Justin Hodges has revealed remarks aimed at his children — and suggestions he may never see them again — were behind his charging Paul Gallen at Tuesday’s explosive press conference, saying: “That’s what had me seeing red”.
Hours after storming from the stage at Brisbane’s King George Square, Hodges admitted to Fox Sports Australia his “blood was boiling” after Gallen threatened to kill both he and fellow fighter Ben Hannant in Thursday night’s unique heavyweight showdown.
While Gallen later put the sledge down to emotion, the NSW Origin great also slammed Hodges’ press conference antics as “dumb” before doubling down on his promise to finish both men — saying he would need no more than five rounds combined.
“There’s no way these two muppets hurt me,” he said.
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PRESS CONFERENCE: Hodgo, Gal separated as presser turns nasty
Earlier during a fiery open air press conference, in which all three fighters went hard at each other, an ambulance caused a brief pause in proceedings when it hurried along a street nearby with sirens wailing.
The moment later prompted Gallen, after telling Hannant he would “seriously kill” him, to also warn Hodges: “You hear the ambulance that was here?
“It’s come a couple of days early.
“It’s meant to come on Thursday. You’ll be going home in it. Make sure you kiss your kids goodnight before you go to the boxing … hopefully you wake up.”
Both men then started trading barbs about running at each before Hodges did exactly that – prompting No Limit promoter Matt Rose to spring from his seat and get between the pair.
Moments later, Hodges not only walked from the stage, but quickly disappeared among the stunned crowd, refusing media requests for an interview, before driving home to his family.
When contacted a few hours later, the Queenslander suggested Gallen’s “kiss your kids” line was too much for the unique headliner in which the Blues legend will take on he and Hannant.
“When Paul made that comment about my kids — that’s what had me seeing red,” Hodges conceded.
“Obviously I can’t control what he says but, yeah, it got my blood pumping.
“Because at the end of the day, what we’re doing, this is a sport. We’re all supposed to fight and then go home to our families.
“So he went too far … but I can’t control that.”
Asked about crossing the stage to get physical, Hodges continued: “Look, my blood was boiling.
“There was some pushing, Matty (Rose) jumped in the middle of us … it wasn’t the right time to do anything, especially at such a good turnout so that’s why I walked out. I had to get away from there.”
Asked later about the ‘kill’ line, Gallen told Fox Sports: “That was emotion. And you say dumb things when you’re emotional don’t you?
“But I do want to knock Hodges out.
“I want to ice him, ice them both.
“And I think I’ll do it within five. One of them will go two rounds, and the other maybe three … but that’s it.”
So as for the press conference scuffle?
“Just a little ego from both of us,” he laughed.
So first thought as Hodgo came across the stage towards you?
“Don’t punch him,” Gallen continued with a grin.
“Can you imagine if he got cut? Or if one of us fell from the back of the stage. It was a dumb thing to do.”
Plus, you don’t fight for free, right?
“Absolutely right,” he said. “So I was never going to do anything stupid.”
Asked if he thought Gallen meant the ‘kill’ line, Hannant shrugged afterwards: “Don’t care.
“He can say whatever he likes.
“I’ve got two hands to throw and protect myself.
“Does he have more experience than me? One hundred per cent. Is he a better fighter? One hundred per cent.
“But I have no concerns whatsoever.
“When you play rugby league, you go to war. It’s not a contact sport, it’s a collision sport.
“Same here. Big risks, big rewards.”
