Hunt and Gallen, who face off in a heavyweight co-headliner, talked trash at the press conference for the boxing fight card in Sydney. After hitting the scale, Hunt lunged and threw a half-hearted punch before he was held back by officials.
Check out the videos below from journalists Brendan Bradford and Jamie Pandaram, who were on scene at the weigh-ins.
Yo they’re just about to punch on at the weigh ins pic.twitter.com/j4taZmFxGH
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) December 15, 2020
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) December 15, 2020
Mark Hunt has just thrown a punch at Paul Gallen at the weigh-in. Hunt very annoyed by Gallen’s talk pic.twitter.com/EpHbYh6dXz
— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) December 15, 2020
Hunt returns to combat sports for the first time in two years after a decision loss to Justin Willis that led to his exit from the UFC. The “Super Samoan” is currently appealing a lawsuit he filed against the promoter for allegedly conspiring to deny him a fair fight against Brock Lesnar at UFC 200. The UFC is seeking to recoup almost $400,000 in legal fees after its victory in court. — Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) December 15, 2020
Gallen, a former captain of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League, is a pro boxer with a 9-0-1 record. He most recently fought this past November, drawing former Australian rules footballer Barry Hall in the squared circle.
Hunt took aim at Gallen at the press conference, telling his opponent, “This ain’t footy, this is fighting.” The two bickered over money with Gallen jabbing the former UFC star over his drawing power.
In an April interview with MMA Fighting, Hunt blasted his former promoter and said he was signing on to the antitrust case where former fighters were recently certified as a class. He said he was in no rush to return to combat sports, but he clearly went a different direction.
“I’ll retire when I’m ready to do so,” he said at the press conference. “When I’m ready and when I’m happy is when I’ll retire. Not when no company tells me to retire ... or a part-time fighter like you. You’re not even on my level. I’ve been sitting at the top table of combat sports for two decades.”
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