Who should Paul Gallen fight next?

Brendan Bradford

Who should Paul Gallen fight next? image

Paul Gallen says he doesn't have a particular opponent in mind for his next fight, but after earning a stunning first-round knockout win over Lucas Browne on Wednesday night, he can pretty much take his pick.

Rather than naming names, Gallen's approach to his fighting career is simple: "Whoever pays the most."

The former Sharks captain has stressed all along that he's not in boxing to win titles, or rise up the rankings. 

"I just don’t have that ambition," he said.

“It’s about providing for my family, and about interesting fights for the public. That’s what I’m here to do.”

While Gal won't be dragged into speculation about his future opponents, that won't stop us. Here's a shortlist of possible fights the 39-year-old could have. 

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS

It’s the fight everyone’s been talking about for five years, and the one that first sprung to mind after Gallen beat Browne. 

SBW has reportedly been in the boxing gym, but hasn't fought since 2015.

Meanwhile, Gallen says he’s always been open to the fight when Williams is ready.

“It’s been spoken about for a while now, hasn’t it,” Gallen told Sporting News a week ago.

“I don’t know what more I can say to make it happen – I really don’t.

“The ball’s in his court.”

BARRY HALL REMATCH

Their first bout in 2019 ended in a frustrating draw in Melbourne, so it only seems right they go at it again and get a result.

The build-up was electric as well, and Hall still trains with the Moloney brothers, Jason and Andrew, on the far North Coast of NSW.

Let's go again.

JUSTIS HUNI

Huni was pencilled in to fight Browne if Big Daddy beat Gallen, but the G-Train disrupted all those plans.

If the money’s right, Gallen would take the fight in a second, and after proving himself against a former world champion, would be full of confidence. 

Browne was asked how a possible showdown between Gallen and Huni would go. 

"Justis is definitely a crafty young fella," Browne said. 

"Apparently he doesn't have much power - in terms of heavyweight power - but he'll just hit you all day. 

"If he keeps going, why not? If he keeps going and keeps active, good luck to him."

DEMSEY MCKEAN

Not a household name just yet, but Demsey McKean should be on your radar if you're a boxing fan. 

With an 18-0 record, the Queeslander won the WBO Asia Pacific and IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight titles last year. 

The interstate rivalry would be a great selling point. 

ROBERT WHITTAKER

Gallen called Whittaker out after he beat Mark Hunt in December, saying the former middleweight UFC champion disrespected him on a podcast.

There are reports Whittaker has a clause in his UFC contract allowing him to have a boxing match, but at this point at least Whittaker-Gallen seems unlikely.

The Reaper is fresh off a clinical win over Kelvin Gastelum and surely must be next in line for a shot at Israel Adesanya’s 185-title. A rematch in Sydney?

As an interesting sidenote, Whittaker’s coach, Alex Prates, actually awarded Gallen his jiu jitsu blue belt a few years ago.

MARK HUNT REMATCH 

It was a cracker the first time around and many people felt Hunt should have been awarded the decision. 

Why not go again? 

TAI TUIVASA

Tuivasa is fighting Greg Hardy in Las Vegas on the Poirier-McGregor 3 card at UFC 264, but don't discount a boxing match between Bam Bam and the G-Train at some point. 

SOLOMON HAUMONO

He's hasn't fought in a few years, but Haumono was one of the better boxing converts in his day.

They say power is the last thing to go, right? 

 

Brendan Bradford