If Thursday night is to be the last time Justin Hodges ever steps between the ropes, he’s left no stone unturned to give himself a chance of riding into the sunset with his arm raised in victory.
So much so that the Brisbane Broncos great enlisted the help of a former Australian heavyweight champion in his fight camp to help him defeat Paul Gallen.
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“I’ve been getting some quality sparring in with Django [Opelu], who’s one of the best Australian heavyweights at the moment,” Hodges told foxsports.com.au.
“I’m feeling confident every day and any time I step in the ring with him, I’m learning and throwing hands with him.
“I remember the first time I jumped in with him, I was a little bit hesitant because I know who he is and what he’s done. But I went in there and handled myself well.”
Aside from sparring one of the best Australian heavyweights on the scene, Hodges has the benefit of gaining insight on Gal like no-one else could.
After all, Opelu has sparred several rounds with Gallen in the past.
It gives the 28-year-old a unique perspective on how to judge the Maroons legend’s chances against the veteran prize-fighter.
“Hodges is really awkward, same as Gal,” Opelu said.
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“But I feel like Hodges is more awkward because he’s taller, a lot taller than Gal. Gal might have trouble getting in on the inside of Hodges.
“I feel like Gal might have some trouble with Hodges being awkward and big.”
As awkward as Hodges may be in the ring, it certainly won’t stop Gallen from implementing his trademark fighting style.
But Opelu has done his utmost to ensure Hodges knows exactly what to expect when he finally comes to blows with Gallen.
“Gal is very fit, he’s very determined,” Opelu said.
“Gal puts on that pressure and keeps coming forward. In saying that, Gal has that advantage of not backing down.
“So I try and imitate that, try and pretend that I am Gal and I walk forward and put that pressure on and make Hodges feel how hard it is to be pressured.”
To hang with Gallen requires serious fitness from his opponents, too.
It’s why Hodges has been running endless kilometres in the build-up to prepare his body for the gruelling battle he is about to enter.
“I run in the morning, box in the afternoon and then run again late at night,” Hodges said.
“I’m just trying to trick the body and do certain things to get fitter.
“Unfortunately I do like to go to bed early, I’m not going to lie. But just tricking the body, and that’s what I’ve always enjoyed about rugby league.
“I’m just trying to get more fitness in, train on my own and push myself to new limits.”
Opelu noticed Hodges’ gas tank has noticeably improved with every sparring session they have shared.
Even though Gallen’s style of hunting his opponents down across every millimetre of the ring requires high levels of fitness, so too does backing up and getting out of harm’s way.
Hodges is already used to fighting off the back foot in his fights and will almost certainly spend every minute of his bout against Gallen doing the same.
But Opelu revealed he and Hodges have been working on giving Gallen a taste of his own medicine.
“He’s [Hodges] mindful as he knows what Gal is bringing and what the game plan is and how he’ll be fighting,” Opelu said.
“So instead of fighting Gal’s fight, he’s fighting his fight.
“To fight on the back foot, you’ve got to be very fit. The legs have got to be very conditioned.
“He’s worked on that and improved that, even with me putting the pressure on.
“Also, we’ve been working on putting the pressure on Gallen instead of Gallen putting the pressure on at all times.”
Whether Hodges can truly match the suffocating pressure of Gallen remains to be seen.
But having emerged relatively unscathed from sparring sessions with one of Australia’s best big men, the Queenslander enters the bout safe in the knowledge he is prepared for anything and everything thrown his way.
