- Ex-NRL bad boy Curtis Scott made his boxing debut on Wednesday
- Knocked out former teammate Joey Leilua in the second round
- A litany of off-field dramas ended Scott’s football career prematurely
Boxing promoters No Limit have been criticized by Australian fans after offering fallen NRL star Curtis Scott the chance to revive his sporting career in the ring after he was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
On his debut, Scott, 26, knocked out former Canberra Raiders teammate Joey Leilua in the second round of their fight in Wollongong on Wednesday night – and then called out ex-AFL enforcer Barry Hall.
The fight left many fans wondering why Scott was given a chance in another sport, given his 2022 domestic violence conviction against former partner Tay-Leiha Clark.
Boxing promoters No Limit have been criticized by Australian fans after offering fallen NRL star Curtis Scott (pictured) the chance to revive his sporting career in the ring
In his debut, Scott (pictured left) knocked out former Canberra Raiders teammate Joey Leilua in the second round of their clash in Wollongong on Wednesday night.
In 2022, Scott was convicted in a Sydney court after assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, star long jumper Tay-Leiha Clark (pictured)
A boxing fan was shocked to see Scott given a second chance ahead of his in-ring debut
Another opined that airing the fight on pay-per-view TV “promoted a known stalker and abuser” in Curtis Scott
Both sports fans were stunned to see Scott promoted ahead of the fight
A spokesperson for No Limit Boxing told Ny Breaking Australia on Thursday morning that they have no ties to Scott, insisting he was only a fighter on the undercard.
Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Fox Sports for comment.
The media representative also added that the organization had “no interest in being part of a Curtis Scott redemption story.”
Several commentators lashed out at social media platform X when they saw the fight and the promotion that accompanied it.
‘He was banned for committing domestic violence against his partner. Anyway, let’s keep promoting him,” one fan wrote.
“Congratulations on promoting a wife beater,” said another stunned supporter.
A third said: ‘Is Fox NRL really trying to further the career of a domestic abuser?’
Ny Breaking Australia also contacted Ms Clark for comment regarding Scott’s latest sporting pursuit.
In December last year, retired footy player Trent Merrin tried to defend Scott on social media – and Clark didn’t mince his words when it came to answers.
‘After four years, there has never been any personal responsibility. This is not a chance for redemption, it is ignorance,” she says posted as a comment.
“It might be helpful for Trent to consider this before publicly standing up for a man who has never even shown remorse toward his victim.”
Scott won an NRL premiership with Melbourne Storm in 2017 and was seen as a potential State of Origin player for NSW, but his career was ruined by a series of off-field dramas.
Last month, Mrs. Clark called Fox League for “endorsing” Scott, who she called a “dangerous man.”
Clark (pictured) has previously lashed out at ex-NRL star Trent Merrin and Fox League for ‘endorsing’ and ‘advocating’ Scott
In 2022, the Cronulla Sharks junior was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order after being found guilty of three charges against his ex-girlfriend, athlete Tay-Leiha Clark: assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and stalking or intimidating with intent to cause distress or physical harm.
He was dismissed by the Canberra Raiders before the assault charge – over a separate incident involving an altercation at a nightclub – although he was later cleared of all charges.
Scott is also embroiled in a legal battle with NSW Police over what he claims was an ‘unlawful’ arrest in Sydney in January 2020.