NRL hardmen George Burgess and Nelson Asofa-Solomona are set to face off in a boxing match, but the upcoming bout has drawn criticism from fight fans and Asofa-Solomona himself, who question Burgess's fitness and preparation. The pair participated in a heated weigh-in on Wednesday night in Brisbane.
Asofa-Solomona, who has two professional knockout wins to his name, is making his third professional appearance. Burgess, a former player for the Rabbitohs and his brother Sam, is making his professional boxing debut. The fight is part of the undercard for Liam Paro's world title bout.
Fans have voiced their disapproval on social media, with many calling the fight a "clown show" and a "joke." Concerns have been raised about the bout being sold on pay-per-view, with some arguing that a four-round fight featuring debutants is not worth the cost.
Burgess weighed in at 135.84kg, significantly higher than his playing weight of around 120kg. This discrepancy has led to accusations of him being "wildly out of shape" and predictions that he will not last long in the ring. One comment on Instagram read, "Burgess won't get past the first round, too unfit."
Asofa-Solomona has also criticized Burgess's preparation, claiming his opponent has not made his boxing training footage public. While Asofa-Solomona has shared numerous clips of his training, Burgess has reportedly only posted still images. "There's absolutely no video of him," Asofa-Solomona stated. "Deep down, the fact he isn’t putting any footage out there, it’s telling, and suggests he probably isn’t about it."
In response, Burgess has questioned Asofa-Solomona's progress in boxing despite dedicated training since leaving the NRL in October. Burgess commented on Asofa-Solomona's need to improve his footwork and defense to make a serious career in the sport.
The weigh-in itself included Asofa-Solomona wearing a replica helmet from the movie "Gladiator," a reference to Burgess's connection with actor Russell Crowe, with whom he worked on the MMA film "Beast."