Justin Hodges has accused Paul Gallen of "panicking" ahead of their much anticipated fight in Brisbane on September 15, saying the league great should "stop whingeing".
Gallen has threatened to pull out of the fight, which will see him face both Hodges and Ben Hannant on the same night.
The former New South Wales skipper remains frustrated promoters are yet to finalise the format, with no clarity on the order of the fights, or how long the interval between bouts will be.
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"Paul just needs to shut up and stop whingeing, all he should be worried about is turning up on fight night ready to go," Hodges told Wide World of Sports.
"He wanted to have the two fights, so that's what's going to happen, but I reckon he's bitten off more than he can chew.
"It sounds to me like he's starting to panic a little bit, he's probably realised he's got two tough Queenslanders ready to knock him out."
Hodges said Gallen appears to be more nervous than usual ahead of the fight.
"I've never seen that from Paul before, normally he's quite confident, both when he played footy and then in the ring," he said.
"I'm starting to sniff a bit of self-doubt, maybe he's worried he won't be able to get the job done, that's why he's carrying on now, trying to get his own way.
"If he has the guts to turn up next Thursday he's going to find himself getting knocked out."
Hodges pointed out Gallen, who had the misfortune to play much of his State of Origin career against the greatest Queensland team in history, should be used to leaving Brisbane with his tail between his legs.
"He doesn't have a great record against Queenslanders, and that's not going to change this time," he boasted.
"The old bloke is in over his head, he's going to be heading back to Sydney with another loss against the Maroons."
Hodges, who is 5-1 in his boxing career, said his preparation for the fight has been solid, noting his advantage from having fought twice in recent months.
He pointed out that both he and Hannant are also in the dark over the format.
"Me and Benny don't know who's going first or second, so we're just training as hard as we can," he said.
"If I go first then Benny will be having the night off, because I'll be knocking Gal out.
"I wouldn't want to go second, because when I knock him out he'll use the excuse that he's already had a tough fight. I'd prefer to go first and we'll make it a quick night."
Hodges suggested Gallen, who has already confirmed this will be his last year in the ring, might have one eye on retirement.
"I heard he's got one more fight on his contract before the end of the year, but I reckon we might send him to the retirement home a bit earlier," he said.
"I'll be doing my best to make sure this is his last fight."
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Justin Hodges has accused Paul Gallen of "panicking" ahead of their much anticipated fight in Brisbane on September 15, saying the league great should "stop whingeing".
Gallen has threatened to pull out of the fight, which will see him face both Hodges and Ben Hannant on the same night.
The former New South Wales skipper remains frustrated promoters are yet to finalise the format, with no clarity on the order of the fights, or how long the interval between bouts will be.
LIVE UPDATES: US Open day nine, Nick Kyrgios v Karen Khachanov
READ MORE: Ange's Celtic cop 'cruel' Champions League lesson
READ MORE: Aussies down Kiwis as Finch fails again
"Paul just needs to shut up and stop whingeing, all he should be worried about is turning up on fight night ready to go," Hodges told Wide World of Sports.
"He wanted to have the two fights, so that's what's going to happen, but I reckon he's bitten off more than he can chew.
"It sounds to me like he's starting to panic a little bit, he's probably realised he's got two tough Queenslanders ready to knock him out."
Hodges said Gallen appears to be more nervous than usual ahead of the fight.
"I've never seen that from Paul before, normally he's quite confident, both when he played footy and then in the ring," he said.
"I'm starting to sniff a bit of self-doubt, maybe he's worried he won't be able to get the job done, that's why he's carrying on now, trying to get his own way.
"If he has the guts to turn up next Thursday he's going to find himself getting knocked out."
Hodges pointed out Gallen, who had the misfortune to play much of his State of Origin career against the greatest Queensland team in history, should be used to leaving Brisbane with his tail between his legs.
"He doesn't have a great record against Queenslanders, and that's not going to change this time," he boasted.
"The old bloke is in over his head, he's going to be heading back to Sydney with another loss against the Maroons."
Hodges, who is 5-1 in his boxing career, said his preparation for the fight has been solid, noting his advantage from having fought twice in recent months.
He pointed out that both he and Hannant are also in the dark over the format.
"Me and Benny don't know who's going first or second, so we're just training as hard as we can," he said.
"If I go first then Benny will be having the night off, because I'll be knocking Gal out.
"I wouldn't want to go second, because when I knock him out he'll use the excuse that he's already had a tough fight. I'd prefer to go first and we'll make it a quick night."
Hodges suggested Gallen, who has already confirmed this will be his last year in the ring, might have one eye on retirement.
"I heard he's got one more fight on his contract before the end of the year, but I reckon we might send him to the retirement home a bit earlier," he said.
"I'll be doing my best to make sure this is his last fight."
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
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