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Gallen's boxing stock continues to rise

Darren WaltonAAP
Paul Gallen knocked out former world champion Lucas Browne in the first round of their showdown.
Camera IconPaul Gallen knocked out former world champion Lucas Browne in the first round of their showdown. Credit: AAP

His stocks continue to rise but Paul Gallen maintains he's only in boxing for the money.

The retired rugby league great's earth-moving, first-round knockout of Lucas Browne - Australia's only-ever world heavyweight champion - has sent shock waves through the sport.

Pocketing $450,000 for his troubles, Gallen's latest triumph also set up a potential blockbuster later in the year with budding Olympian Justis Huni.

The undefeated Queensland amateur has already welcomed a "State of Origin-like" battle with the former NSW series-winning captain.

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Such a showdown would ensure another monster pay day for Gallen - and that's all he wants.

Cronulla's only premiership-winning skipper once again insisting that he couldn't care less about building a boxing legacy.

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"While I know I'm a good athlete and I can adapt to anything, I just don't have that ambition," said Gallen, still unbeaten after a dozen fights.

"It's about providing for my family and having interesting fights for the public, and that's what I'm here to do."

Little wonder the reply when Gallen was asked, who's next?

"Whoever pays the most. Simple," he said.

The 39-year-old was nevertheless thrilled with his spectacular win over Australia's most accomplished, albeit underdone, heavyweight exponent.

"It's great individually. I just beat the most credentialled fighter in Australia," Gallen said.

"One hundred per cent effort, 100 per cent of the time. That's what I do.

"What I do and teach my kids is always do your best. Whatever you can do, have a crack."

Browne, captured on social media eating a sausage roll before the bout, rejected suggestions he wasn't fit for the fight.

But, tellingly, when asked if he respected his footballer opponent enough, Browne said: "I do now".

The 42-year-old conceded he didn't know what hit him after Gallen sent him crashing to the canvas twice inside two minutes with a series of devastating blows to the head.

"I don't know where exactly I got hit the first sort of shot, but basically I can't hear out in my left ear," Browne said.

"It just took the equilibrium off me and I couldn't recover."

Despite his brutal beat-down, Browne was unsure if Gallen had the capacity to go the distance with Huni.

"I don't know. Justis is definitely a crafty young fella," he said.

"Apparently he doesn't have much power in terms of like heavyweight power, but he'll just hit you all day.

"But it all depends. He (Gallen) is 11 and 0 now.

"Again, he's not a boxer. I'm still going to maintain that.

"He's a fighter and there's nothing wrong with that.

"Rocky against Apollo Creed, he was the fighter and not the boxer, you know what I mean?

"So there's nothing wrong with that.

"But if he keeps going, why not?

"If he keeps active, good luck to him."

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