Gallen's knockout blow for his boxing haters

For Paul Gallen, this is the fight night that should finally put to bed the incessant narking over his part-time boxing career.

While he knows that won't happen, given the animosity towards blow-ins taking the spotlight from real fighters, the NRL great reckons the proof is in the pudding.

Tim Tszyu, in less than two years, has gone from fighting on Gallen's undercard to headlining his second stadium show of this year, the 'Sydney Superfight' at Bankwest Stadium. Tszyu is the main event of the first outdoor Sydney stadium fight night since Anthony Mundine vs Danny Green in 2006, with Gallen's bout against UFC legend Mark Hunt the co-main.

Tszyu (16-0, 12 KOs) is looking to showcase his credentials for a super welterweight world title shot when he takes on tough Kiwi Bowyn Morgan (21-1, 11 KOs). Appearing on the undercard of Gallen versus John Hopoate early last year gave his career a solid leg-up.

The many who tuned in to see Gallen-Hopoate at a sold-out Horden Pavilion also watched Tszyu destroy Denton Vassell inside two rounds. They saw a future star, as he has duly become.

Gallen (9-0-1) himself remains unbeaten as a boxer, having cracked double digits for pro fights. His last bout, against AFL great Barry Hall, prominently featured Andrew and Jason Maloney, promoting their careers right as they hit the world stage.

"Everyone wants to carry on about me or football players in general jumping in the boxing ring and saying they don't do enough for the sport," Gallen told Wide World of Sports.

"I said back then that if I'm headlining this event and Tim Tszyu's jumping on board and getting some help getting his name out there – and I mean, he had a bit of a leg-up anyway with his surname – but he got to showcase his talents in front of 4,000, 5,000 people at a stadium and thousands of people at home on television, rather than fighting at an RSL club in front of 500 people.

"He embraced it and I said if he one day headlines his own act, well I've done my job. We've seen him now headline a couple; this will be his second stadium show in 2020, even after everything that's gone on.

"I've certainly done my job for Australian boxing. I've got no issues there whatsoever.

"It will now be my 11th fight, so if people want to keep bagging me, they can keep bagging me for it. But I think I've done my job for Australian boxing."

Gallen vs Hunt may not please diehard boxing fans, yet the undercard of the December 16 event is stacked with genuine pugilistic talent. Hopefully, casual fans will come for the NRL great but should leave dazzled by the quality of young stars like Liam Wilson and Ty Telford, or the unbeaten Paul Fleming.

Tzsyu will become the only fighter in the world to headline two stadium shows this year, albeit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His last bout saw him crush former world champion Jeff Horn in Townsville during August, a decent indication that the son of legend Kostya Tszyu is the real deal.

"Without a doubt," Gallen said.

"He addressed it [at the Morgan fight announcement] when he said that he could've and would've liked to have finished Jeff Horn a bit earlier than what he did.

"I think as far as the skill level goes, he's right up there, he's up on the world stage for sure. Hopefully once COVID clears he can get a crack at one of these champions; [WBO super welterweight title holder] Patrick Teixeira, someone like that."

The Sydney Superfight is on December 16, offering fans another chance to see an elite live sporting event as Australia's COVID-19 restrictions gradually ease.