Justin Hodges has hit out at Matt Lodge’s Instagram call out of Paul Gallen, insisting the Sydney Roosters forward “hasn’t earned the right” to take on the superstar prize-fighter.
Hodges also took a swing at Lodge’s call-out for the public to raise $1 million for the fight, claiming that although his intentions to donate it all are good, he should “get your own money and give it away”.
Gallen stopped Hodges in an enthralling contest that saw the latter drop the former New South Wales captain, although the fight ended in controversial circumstances as the referee waved it off despite Hodges believing he wasn’t hurt.
Despite the loss, both men verbally agreed to a rematch later this year to take place in Sydney and comprise of six three-minute rounds instead of the four two-minute rounds.
Yet Lodge made his move on Monday to jump ahead of Hodges in the queue to lay hands on Gallen, claiming a fight between himself and Gal is “the one” and “the best-selling fight two footy players could make”.
But Hodges has told Lodge in no uncertain terms to get to the back of the long, long line of people who want to fight Gallen.
“At the end of the day, everyone wants to come out and fight Gal,” Hodges told foxsports.com.au.
“But he (Lodge) hasn’t even had a fight, so he hasn’t earned the right to even jump in the ring with someone like Gal. So I wasn’t too fussed about it, to be honest.
“Gal’s committed to the rematch online so it’s up to the boys at No Limit to make it happen now. I know Gal’s a man of his word and he told that to me personally that he would honour our rematch and I said the same thing as well.”
Lodge has also stated he won’t commit to the fight unless he cracks $1 million in donations from the public on a GoFundMe page which, as of writing, has not cracked $2,000.
While the figure may be large, the Roosters forward’s intentions for the money are extremely admirable as he plans to donate it all and help open a facility in western Sydney to help tackle violence among youth, help kids with their education and provide mental health resources.
Although Hodges had praise for how Lodge planned on using the $1 million, he claimed it was “harsh” for the rugby league star to not stump up the figure with any of his own money.
“Especially in the reality we’re living through at the moment with Covid and the prices of everything going up,” Hodges said.
“To ask people that are earning their hard-earned money to get behind him and support him, I support that he’s trying to give it to charity, but take it out of your own money.
“Don’t ask other people that are doing it really tough to try and get some money to do a fight. That’s my view, everyone might be different.
“At the end of the day, if he wants to have a fight, get your own money and give it away instead of asking from people that are struggling at the moment.”
With Hodges and Gallen’s agreement for a rematch and Lodge now throwing his hat into the ring to fight the Cronulla legend, some boxing fans may be questioning the possibility of another two-versus-one scenario.
Hodges was quick to shoot that down, claiming he doesn’t “think it’s right” to put Gallen through such brutal punishment ever again.
But the Queenslander refused to rule out a fight against his former Broncos teammate.
“Look, I’ll just see what happens man,” Hodges said.
“The hardest part is training, getting your body up, bashing your body and putting your body through all the hard work. I’ll have to see how this one (the rematch) pans out first. Like I said, I’ve got to get myself fully fit for a rematch and reassess after that.
“I wasn’t keen to stay in the boxing game for a long time. But you never say never to anything. My main focus is getting this rematch and beating Gal.”
