Nelson Asofa-Solomona defeated George Burgess via TKO in the third round of their boxing match on the undercard of the Liam Paro vs. Lewis Crocker fight. The bout, described as "ugly" by Asofa-Solomona and "tough as hell to watch" by ringside observer Tim Tszyu, saw Burgess unable to continue after his corner threw in the towel.
Despite the stoppage, both fighters demonstrated solidarity and paid tribute to Jai Arrow, an NRL player recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). Burgess wore a tribute to Arrow on his gear, a cause deeply personal to him as his father died from the same illness. Burgess stated he spoke with Arrow shortly after his diagnosis and found the conversation mirrored his experience with his father.
Following his victory, Asofa-Solomona removed his fight trunks, declaring his intention to auction them off with proceeds going to support Jai Arrow. He called Burgess over in the ring, and together they addressed the crowd, emphasizing their support for Arrow, who is undergoing treatment in Spain. "We have been in here fighting, but he is fighting a bigger fighter than us and we are all behind him," Asofa-Solomona said.
Fans on social media acknowledged Burgess's effort in the fight, with one user noting his resilience despite being bloodied. The fighters' actions after the bout highlighted a shared concern for Arrow, transcending their individual competition. Both athletes showed significant heart in their tributes to the stricken NRL star.