he’s only ever been a gentleman to me.
“The last couple of weeks have got personal but I’m happy to shake his hand now, I’ve only got respect for him.”
While his attention is on the 2019 NRL season, Gallen called out Sonny Bill Williams for his next fight.
“I got caught, went to sleep. I can’t complain, Gal got me,” Hopoate said of his defeat.
Retired NRL great wins 74-second mismatch
Justin Hodges has made a successful boxing debut in little more than a minute of action.
On the undercard of Paul Gallen’s fight with John Hopoate, Hodges had Anthony Mundine in his corner and Greg Inglis sitting close by.
The former Broncos captain was far too good for his opponent, a fellow debutant in Rob Baron.
The fight needed just 74 seconds to be called a TKO victory to Hodges, who dropped Baron three times.
Perhaps predictably, the mismatch did not go down well with the punters:
I paid 50 bucks for this PPV. And J Hodges fights some bloke from the local pub. Come on….
— Rugby League Best Tries Hits and Biffs (@NBiffs) February 8, 2019
Airswing, Airswing, Airswing, Airswing, Airswing, contact, low blow, miss, Hodges wins
— Mathew Thompson (@MathewJThompson) February 8, 2019
Hodges just fought a pumpkin!
— Steve Green 🐔 (@steve11green) February 8, 2019
Please let that be the first and last time Hodges fights … yes he won but they could not have hand picked and less quality opponent if they tried
— KnowsNothing (@JayKnowsNothing) February 8, 2019
Where did they find this bloke fighting Hodges. SHEEESHSHH
— Matthew (@niketys0n1) February 8, 2019
Son of a gun continues rise
Meanwhile, Tim Tszyu – the son of Kostya – stopped Britain’s Denton Vassell in the second round for his own TKO victory.
Tszyu, the new interim WBA Oceania super-welterweight champion, is now 12-0 in his career.
Tim Tszyu defeats Britain’s Denton Vassell with a second-round TKO. Son of Kostya now 12-0-0 #GallenHopoate pic.twitter.com/Z1vQGIykUA
— George Clarke (@GLR_Clarke) February 8, 2019