Samoan World Cup hero Junior Paulo has entered discussions to develop into the second footballer to face Siosiua Taukeiaho because the search heats up for Australian boxing’s subsequent crossover star.
On the eve of Paul Gallen’s hyped farewell, Fox Sports Australia can reveal promoters No Limit Boxing have already been approached about pitting the Pacific Island powerhouses in a bid to find out who fills the void left by the retiring NSW Origin nice.
Already a two-time Roosters premiership winner, Taukeiaho makes his skilled boxing debut on the undercard of Gallen and Justin Hodges in Sydney this Wednesday night.
Watch Gallen v Hodges 2 & Michael Zerafa’s return to the ring LIVE on Main Event obtainable on Foxtel & Kayo Sports, Wednesday November 23 from 7pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
Set to hitch Catalans Dragons from subsequent season, the 30-year-old enforcer will face retired South Sydney robust Jaiman Lowe.
Should the fighter dubbed ‘TKO’ win, there’ll then be a direct push to have him sq. off subsequent yr towards Paulo – who skippered Samoa all the way in which to a Cup last towards the Kangaroos on Sunday morning (AEST).
The Parramatta prop is known to have made important enhancements to his placing sport since a gutsy choice loss to Gallen method again in 2016.
Only final yr, Paulo additionally hung out coaching with Australia’s first UFC champion Robert Whittaker and would have been within the combine to be Gallen’s farewell battle had been in not for his Cup commitments.
When quizzed on speak of what potential fights could also be forward nevertheless, Taukeiaho stated he didn’t need to look past Lowe though revealed the thought of serving to fill the void left by Gallen’s departure excited him.
The 110kg ahead additionally admitted shock in any respect the eye surrounding his debut, particularly following the revelation that promoters had been struggling to seek out anybody sport sufficient to throw down with him.
“Once I saw all the headlines about that I actually jumped off social media,” Taukeiaho laughed at Monday’s open exercises in Darling Harbour.
“I don’t really like putting myself out there.
“But suddenly I had all these people tagging me on Instagram saying ‘fight this guy, fight that guy’ … then when the fight was announced it blew up again.
“It was a bit surprising really.
“And right now, I can’t worry about that.
“My focus is Wednesday.
“But moving forward I’ll fight whoever.”
“HAVE I GONE ONE TOO MANY?”: Gal opens up on large worry forward of farewell battle towards Justin Hodges
FLAWLESS: Rising Aussie star continues his scorching UFC KO streak
“DAD, YOU’LL GET KILLED”: Old South Sydney robust locked in to battle Roosters enforcer
So as for what he is aware of about Lowe?
“Not much at all,” Taukeiaho conceded of the Toowoomba native who performed 142 NRL video games, gained a premiership with Storm and in retirement has had a handful of heavyweight fights.
“I didn’t even know he was a former NRL player.
“It was my trainers who told me he played for Souths and Melbourne.
“One of my mates also sent me a clip of his most recent fight. And he’s not too bad.
“I’m certainly not taking him lightly.
“I guess we’ll find out more on Wednesday.”
While Taukeiaho solely arrived again to Australia three days in the past, he stated time spent coaching within the UK with former middleweight champ Martin Murray had him able to go.
“I trained with Martin about five times,” he stated.
“It was hard to fit in around footy – I drove up to his gym, caught the train – but learning off someone with his experience was great.
“It was great that he gave up his time to help me prepare.
“And I’ll be looking to do the same when I move to France.
“I’ll keep training over there and look to fight at the end of every Super League season.”