Of all the NRL players fighting at Battle on the Reef, Sonny Bill Williams reckons Junior Paulo is the only current part-timer who could go all-in and make it work.
Speaking with Wide World of Sports ahead of the fight night at the Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, the two-time Rugby World Cup winner said Paulo is a boxing star in the making.
Battle on the Reef will be just the third time Paulo has fought. He'll go up against the 'Polar Bear' Ben Hannant in what's expected to be one of the highlights of the night in a State of Origin-style New South Wales vs Queensland fight.
Battle on the Reef Pay-Per-View will be live & exclusive on Stan this Saturday from 6:30pm AEDT.
Paulo is one of nine current or former NRL players on the fight card, which includes Jason Taumalolo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jarrod Wallace, Tevita Pangai Junior, Justin Hodges, Matt Cooper, and Hannant.
"He's a good man," said Williams.
"I've got a lot of respect and time for Junior Paulo. He's handy in the ring. He's got fast hands just like all the Islanders – got those fast-twitch fibres.
"JP, he's one that could actually take up a bit of a profession in boxing because he knows his way around it."
This journalist put those comments to Paulo, who was taken aback in awe of Williams.
"First of all, I think it's pretty cool to have Sony toss my name up there," said Paulo, speaking with Wide World of Sports.
"We all know the kind of calibre and aura that he presents himself with. He's been able to excel in all sporting arenas that he's been able to take part of.
"Nonetheless, boxing has definitely been one of those transitions for him. Everyone knows what he does on the rugby field. It's pretty cool and yeah, I'm kind of star struck by it."
https://twitter.com/StanSportAU/status/1707575928803787219So would Paulo consider making a full-time switch?
Right now, that's not on his mind. The Parramatta Eels star is locked in at the club for the foreseeable future.
At just 29 years old, the prop has plenty left in the tank.
"Look, I won't write it off. First and foremost, I'm a footy player, but when these opportunities do present themselves you tend to enjoy the sort of challenge and the training that comes with it," he said.
"Obviously helps to keep fit, throughout the off-season. Turns out after the first fight I had, I turned out half decent people reckon. So why not just keep taking these opportunities as they come?"
Battle on the Reef fight card:
- Paulo Aokuso v Gabriel Omar Diaz for the IBO Intercontinental Light-Heavyweight Title
- Jason Taumalolo v Reagan Campbell-Gillard (heavyweight)
- Tevita Pangai Junior v Frank Amato (heavyweight)
- Nelson Asofa-Solomona v Jarrod Wallace (heavyweight)
- Junior Paulo v Ben Hannant (heavyweight)
- Justin Hodges v Matt Cooper (heavyweight)
- Jermaine Pangai v Nepote Dawadawa (heavyweight)
- Austin Aokuso v Filimoni Naliva Jr (cruiserweight)
Of all the NRL players fighting at Battle on the Reef, Sonny Bill Williams reckons Junior Paulo is the only current part-timer who could go all-in and make it work.
Speaking with Wide World of Sports ahead of the fight night at the Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, the two-time Rugby World Cup winner said Paulo is a boxing star in the making.
Battle on the Reef will be just the third time Paulo has fought. He'll go up against the 'Polar Bear' Ben Hannant in what's expected to be one of the highlights of the night in a State of Origin-style New South Wales vs Queensland fight.
Battle on the Reef Pay-Per-View will be live & exclusive on Stan this Saturday from 6:30pm AEDT.
Paulo is one of nine current or former NRL players on the fight card, which includes Jason Taumalolo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jarrod Wallace, Tevita Pangai Junior, Justin Hodges, Matt Cooper, and Hannant.
"He's a good man," said Williams.
"I've got a lot of respect and time for Junior Paulo. He's handy in the ring. He's got fast hands just like all the Islanders – got those fast-twitch fibres.
"JP, he's one that could actually take up a bit of a profession in boxing because he knows his way around it."
This journalist put those comments to Paulo, who was taken aback in awe of Williams.
"First of all, I think it's pretty cool to have Sony toss my name up there," said Paulo, speaking with Wide World of Sports.
"We all know the kind of calibre and aura that he presents himself with. He's been able to excel in all sporting arenas that he's been able to take part of.
"Nonetheless, boxing has definitely been one of those transitions for him. Everyone knows what he does on the rugby field. It's pretty cool and yeah, I'm kind of star struck by it."
https://twitter.com/StanSportAU/status/1707575928803787219So would Paulo consider making a full-time switch?
Right now, that's not on his mind. The Parramatta Eels star is locked in at the club for the foreseeable future.
At just 29 years old, the prop has plenty left in the tank.
"Look, I won't write it off. First and foremost, I'm a footy player, but when these opportunities do present themselves you tend to enjoy the sort of challenge and the training that comes with it," he said.
"Obviously helps to keep fit, throughout the off-season. Turns out after the first fight I had, I turned out half decent people reckon. So why not just keep taking these opportunities as they come?"
Battle on the Reef fight card:
- Paulo Aokuso v Gabriel Omar Diaz for the IBO Intercontinental Light-Heavyweight Title
- Jason Taumalolo v Reagan Campbell-Gillard (heavyweight)
- Tevita Pangai Junior v Frank Amato (heavyweight)
- Nelson Asofa-Solomona v Jarrod Wallace (heavyweight)
- Junior Paulo v Ben Hannant (heavyweight)
- Justin Hodges v Matt Cooper (heavyweight)
- Jermaine Pangai v Nepote Dawadawa (heavyweight)
- Austin Aokuso v Filimoni Naliva Jr (cruiserweight)
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