Paul Gallen threatens to QUIT double header fight against ex-NRL stars Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant

Former NRL player turned boxer Paul Gallen has threatened to pull out of his double-header fight against Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant, accusing the promoters of setting him up to fail as they try to find the sport’s next cross-code star.

Gallen, 41, has given the promoters No Limit Boxing a deadline of Sunday to clarify the logistics of the novelty bout or he is pulling the pin on the whole event.

‘I feel they are trying to get me beat, and it’s p***ing me off,’ Gallen told News Corp.

Paul Gallen is not happy with his promoters and has given them until Sunday to clarify the details of his double-header fights against Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant or he will quit

Gallen (pictured knocking out Lucas Browne in their 2021 bout) is accusing his promoters of wanting to see him lose and using him to find the sport’s next cross-code star

‘I took a risk starting with them, I helped them grow, now they know I’m retiring they want to see me fall off the perch and have a new guy come on.

‘It doesn’t suit their business model for me to be successful, that is why they’ve refused to give me the basic details for this fight night.

‘We are two weeks out, and I still don’t know who I am fighting first, let alone if the fights are going to be back-to-back or if there will be a long break between fights.’

The double-header in which Gallen would take on his former State of Origin rivals Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant on the same night was announced a fortnight ago.

‘How am I supposed to train properly when they can’t even tell me who I’m fighting first?’ Gallen said. ‘One guy is taller than me, the other has a completely different style.

Ex-NRL player Justin Hodges posing with Paul Gallen

‘I’ve asked them, got no response. Now George and Matt are away in Paris, it’s p***ing me off. They are there with Tai [Tuivasa, UFC star], he fights Saturday, so as soon as that’s done I want an answer.

‘If I don’t get an answer by the end of the week, I’m telling them to go shove it.’

The former rugby league player has proven himself to be one of the country’s greatest multi-sport athletes by beating recognised fighters like Mark Hunt and Lucas Browne.

Former Queensland teammates turned pugilistic foes Hodges and Hannant fought in June. Hodges was awarded a points decision victory

Hodges and Hannant, both former teammates, fought each other in June and both declared the winner should take on Gallen. Hodges prevailed in a unanimous points decision.

Hannant’s only pro fight has been against Hodges, while Hodges has a 5-1 (2KO) record, with his only defeat being a first round knockout to former NRL star Darcy Lussick.

In the scheduled co-main event, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Harry Garside – undefeated in three professional bouts – will look to defend his Australian lightweight title against Miles Zalewski (11-2).