Paul Gallen Ends Retirement for November Heavyweight Clash With Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Paul Gallen will return to the ring on November 6 in Sydney for a five-round heavyweight fight against Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Paul Gallen will face Nelson Asofa-Solomona in a five-round heavyweight boxing match in Sydney on November 6, according to AAP. The 45-year-old former NRL captain accepted the bout after No Limit Boxing increased a previous million-dollar offer to secure a matchup for the two-metre-tall Asofa-Solomona. Gallen enters the contest 15 years older and 20cm shorter than his opponent, a former Melbourne Storm forward who has won his first three professional fights against Jeremy Latimore, Jarrod Wallace, and George Burgess.

This bout marks Gallen's first appearance in the ring since his victory over Sonny Bill Williams in July 2023. Despite previously stating he was finished with the sport, the former New South Wales skipper claimed he was goaded back into competition by Asofa-Solomona’s repeated public call-outs. Gallen, who has secured 16 career wins and earned approximately $25 million as a professional boxer, alleged that the younger fighter violated a personal code of conduct by targeting him despite knowing his intention to remain retired.

Asofa-Solomona currently holds a multi-year, nine-fight contract with No Limit Boxing. Promoters issued an SOS call to Gallen to finalize the November card after struggling to find opponents willing to face the former Kiwi Test enforcer. While Gallen initially rejected the proposal, he relented following the increased financial incentive and a desire for retribution against the heavyweight he labeled a "rat" for his verbal tactics.