CRONULLA skipper Paul Gallen has been given permission to fight for $50,000 in late January, with coach Shane Flangan saying he had “no issue” with the potential bout.
Undefeated in his brief heavyweight career, Gallen has been offered more than four grand per minute — plus a third of all television revenue — should he agree to rematch Toowoomba slugger Herman Ene Purcell.
Himself a league player in Queensland, Purcell opposed Gallen in his professional debut almost two years ago — famously dropping the NSW Origin captain in round one.
While the then 19-year-old eventually lost the bout via TKO, he remains desperate for a rematch, with his team offering Gallen $50,000 plus TV cash in a bid to lure him north for the bout.
Already a contract has been emailed to the enforcer’s agent David Riolo, who was set to discuss the offer with Gallen when he arrived home from a family holiday to Singapore on Wednesday.
When quizzed on their skipper’s availability for the proposed fight, a Sharks spokesman said both coach Flanagan and the club had given the green light to Gallen accepting.
“There is no issue with Gal fighting in January,’’ the Sharks official said. “Shane Flanagan knows about the offer and has no problem with any fight that doesn’t impact on his footy commitments.
“And a January fight falls into that category.”
While Gallen had yet to reach a decision by late Wednesday afternoon, Purcell’s trainer Brandon Smith remained confident the deal would eventually be accepted.
“We’re close,’’ Smith said. “The deal that’s out there now is the final one, we won’t be offering a thousand dollars more.
“But we certainly think it’s fair. You get some people taking shots on social media about the fact that other boxers out there wouldn’t earn this sort of money over four rounds.
“But given the interest that surrounds Gallen every time he fights, the amount is fair. It’s exactly what he deserves if he choses to accept ... and we’re hopeful he will.”
