Justin Hodges boldly declared that he “isn’t there to even the numbers” as he prepares to be one of Paul Gallen’s two opponents in a Queensland boxing spectacle.
Gallen will face Hodges and Ben Hannant on the same night on September 15 at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena as the Cronulla legend looks to pull off a feat not seen in over 130 years after Albert ‘Young Griffo’ Griffiths two Defeated opponents in one evening 1890.
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Securing the fight against Gallen, arguably the finest crossover footy star to lace up the gloves, is something Hodges has craved since he started the sport.
And the former Maroons star plans to jump at the opportunity with both hands to make his home state proud.
“I’m not here to make up numbers, I’m not here to lose,” Hodges said foxsports.com.au.
“I want to give everything I can and I want to win the fight.
“He (Gallen) was the best crossover guy. If I knock him out, it will be something I can look back on later in life and say I beat one of the best guys in boxing crossover-wise.”
Likely the second of the two fights, Hodges knows many critics will point out that any win over Gallen could have come down to the NSW great having already fought that night.
It is quite possible that Hannant will also cause a sensation and beat Gallen in the first fight.
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However, the 40-year-old is already prepared for all sorts of “garbage” excuses.
“Look, that’s not my problem,” Hodges said.
“I can’t control that. I can’t control what gal wants. All I can control is my fight.
“Of course there’s always going to be this speculation when I win that he’s had a fight before and was tired and all that kind of rubbish.
“But at the end of the day, that’s his decision, not mine. I just have to go in, do my job and what people say, they will say.”
No matter what physical condition Gallen arrives in when they face off – assuming he wins his first fight – Hodges is already playing out in his mind how the fight will end.
Not surprisingly, he doesn’t think the judges are needed.
“Look, we’re both big guys,” Hodges said.
“We both go out to swing. I don’t see it coming down to the judges at all.
“One of us will be stopped, that’s how I picture it in my head.”
As for Gallen, he’s delighted at the chance to silence an extremely vocal crowd and had a scary warning for Hodges and Hannant.
“I said leading up to their last fight that there would be nothing quite like beating two Queenslanders in one night and here we are,” Gallen said.
“These two couldn’t get my name out of their mouths leading up to their final fight. Be careful what you boys wish because I come to swing and swing hard and I won’t stop until you’re both on the floor regretting the decision.
“I’m really excited that the fight is taking place in Brisbane and I don’t give a damn about the crowd. They can boo me all they want, but that just gives me more energy to get out there and put on a show.”