>
Retired referee calls for the authorities to CANCEL Paul Gallen’s double-header against Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant as veteran insists: ‘It’s NOT boxing’
- A retired boxing referee has called for authorities to cancel Paul Gallen’s fights
- The NRL legend is set to face Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant on the same night
- However, Charlie Lucas, 77, believes the September 15 event shouldn’t go ahead
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
A former boxing referee has called on the authorities to scrap Paul Gallen’s audacious double-header against two former Queensland stars, insisting that the spectacle is bad for the sport.
Gallen will face former rugby league rivals Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant on the same night on enemy soil in Brisbane on September 15.
The event has been labelled a ‘boxing extravaganza’ and is a throwback to the early days of the sport but for veteran Charlie Lucas – who was an official for 45 years – the authorities should seriously consider calling off the fight night.
A former boxing referee has urged the authorities to cancel Paul Gallen’s next event
‘I don’t think the fight should be going ahead,’ the 77-year-old told News Corp. ‘It’s bad for boxing.
‘In New South Wales, I’m not sure the combat sports authority would even allow it. They have different rules in Queensland.’
Lucas added that he would refuse to play any role in the September 15 event, had he have been called upon.
‘If I was asked to judge this one, I wouldn’t,’ he said.
Gallen (C) faces Ben Hannant (L) and Justin Hodges (R) on the same night, but Charlie Lucas, 77, believes that the event is bad for boxing
News Corp says pundit Paul Kent has asked his bosses not to call on him for the event
‘To be quite frank, I wouldn’t want anything to do with it. I just don’t agree with anyone fighting twice in one night.
‘The Edgar Britt will hit the fan if anyone gets hurt.
‘It’s not boxing … it’s just a … I can’t even think of a word to describe how bad it is for the sport.’
Meanwhile, Fox Sports pundit Paul Kent – who has long been in the TV studio on Main Event for Gallen’s fights – is reportedly in agreement with Lucas and has asked bosses for the night off.