Paul Gallen may be one of Australia’s most experienced crossover boxers, but bookmakers are backing Nelson Asofa-Solomona to have the edge in their proposed October showdown.
Sportsbet has opened the market with Asofa-Solomona priced at $1.60 favourite, while Gallen is listed as a $2.25 outsider despite his extensive boxing experience.
The odds come as something of a surprise given Gallen’s long reign as one of Australia’s biggest crossover boxing names.
The former NSW State of Origin star is 45, however, and would be giving up 15 years in age to Asofa-Solomona. Gallen could also enter the fight significantly lighter, with the pair potentially separated by as much as 30kg.
Gallen’s camp has also faced criticism from rugby league great Paul Gallen himself, who has questioned whether promoters No Limit have enough faith in Asofa-Solomona as a crossover fighter.
But Sportsbet trader Joel Caine believes Gallen’s underdog status should not be dismissed.
Gallen has previously entered four of his biggest career fights as the outsider and won three of them.
He was priced at $2.75 to beat former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt in 2020, yet pulled off a unanimous decision victory.
That history suggests the bookmakers may be underestimating Gallen once again — although the size, age and experience gap could make the proposed Asofa-Solomona clash one of the toughest challenges of his crossover career.
