Paul Gallen has lashed Justis Huni and his camp ahead of their heavyweight duel tomorrow night, labelling them "bullies" who fold when they cop a dose of their own medicine.
Gallen showed a different side when he fronted for a press conference with Huni in Darling Harbour yesterday, declaring repeatedly that he was intent on ending Huni's Tokyo Olympic Games dream.
The former Cronulla Sharks and NSW Blues captain renewed his spray on 2GB's Wide World of Sports radio last night.
"They've been giving me a hard time for a few weeks. They've called me names such as a 'pig' and a 'donkey'. Today they had a real go at my boxing ability and basically said I'm no good. They compared this boxing fight to a race between a donkey called 'Eeyore', which is me, and Winx," Gallen said.
"So I just turned around and gave them a few home truths which they quite simply didn't like. They're not used to the pressure, they're not used to someone coming at them.
"They're like the big bully at school, you know what I mean? Bullies at school don't like it when people come back at them – and that's exactly what they are. They're bullies who are happy to call someone names and happy to put crap on someone, but when someone has a little bit of a go back at them they get a little bit upset and a little bit too precious."
Gallen bolstered his boxing credibility in his unanimous-points victory over former UFC superstar Mark Hunt in December, before again earning respect in his epic opening-round technical knockout of former heavyweight world champion Lucas Browne in April.
But the 348-match NRL legend is now set for the toughest test of his undefeated boxing career. Huni is Australia's heavyweight champion and, being 22, is in the prime of his career.
However, Gallen says he has full faith that he's capable of producing another against-the-odds victory.
"Yes, I can knock him out," Gallen said.
"I think I knock him out in round seven or eight.
"Looking forward to it, I've trained really hard for it, I'm well prepared and I'm going to get in there and give it my best shot."
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