'Embarrassing': Paul Gallen lights fuse for Josh Aloiai boxing showdown in Newcastle

So the agreement the pair will fight over eight two-minute rounds when they step into the ring at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on December 10?

"It's embarrassing," Gallen said.

Gallen [11-1-1] has torn shreds off Manly Warringah Sea Eagles forward Aloiai leading into a bout which serves as the culmination of a blockbuster two nights of fights in Newcastle next month.

Aloiai will be making his professional debut against the former Cronulla and NSW captain, whose only loss as a boxer came against Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni.

MORE SPORT

It will serve as the final instalment in No Limit Boxing's fight festival in the Steel City. The opening night will be headlined by former world champion Andrew Moloney against Froilan Saludar, while Olympic Games bronze medallist Harry Garside will make his professional debut.

Moloney and Garside sat alongside new No Limit signing Sam Goodman at a press conference on Monday, and they gave Gallen fuel for his war of the words with Aloiai.

"He's going to earn more money than these three guys sitting down here and he's fighting two-minute rounds. It's embarrassing," Gallen said.

"He sat there a moment ago and said he wants to do the right thing by the sport and look like a boxer, well do the right thing by the sport and fight three-minute rounds. That's the right thing by the sport. Do it properly. Why won't you do it properly?

"Are you not a little bit embarrassed to sit there in front of these three blokes in front of you, earn probably 10 times the amount of money they're going to earn, and you're fighting two-minute rounds. Is that not a little bit embarrassing to you?"

Aloiai returned serve and asked Gallen if he was embarrassed early in his professional boxing career when he fought over two-minute rounds. The response was quicker than a Tim Tszyu body rip.

"Yeah I was and I blew up every time. The difference between you and them opponents were they weren't at the start saying you've boxed since you could walk, you're a better boxer than me, you've got more experience than me. Those words came out of your mouth," Gallen said.

"I may have had more fights but you've got more experience. You said it, not me. If you're so good and you've got so much experience, why are we fighting two-minute rounds?"

There can be little doubt about Gallen's will, his desire and his commitment to the craft.

No longer a rugby league player, the 40-year-old is a prize fighter. Aloiai is untested at this level, though boasts a background in boxing he says isn't to be scoffed at.

"The best thing I can do to show I truly respect boxing is not go out there and look like a football player. I'll get out there and let people know I have worked on this craft since I was a kid. I'm a boxer when I get in that ring, not a football player," Aloiai said.

"Initially I thought I wouldn't get the Gallen fight straight away, I thought I would have to work towards it. I think at this stage it's been pretty hard to find an opponent, so when they offered it, I was ready for it.

"It doesn't bother me too much either way, whether it was the long route or the short one which is it now. I really thought we were going to clash at some point, why not now?"

Joey Leilua reckons he's no stranger to a scrap, but he's never stepped into the ring.

"Just mainly pub fights, I can't say anything else. I'll get in trouble," the discarded Wests Tigers centre said.

That all changes next month when he faces retired NRL premiership winner Chris Heighington on the undercard in Newcastle.

Leilua finds himself without a club for the 2022 season after being cut adrift by the Tigers following a clash with club coach Michael Maguire. So you naturally wonder if there is someone he wants to send a message to when he makes his boxing debut.

"I can't really say, but you probably already know the answer to that," Leilua said.

But that's not why he took the fight. The answer to that question is far more simple.

"To be honest, do you want to know the real answer? I just got a text, 'do you want to fight?' I said 'yeah, I'll take the fight'," Leilua said.

"I wasn't scared or anything. I was excited because I always wanted to box, but I never knew how hard it was until this camp we've been doing. It's been enjoyable so far."

He faces a 38-year-old who left rugby league in 2018, yet one could hazard a guess and say Heighington, who owns a fitness business, is still in good shape.

Even so, he says there are people who think "I'm crazy, I've got no chance".

"I want to be challenged. Taking on someone who is the same age wouldn't be a challenge to me, so taking on Joey, I walk through the streets on the Central Coast and they think I'm crazy, but it gives me more motivation," Heighington said.

"I'm the underdog obviously, and the underdog always works harder. I'm here to fight and I can't wait for the 10th.

"As a kid I trained out of Umina PCYC there with Joel Keegan. It built me as a rugby league player, training really hard, doing sparring and boxing. I did it a little bit through my career but obviously footy took over.

"It's a pretty lonely place in the boxing ring when you're sparring against someone who is really good, and it keeps you alive. I like the feeling and I'm not one to stand away from a challenge."

Former WBA super flyweight champion Andrew Moloney has vowed to revive his aggressive style as he plots his path back towards a world title shot.

Moloney dropped two fights and was robbed in another during a trilogy with Joshua Franco in the United States, and arrives in Newcastle for his first fight in Australia since November 2019.

Moloney [21-2] takes on Froilan Saludar [32-4-1] in the main event on December 9.

"In my recent performances I've been trying to be too technical and overthinking things," Moloney said.

"I'm going to go back to what got me to being a world champion, and that's being the aggressive fighter, going out there and taking my opponent out.

"I've only had one fight in the last 12 months and lost my world title in that fight, so I'm looking forward to getting back in the ring and redeeming myself, and starting my journey back to becoming world champion once again and that starts on December 9.

"I'm devastated still by the outcome of that fight, but I do feel like I learnt a hell of a lot from that experience. I look forward to showing that in this fight and showing everyone what I've learnt from that, and just reminding people of the type of fighter I am.

"I still feel like I let myself down in that trilogy. December 9 is the opportunity for me to show everyone what I'm capable of."

Harry Garside has already written his name into Olympic folklore.

The ballet dancing, nail painting boxer claimed bronze in Tokyo to secure Australia's first boxing medal at the Olympic Games since 1988.

Now he has linked up with legendary trainer Johnny Lewis ahead of his professional debut against Fijian Sachin Mudaliar [9-1] in Newcastle.

Mudaliar is known amongst Canberra boxing circles as the outsider who stunned Ben Dencio to claim the ANBF Australasian super featherweight title in 2019 - but Garside is determined to write his own story.

"He has a good record, 9-1, but I'm excited to show you guys what Johnny and myself can cook up in the kitchen," Garside said.

"It's been unreal mate, I've learnt so much already in the first five or six weeks we've had together. With my home coach Brian Levier and Johnny working together, it's been unreal.

"They're both veterans of the sport, both in their 70s, both have done amazing stuff in their career. I'm just excited to show you guys what we cook up in the kitchen.

BOXING

Thursday, December 9: Andrew Moloney v Froilan Sadular at Newcastle Entertainment Centre.

Friday, December 10: Paul Gallen v Josh Aloiai at Newcastle Entertainment Centre.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: