Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
- 44,119
- 33,258
ON Sunday afternoon, they line-up as archrivals.
On Monday they come together as Kangaroos teammates and by the end of this year, Brisbane’s Josh McGuire and Cronulla’s Paul Gallen could be trading punches.
Steven Deller, the Queensland-based boxing trainer of former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jarrod Fletcher and the former matchmaker for Anthony Mundine, has described the prospect of McGuire and Gallen stepping into the ring as a “no-brainer.”
“We’ve looked at it before, but the timing just wasn’t right. I’ll tell you, it would be a cracker fight,’’ Deller, who previously trained McGuire out of the Fortitude Valley boxing gym in Brisbane, told The Sunday Telegraph.
“They’re very similar, that’s why it would be a great fight.
“I worked with him (McGuire) in his last fight and he’s got a good ripping hook and he jabs all right too, he could be a quite an accomplished fighter.’’
It was prior to McGuire’s first foray into the ring in 2014 for a corporate event against MMA fighter Richard Tuala, that the prospect of a future fight with Gallen was first raised.
“Josh fights like he plays rugby league, he’s only got one speed,” event organiser Fletcher Holmes said.
“I have no doubt if he did a bit of training, he could make a go of boxing. Look out Paul Gallen.”
With a focus on furthering his football career under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos, McGuire has, for now, kept the boxing gloves tucked away in his kit bag.
“He was going along well with his boxing training and it looked like the Broncos were going to let him have a few fights,’’ Deller said.
“But he kept going so well with his footy they just decided under Wayne it would be better not for him, at this stage.
“Josh was looking at it (more fights) and Wayne wanted him to become an established footy player, which makes sense. I’m pleased he did that because look at him go now.
“We were looking at (more fights) in the off-season to prepare him for the next season. It’s great fitness, so at the end of the season, given he’s kicking goals as a footballer, anything is possible.’’
Nicknamed ‘The Big Show”, McGuire has developed into one of the leading forwards in the NRL, underlined by his ANZAC Test call-up next weekend.
His sits second only to Canterbury’s James Graham for most-metres gained this year and his battle with Gallen this afternoon at Southern Cross Group Stadium is just one of many mouth-watering match-ups.
And while Gallen’s boxing record stands at 5-0, including his most recent TKO of Herman Purcell in Queensland in January, those who have witnessed McGuire inside the ring, will tell you he has the ability to progress quickly through the sport.
“He’s a real natural,” Dennis Hogan, formerly Australia’s second-ranked light-middleweight behind Mundine, said in an interview with the Courier Mail.
“He could certainly make it as a boxer, he moves well for a big guy and being a pro athlete he listens to instructions well.”
Deller, with 40-years experience as a boxing trainer, added: “One of the big things with Josh being able to fight was that he was willing to aim up.
“Josh is a real warrior, he’s a real fighter. He’s one of these guys you’d want in the front line with you. He’s never going to dog it.
“Gal has that ring experience now, so Josh would probably need a fight or two. People knock the footy players for boxing, but I tell you what, they’re giving the boys that are fighters an opening to be exposed on TV.
“If they put together a decent undercard it would be great exposure. It would be a great fight, especially in Brisbane.’’
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...t/news-story/3936119a0bd6937be42cdcf50059e138
On Monday they come together as Kangaroos teammates and by the end of this year, Brisbane’s Josh McGuire and Cronulla’s Paul Gallen could be trading punches.
Steven Deller, the Queensland-based boxing trainer of former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jarrod Fletcher and the former matchmaker for Anthony Mundine, has described the prospect of McGuire and Gallen stepping into the ring as a “no-brainer.”
“We’ve looked at it before, but the timing just wasn’t right. I’ll tell you, it would be a cracker fight,’’ Deller, who previously trained McGuire out of the Fortitude Valley boxing gym in Brisbane, told The Sunday Telegraph.
“They’re very similar, that’s why it would be a great fight.
“I worked with him (McGuire) in his last fight and he’s got a good ripping hook and he jabs all right too, he could be a quite an accomplished fighter.’’
It was prior to McGuire’s first foray into the ring in 2014 for a corporate event against MMA fighter Richard Tuala, that the prospect of a future fight with Gallen was first raised.
“Josh fights like he plays rugby league, he’s only got one speed,” event organiser Fletcher Holmes said.
“I have no doubt if he did a bit of training, he could make a go of boxing. Look out Paul Gallen.”
With a focus on furthering his football career under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos, McGuire has, for now, kept the boxing gloves tucked away in his kit bag.
“He was going along well with his boxing training and it looked like the Broncos were going to let him have a few fights,’’ Deller said.
“But he kept going so well with his footy they just decided under Wayne it would be better not for him, at this stage.
“Josh was looking at it (more fights) and Wayne wanted him to become an established footy player, which makes sense. I’m pleased he did that because look at him go now.
“We were looking at (more fights) in the off-season to prepare him for the next season. It’s great fitness, so at the end of the season, given he’s kicking goals as a footballer, anything is possible.’’
Nicknamed ‘The Big Show”, McGuire has developed into one of the leading forwards in the NRL, underlined by his ANZAC Test call-up next weekend.
His sits second only to Canterbury’s James Graham for most-metres gained this year and his battle with Gallen this afternoon at Southern Cross Group Stadium is just one of many mouth-watering match-ups.
And while Gallen’s boxing record stands at 5-0, including his most recent TKO of Herman Purcell in Queensland in January, those who have witnessed McGuire inside the ring, will tell you he has the ability to progress quickly through the sport.
“He’s a real natural,” Dennis Hogan, formerly Australia’s second-ranked light-middleweight behind Mundine, said in an interview with the Courier Mail.
“He could certainly make it as a boxer, he moves well for a big guy and being a pro athlete he listens to instructions well.”
Deller, with 40-years experience as a boxing trainer, added: “One of the big things with Josh being able to fight was that he was willing to aim up.
“Josh is a real warrior, he’s a real fighter. He’s one of these guys you’d want in the front line with you. He’s never going to dog it.
“Gal has that ring experience now, so Josh would probably need a fight or two. People knock the footy players for boxing, but I tell you what, they’re giving the boys that are fighters an opening to be exposed on TV.
“If they put together a decent undercard it would be great exposure. It would be a great fight, especially in Brisbane.’’
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...t/news-story/3936119a0bd6937be42cdcf50059e138
