Paul Gallen has hit back at boxing legend Jeff Fenech for tipping Justin Hodges to beat him in his final fight before hanging up the gloves.
In an interview with foxsports.com.au, Fenech tipped Hodges to pull off an upset because Gallen’s chin isn’t what it used to be and that his history of hard sparring is starting to catch up with him.
Speaking with Wide World of Sports, Gallen couldn’t understand the faith in Hodges’ boxing ability and believes the only reason he challenged him in their first bout was because Ben Hannant had tired him out in his first fight of the double header.
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‘I don’t enjoy this’ – Gal calls time | 01:08
“I don’t understand where all this confidence for Justin Hodges comes from,” Gallen said in an interview with Wide World of Sports.
“He fought me the second fight on the night.
“To me it was clear that Ben Hannant’s coach’s had something in common with Hodges because during the Ben Hannant fight, he didn’t try to win that fight.
“All he did was try and tire me out and I could hear him throughout the whole fight ‘Grab him, walk him back to the ropes’, all they wanted me to do was for me to carry his 110kg frame around for the entire fight so they could tire me out for Hodges and that’s exactly what happened.
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“Then Hodgo jumps in, punches me on a break call and it rocked me, I’ll admit it. It rocked me.
“How can anyone show confidence in him? Then after two rounds his trainer pulls tape off his arm, he was on his feet, he was f—ed. Where does this confidence come from?”
Gallen revealed his preparations for the rematch with Hodges have intensified and admitted he didn’t prepare as he normally would for their first bout.
“The previous fight I didn’t spar much at all. I didn’t do a lot,” Gallen said.
“I took it for granted to be honest and didn’t prepare for it like I normally prepare.
“I did train hard don’t get me wrong but as far as sparring goes I didn’t do much at all. For this fight I have sparred more but not as much as I did for previous fights like the Huni fight.
“I got a feeling they want to see me get beat. They need the next Paul Gallen. That’s why I think they’re allowing two-and-a-half minute rounds, what a freakin’ joke. They’re allowing it, it’s a bit annoying.
“But it’s business and I understand they’ve got to do what’s best for them for the next five to 10 years, I’m done next week. I’m not angry at them for that, I’ve got to use that as motivation and not allow myself to get beaten to a guy who 12 months ago I would have killed.”
