Paul Gallen will face Kris Terzievski in a blockbuster return to the ring on May 11.
Former NRL star Gallen will headline a packed card in Newcastle that also includes Nikita Tszyu’s second professional bout.
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The 40-year-old prize fighter Gallen boasts a record of 12-1-1, with his sole defeat coming against superstar Justis Huni for the Australian heavyweight belt in June last year.
Now he’ll take on a southpaw rival in Terzievski who has also unsuccessfully fought for that same belt.
“I didn’t know anything at all (about him),” Gallen said on Fox Sports.
“It’s a quick turnaround but for someone my age who continually trains, I don’t have to worry about a long preparation.
“I’ll dead-set start (sparring) tomorrow.”
In November 2019, Terzievski (10-1-1, 8KO) earned his only professional defeat when he was stopped by Faiga Opelu – the man Huni would beat for the Australian title the following year.
Terzievski has since rebounded with two comprehensive victories, including a demolition job over Waikato Falefehi for the Australasian belt a month ago. Terzievski won the eight-round battle 80-71 on all three judges’ scorecards after knocking down his rival multiple times in a one-sided bout.
Gallen himself rebounded from the June 2021 defeat to Huni by claiming a stoppage win over Darcy Lussik in December.
Meanwhile, Tszyu (1-0) is returning to the ring for the first time since he defeated Aaron Stahl a month ago in a clinical beat down that ended with a second-round stoppage.
Tszyu will face the 5-0 Mason Smith.
“I haven’t stopped training. That Monday after the fight, I was back into it,” he said on Fox Sports.
“The progress I’ve made, the fine-tuning I’ve made, I don’t necessarily think I was able to represent myself the way I see myself in that fight.”
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