Everything you need to know about Paul Gallen’s double-header footy fight with Hodges and Hannant

The Origin Rumble showdown that will see Paul Gallen try to beat long-time footy foes Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant on the same night is a first for Australian boxing – and with that comes some one-off rules and regulations. 

Gallen (12-2-1 7KO) is the heavy favourite and has promised to knock both men unconscious, but fireworks are expected at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena with both Queenslanders promised potential $1million paydays if they win.

Tensions have simmered over this week with Gallen and Hodges almost coming to blows at a press conference, with Gallen telling Hodges to ‘kiss his children goodbye’ in case it’s the last time he sees them.

Hannant (left), Gallen (centre) and Hodges (right) at the weigh-in ahead for the Origin Rumble showdown, which has some unheard-of rules for Australian boxing

Gallen and Hodges almost came to blows at the press conference and weigh-in. Gallen has promised to knock out both opponents out on the night

Gallen also told Hannant – who has the least boxing experience of the three – he could kill him in the ring. 

After weeks of confusion about how the three-way fight event will work, the format has been confirmed. 

Both fights will be four two-minute rounds and Gallen is allowed to have at least an hour break between fights.

Much to the Blues great’s frustration, he will not find out which one of the two he is fighting first until his opponent begins his walk to the ring. 

Gallen’s first fight should start after 9pm, with the main card kicking off at 7pm on pay per view.

On the eve of the Origin Rumble, Gallen has urged No Limit promoter Matt Rose to seek out rugby league’s most feared hardmen for his farewell fight in December – with Gallen insisting he could ‘smash’ every current NRL player.

Gallen has warned Hannant that he could kill him in the ring. Hannant has admitted that he has accepted the fight because his wife wants a new pool

And despite his reputation in the ring, Gallen reckons an ex-NRL opponent won’t be hard to find. 

‘Because I was a rugby league player for 20 years, I know what they’re like,’ Gallen told Fox Sports. ‘You put a dollar in front of them, they’ll jump.

‘I’ve got no issue fighting any current NRL player because there’s not a skerrick of doubt in my mind that I’ll smash every one of them.’

Hannant has told the press that he plans to host his usual Gold Coast radio show at 5.30am the morning after the fight – and Gallen thinks this is funny.

‘Well, he’ll have a headache – but it won’t be too bad,’ promises Gallen.

‘If he enters the ring at 10pm, he’ll be unconscious by 10.02.’ 

Gallen hopes to retire at the end of the year and would like to fight an NRL player for his farewell bout – and believes he would ‘smash’ any of them

Hannant, a father of eight, has also admitted that he has only agreed to the fight with Gallen because his wife Emma wants a new pool.

‘I kept on saying no but we are building a new house and my wife kept saying if I took this fight we could put a pool in,’ Hannant explained.

‘You know what they say – happy wife, happy life – so here we go.’

The man nicknamed ‘Polar Bear’ still backs himself to be able to KO Gallen, however.

Gallen goes into the fights as a heavy favourite with 12 wins and two losses and seven knockouts

‘I’m a dumb front-rower. We can absorb one or two key points, that’s all. We are going to be throwing sledgehammers. All you need is one or two to connect.’

Gallen enters on Thursday night with a record of 12 wins and two losses, seven by knockout. He has faced such quality opponents as Justis Huni, Mark Hunt and Lucas Browne.

Hodges looms as the more dangerous of the two opponents for Gallen, having fought six times and lost once, while Hannant’s only fight and loss came against Hodges in June.