Jeff Fenech fears the famed chin of Cronulla premiership hero Paul Gallen has gone – or is no less than now weakened sufficient to see him kayoed for the primary time in 23 years as knowledgeable athlete.
In what would fee among the many best Australian boxing upsets of current occasions, Fenech is tipping Gallen to be knocked out by arch rival Justin Hodges in his hyped Sydney farewell subsequent Wednesday night time.
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Despite having commentated among the crossover star’s best wins – and even now, nonetheless calling Gallen “a warrior” – Fenech fears the 41-year-old has carried his profession one struggle too many.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, the four-time world champion tipped Hodges, who dropped Gallen of their first struggle, to now end the job of their heavyweight rematch.
“Huge upset,” Fenech stated when requested for a prediction.
“I think Gal might have taken one fight too many … and I think Justin Hodges knocks him out.”
Pushed on his shock prediction, Fenech steered Hodges has improved his punching energy considerably beneath coach Adam Copland – and for proof, pointed to his dropping Gallen of their first struggle, which the NSW Origin nice ultimately received himself by way of stoppage.
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Yet simply as considerably, Fenech added that very same second proved the regression suffered by Gallen, who stays one of many hardest males to ever play rugby league.
Asked if he thought Gallen’s famed chin was going, Fenech stated: “Oh, definitely.
“And I can say that from experience.
“You get hit enough, get hurt … there’s nothing can help your chin.
“You can go get yourself a knee replacement but for the chin — there’s nothing.
“And no disrespect to Gal.
“I love the guy. Think he’s an absolute warrior.
“When you look at some of the guys Paul Gallen has beaten, too – wow – you wouldn’t think of putting Justin in against them.
“But it’s all about timing.
“And Gal, he’s not getting any better.
“Every fight he’s losing a little bit.
“So when things happen at the right time, or the wrong time … I think it could spell disaster for Gal.”
Fenech additionally stated the numerous sparring wars Gallen has endured privately had additionally taken a toll.
“When you throw in all the hard sparring he’s done, that hasn’t helped,” the retired champion continued.
“I know if I was training Gal for this last fight, I’d be doing the lightest work possible just to keep him fresh.
“Because the guy is an absolute warrior.
“Everything he does, it’s at 100 mile per hour.
“But there comes a point where you need to go in fresh. And he hasn’t done that.
“Even prior to his most recent fights, when he sparred my heavyweight, he was getting beat up.
“And you don’t need to get beat up before a fight.”
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Should Hodges rating an upset KO, it might be the primary time Gallen has been iced in a profession spanning 32 Tests, 24 Origins, 350 NRL video games and 18 heavyweight fights.
Of his earlier skilled bouts, the Shire product has solely been stopped as soon as – within the tenth and closing spherical in opposition to Justis Huni.
Yet even then, the tip got here on account of Gallen slipping as he was being punched by the undefeated 23-year-old who has already gone prime 15 with the WBO.
Elsewhere, the plain Pay-Per-View star has fought among the largest names in Aussie boxing – assume Huni, Mark Hunt and Lucas Browne – whereas additionally sparring numerous rounds in opposition to just about each nationwide heavyweight of be aware.
While Hodges is nowhere close to the extent of the best fighters on his resume, Fenech says the two-time NRL premiership star has improved sufficient to beat Gallen.
“And I think he does, yeah,” he stated.
“I know when Justin dropped Gal in that first fight, he got enormous confidence from that.
“And if he just slows down a little bit, brings Gal onto his punches, he can definitely knock him out.
“I know in his head, he has that vision.
“That’s a huge thing.
“For the first fight, Hodgo was there for the money, I’m sure.
“But now, having dropped him, he really believes he can win.
“And you can see in his performances, he’s got much better.
“I’m tipping a big upset.”