What: State Pride Boxing tournament
Who: Gallen v Watts, Geale v Fletcher
When: Wednesday, December 3 – from 6.30pm (AEDT)
Where: Hordern Pavillion
I Can Watch It On: Main Event
Things You Need To Know:
Gallen stopped Herman Ene-Purcell in the second round of his professional debut in February. The Cronulla and NSW captain was hospitalised and subsequently operated on for a golden staph infection last week but has declared himself fully fit ahead of Wednesday's fight. This will be his fourth time in the ring after also having two amateur bouts.
Watts knocked out Nicholas Williamson in the first round of his professional debut back in November. The disgraced NRL player spent three months in jail earlier this year over his role in a Gold Coast bikie brawl. He required police clearance to travel to NSW to fight Gallen as part of his parole conditions. The 28-year-old was suspended for eight games this season for allegedly biting an opponent's penis whilst playing for the Tugun Seahawks in the Gold Coast competition.
Geale (33-3) was knocked out in the third round by Kazakh destroyer Gennady Golovkin in a world title fight at Madison Square Garden.
Fletcher (18-2) is also coming off a failed world-title fight after he was stopped by highly-rated American Danny Jacobs in the fifth round in August. They are fighting for the IBF Pan Pacific, WBA Oriental and WBO Interim Asia Pacific middleweight belts.
Reason To Watch:
If you like watching New South Welshmen belt Queenslanders or vice versa. All of these bouts are State of Origin stoushes, with Blues taking on Maroons – Geale was born in Tasmania but resides in NSW.
Reason To Turn Away:
If Anthony Watts reverts to using his mouth as a weapon instead of his fists.
Say What:
"Of course I'd love to knock him out and he wants to knock me out but there's no point talking about it. I'll just get the job done in the ring and get the win, that's all I'm worried about. I think the Queenslanders will be going for him except for probably the police up there won't be, but down here hopefully NSW get behind me," – Gallen said.
Final Word:
Watts gave a glimpse of what's to come when he shoved Gallen in the back at Tuesday's weigh-in. The NSW skipper laughed it off at the time but later took to Twitter to question whether Watts will be so brave when they face each other in the ring on Wednesday night. Whichever ever way it goes this fight is unlikely to go the scheduled four rounds. The bookies expect Gallen to prevail but both men are capable of ending the fight with one punch, so it could go either way. Gallen by KO.
While the main event hasn't received the publicity of some of Geale's previous fights the stakes could hardly be higher for either fighter. The former sparring partners and good mates are both fighting for their careers after last-start world-title losses. Geale is deservedly the heavy favourite but Fletcher is no mug and is not without hope of winning. Geale by points decision.