Hodges' stunning move over 'illegal' Gallen punch

2 years ago 75

Justin Hodges is calling connected the Australian National Boxing Federation to overturn his nonaccomplishment to chap NRL large Paul Gallen.

Failing that, Hodges demands Gallen get backmost successful the ringing with him for a rematch aft helium claims helium was robbed of triumph astatine their archetypal face-off successful Brisbane past month.

Gallen won the bout erstwhile the referee controversially opted to halt the fight successful the 3rd circular arsenic Hodges copped a barrage of large punches.

It was an incidental during the 2nd circular that has Hodges fuming, and acceptable to motorboat an authoritative entreaty to the governing body.

Hodges was dominating the 2nd circular and knocked Gallen down - the archetypal hostile to bash truthful successful Gallen's 17 fights - until the erstwhile Cronulla skipper bounced backmost and jammed his hostile connected the ropes.

Hodges was bent backwards implicit the ropes, and arsenic helium was successful a susceptible presumption Gallen threw a large close manus and caught Hodges flush successful the face.

Hodges was rocked by the punch and ne'er recovered properly, yet being stopped and losing the bout.

"The much I thought astir it, and the much radical told me... astatine the extremity of the time it was a foul shot," Hodges told Wide World of Sports.

"They said realistically I should person had up to 5 minutes to recover, oregon if I couldn't combat connected past helium gets disqualified - but evidently I don't privation to triumph similar that.

"That changeable was astir apt the main 1 that rocked me, past the extremity of that circular was erstwhile the ref stopped it. That was a monolithic deed that I got.

"I felt similar I got the incorrect extremity of the stick. We're conscionable fighters... astir apt the ref needed to instrumentality much responsibility.

"I don't cognize if helium saw the amerciable hit, helium astir apt didn't, but erstwhile I got up I took a genu due to the fact that I was really rattled from the hit, and the ref said to maine 'get up'.

"(The stoppage) was the astir annoying part. I recognize their occupation is to support us, and helium astir apt thought helium was protecting me, but I astir apt needed protecting a infinitesimal earlier.

"If you look astatine the photo, my hands are down, he's holding onto them and I've got nary mode of protecting myself, past helium comes implicit the apical and plants 1 successful my face.

"It doesn't substance who you are, a feline that large coming down with that benignant of unit is going to stone you if you can't determination your caput oregon get your hands up to support yourself."

Gallen was contacted by Wide World of Sports but opted to not remark connected Hodges' menace of ineligible action.

Gallen has antecedently said helium is prepared to combat 1 much clip this twelvemonth earlier retiring from the athletics for good. In the ringing aft their bout, some Gallen and Hodges agreed to a rematch.

"I'll fto them benignant each that out. Hopefully we get to person a rematch due to the fact that I deliberation I merit it," Hodges said.

Hodges is adamant the entreaty is not designed simply to coax Gallen into different fight.

"I ever thatch my kids to beryllium a bully sportsman, ne'er to transportation on. At the extremity of time you triumph you win, if you suffer you lose," helium said.

"I didn't privation to disrespect the athletics by carrying connected and utilizing that arsenic an excuse. I consciousness similar I astir apt didn't get justness connected the night.

"If I lost, I could hack losing. But I was up connected each the scorecards, it was coming to the extremity of the 3rd round, we had 1 much circular to spell and I would've won the fight."

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