Paul Gallen and Justin Hodges are about to step into the boxing ring for the second time.
As they get ready to take down each other, this is a look into what current NRL players could be next to take the plunge into the boxing ring.
2. Josh Aloiai
Originally meant to fight Paul Gallen until he pulled out due to COVID-19, Aloiai is the most likely to go down the career track of being a boxer. Standing at 1.9m tall, the Samoan international is a fierce opponent to be looking at on the opposite side of the ring.
Surprisingly he already has one amateur fight win to his name. This fight occurred in 2017, and he took home the win after scoring a second-round knockout. Growing up, he was trained as a boxer until he had to forgo that career after a flurry of injuries.
Fighting runs in his family, with both of his brothers have competed in the sport and his father a trained purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Aloiai toldย Sporting News, "I grew up in a boxing gym."
Two years ago, Aloiai's boxing coach Hassan El-Achrafi sat down withย Sporting Newsย to discuss his boxing ability.
"He understands boxing โ not just punching. He studies it and understands the historical and technical things. Why things are supposed to be done certain ways and times," El-Achrafi said.
