Ex-NRL star Curtis Scott will make his professional heavyweight boxing debut alongside fellow rugby league bad boy and former teammate Joey Leilua on Wednesday evening.
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 ruined by a series of off-field problems.
In 2022, he was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order after being found guilty of three charges against his ex-girlfriend, athlete Tay-Leiha Clark, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and stalking or intimidation with intent to causing distress or physical harm.
He had been 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.
He is also embroiled in a legal battle with NSW Police over what he claims was an ‘unlawful’ arrest in 2020.
NRL bad boy Curtis Scott will battle Joey Leilua on Wednesday night
Scott (left), who comes into the fight 30kg lighter than Leilua (right, at their weigh-in), says his former teammate is so overweight he ‘doesn’t know which chin to hit’
When Scott tried to revive his football career in the bush, he was caught on video repeatedly punching an opponent after claiming he had been stabbed in the eye.
With his chances of returning to the NRL ruined, Scott is fully focused on teaching Leilua a lesson in his professional boxing debut – despite weighing in at an astonishing 30kg.
“I don’t know which chin to hit,” Scott joked at Monday’s press conference after telling reporters that his opponent’s midsection was “soft as f**k.”
The pair exchanged words at the weigh-in, with Leilua warning Scott that he better move during the fight or he will be eliminated.
“Obviously I can’t turn it into a fight,” Scott said News Corp.
‘The weight difference means I have to be smart. I can’t just go in there and throw big punches with him.
‘I have to use my head and not get hit by the big guy. And I’ve done all the hard work.
Scott had a promising NRL career until he ruined it with a series of off-field problems
Leilua is undefeated as a professional boxer and has warned Scott that he will knock him out when they meet in the ring on Wednesday night.
‘I’ve done a lot of hard sparring rounds, so now it’s time to get to work there and show what I’ve got. I’m excited.’
Meanwhile, Leilua, who is undefeated after three fights as a pro, says he is not impressed with what he has seen from Curtis on the pads.
“I thought he looked stiff,” Leilua said.
‘But Curtis is the person for me.
“Right now I just want to hurt him. Then we can be gentlemen, shake hands and have a beer.’
Scott knows he will be in big trouble when he faces his much tougher opponent
At the top of the card, undefeated Australian star Sam Goodman tangles with Mark Schleibs.
In the co-main, Issac Hardman takes on Endry Saavedra in an exciting middleweight showdown.
How to view the battle map
The fight card will be available live on Kayo, Fox Sports and Main Event.
Foxtel viewers can purchase the pay-per-view portion of the event via the Main Event, while Kayo subscribers can purchase Goodman v Schleibs via the app.
What time is the Curtis Scott vs. Joey Leilua fight?
Scott and Leilua will fight at 8:30pm (AEDT), but things could change depending on previous fights.
The main event is expected to start at 9:45 PM.
The order of the battles is as follows, from the last battle on the card (top) to the first battle (bottom):
- Sam Goodman vs. Mark Schleibs; super bantamweight
- Issac Hardman vs. Endry Saavedra; middleweight
- Curtis Scott vs. Joey Leilua; heavyweight
- Kiki Toa Leutele vs. Arsene Fosso; heavyweight
- Koen Mazoudier vs. Travis Druce; super welterweight
- Campbell Somerville vs. Jordan Martin; super welterweight
- Zeke Campbell vs. Laban Stringer; super welterweight
- Ahmed Reda vs. Lui Magaiva; lightweight
- Chloe Grech vs. Connie Brown; super flyweight
Charlie Kazzi vs. Roy Gavera; lightweight