- Curtis Scott will take on ex-footy star Joey Leilua
- NRL bad boys will battle on the Wollongong card on March 13
- Last week, Scott said players are getting “scared” of him
Exiled former NRL star Curtis Scott is set to make his professional heavyweight boxing debut alongside fellow rugby league bad boy and former teammate Joey Leilua.
Australian promoters No Limit will announce the news at a press conference in Wollongong on Tuesday.
The pair will battle it out on No Limit’s March 13 pay-per-view card, headlined by a double header with Issac Hardman battling Endry Saavedra and Sam Goodman taking on Mark Schleibs.
Scott was denied a return to the NRL two months ago and was subsequently linked with a move to the English Super League.
The 26-year-old won a premiership with Melbourne Storm in 2017 and was seen as a potential State of Origin player, but his career was cut short by a number of off-field issues.
Curtis Scott will throw with fellow footy bad boy and former teammate Joey Leilua
The pair will compete against each other on the No Limit pay-per-view card on March 13 in Wollongong
In 2022, he was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order after being found guilty of three charges against his ex-girlfriend, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear or bodily harm .
He had been dismissed from 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.
He is embroiled in a civil battle with NSW Police over an “unlawful” arrest in 2020.
But he has put those problems behind him and is fully focused on a successful career in the ring. The problem, he says, is that no one wants to fight him.
“I’m disgusted by the NRL,” he said. ‘I’m now into boxing and I’m curious to see how far I can get.
“It’s frustrating because I know a lot of people wanted to put one on me not too long ago.
‘But now that they have the chance to actually do something about it, everyone is scared.
‘I’ve seen and read a lot of negative things people have said about me online.
‘But no one ever says anything to my face.
The troubled former football star wants to boost his boxing career
Leilua, who also played for the Raiders, was known for his fiery personality on the field
‘But I’m not surprised; Nowadays everyone acts cool behind a keyboard or telephone.’
Leilua, 32, was also an extremely talented NRL player with a reputation for being a hothead during his 200-game career with the Roosters, Knights, Raiders and Tigers.
He has had two professional fights since leaving the NRL in 2021.