Tevita Pangai Junior’s boxing coach has slammed recommendations that the Bulldogs enforcer’s determination to retire from rugby league got here after a falling out with membership powerbrokers.
The NSW consultant made the bombshell determination on Tuesday, revealing this season can be his final within the NRL earlier than he takes up skilled boxing.
Chris McCullen, who has educated the previous Broncos ahead for 3 years, defined Pangai Junior’s determination got here all the way down to him discovering a brand new love for a special sport.
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The rationalization comes after the Bulldogs had been questioned relating to the $500,000 Pangai Junior’s exit frees up on their wage cap for the 2024 season.
“I was pretty shocked by the decision, I didn’t expect this from Tevita,” McCullen mentioned to The Daily Telegraph.
“He had no issue with Bulldogs management or Cameron Ciraldo, he actually liked the coach, so there was no problem in that regard.
“Speaking to him, it was like a weight had lifted off his shoulders.
“He wants to finish off well with the Bulldogs and then he will get straight into boxing training and we’ll lock in some fights ASAP.
“I was shocked when he told me he had quit the Bulldogs and wanted to fight full-time.
“I told Tevita he is crazy, but at the end of the day, it’s those guys who want to take serious chances that sometimes make it work.
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“It’s really brave of him to do this. He could have stayed at the Bulldogs and got big pay days.
“People will bag him, but he walked away from a lot of money to try and chase his goals to be happy in boxing.”
McCullen additionally revealed he believes the Bulldogs ahead was lacking his household and boxing coaching in Brisbane.
He turned to the game throughout a turbulent interval on the Broncos through the 2020 season during which a collection of Covid breaches nearly noticed him sacked.
“The longer-term plan was always for Tevita to pursue a career in boxing, this has just happened earlier than I expected,” McCullen mentioned.
“I honestly don’t know if he will go back to NRL. He might have six months off, revitalise himself and he may want to play again, but I can’t answer that right now.
“The immediate future is to finish this season and try and get a couple of fights in and we will see where he goes.”
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Meanwhile, cross-code legend Sonny Bill Williams additionally weighed in Pangai Junior’s swap and mentioned “he’s one of my brothers”.
Agent Khoder Nasser, who managed Anthony Mundine, shall be overseeing Pangai Junior’s transfer to fight sports activities.
“That’s quite telling of Khoder Nasser, who managed the most successful boxer in Australian history (Mundine) from a monetary point of view,” Williams mentioned to the SMH.
“If he is saying that, you know it’s going to be a tough road for Tevita. But man, I’m always in that guy’s corner, he’s one of my brothers.
“I think he can make it, he’s got all of the attributes. The other thing a lot of people don’t understand is he is a student of the game, he lives for that stuff.
“The thing with boxing that I think Tevita enjoys is that solo-ness of it. You’re just on that grind, you’re working and answering to yourself.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au