Promoter Dean Lonergan has detailed how Paul Gallen is the new million-dollar man of Australian boxing and just why he's worth every cent of it.
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Gallen stands to pocket upwards of $1.275 million for his blockbuster showdown with Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni at Sydney's International Convention Centre on June 16.
Despite being a huge underdog, the 39-year-old retired rugby league great is the undisputed drawcard and will receive the lion's share of the expected $1.5 million windfall generated through pay-per-view TV.
"This will be the biggest pay day of Gallen's life and the fight has the potential to be the biggest of the year in Australia," Lonergan told AAP.
As tough a negotiator as he was a footballer and now as a boxer, Gallen will enjoy an 85-15 split of earnings.
And the fact that Huni is down with that says it all.
"The reason is very simple: in my opinion, there's nobody in the world of boxing full stop with the exception of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury who can bring the level of media attention to the table for Justis Huni," Lonergan said.
"(Huni) is obviously my fighter and we need to put Justis on the map and Paul allows us the vehicle to do that.
"You'll see a lot of banter backwards and forwards between Paul, myself and Justis and what have you in the media but, at the end of the day, it's straight business.
"It's a good deal for Paul, a good deal for us and everyone gets out of it what they want."
So much so that Lonergan is planning a sequel later in the year in Queensland after Huni returns from the Tokyo Olympics, where the undefeated 22-year-old is a genuine gold medal contender.
"We want to do it twice for the simple fact that we can't get the media out of anyone else that Paul brings to the table," Lonergan said.
"And, as a result, Paul's going to get belted twice."
Australian Associated Press
