Less than two months after some serous partying, rugby league forward Darcy Lussick is throwing out a challenge to former AFL star Barry Hall after an explosive professional boxing debut.
Toronto Wolfpack and former Manly and Parramatta player Lussick stopped retired Queensland and Kangaroos back Justin Hodges in just 39 seconds in Friday's heavyweight bout in Sydney.
After the fight, 30-year-old Lussick revealed he had got into some bad habits after celebrating the Wolfpack's promotion to the Super League.
"Six weeks ago I was coming off three weeks of bad choices after we won the grand final," Lussick said..
"I was just partying and drinking and then the opportunity (to box) came up
"Six weeks in Sydney with nothing to aim for is probably not a good mix.
"All during the camp I was saying that I wish I had maybe ten weeks. With six weeks, I'm happy with my performance."
Lussick produced a big right hand shot to stop Hodges, who had won his two previous boxing bouts.
"I thought he would fight on the back foot so I applied a bit of pressure and luckily I got to him before I gassed out," Lussick said.
He wants to have more fights but didn't know when he would make his next ring appearance.
The Wolfpack play between February and September.
"I'd like to mix it (boxing) in with my footy, obviously I have to speak to my coach Brian McDermott," Lussick said.
"He'd probably be pretty happy at the moment he loves boxing himself
"The condition of me boxing was that I win.
"I'll sit down with him and see what happens but my main focus now is to go back to Toronto."
Among his teammates there will be dual code international Sonny Bill Williams, who has won all seven of his professional heavyweight boxing bouts, though the last one was almost five years ago.
"I can't wait to meet him, there's talk of him fighting at the end of next year, so he could be a good training partner to train with," Lussick said.
He volunteered himself as a potential opponent for Hall after being impressed by the retired AFL star's performance in his debut fight draw with former NRL standout Paul Gallen.
"Barry had a great performance for 42 years of age in his first fight , I thought he was phenomenal," Lussick said.
"I heard he's looking for a fight, so I'm here if he wants it."
Australian Associated Press
