Footbrawl at Moore Park sees Gallen remain undefeated

Everyone in the Hordern Pavillion - and the entire state of Queensland - leapt to their feet as the NSW captain copped a flurry from Junior Paulo.

The only thing junior about Paulo is his name.

Taller and about 20 kilograms heavier, the Canberra prop found his range and appeared to be on the brink of a monumental upset.

Dave Smith's lasting legacy as NRL CEO was his 'one punch and you're off rule'. Nate Myles spoiled it for everyone when he headbutted Gallen's fist. It means it is only at events like this, the Ladbrokes Star of the Ring Charity Fight Night, that we find out whether a footballer can throw them.

For the first round-and-a-half it was all Gallen. This was the Cronulla captain's sixth bout, Paulo's first, and the mismatch in experience told early. Paulo kept coming forward, often into crisp jabs. He appeared out of his depth.

But if Gallen was in the comfort zone, Paulo took him out of it midway through the bout.

Some of the wild left and rights began connecting. Gallen staggered, recovered and began throwing his own haymakers. A genuine contest had broken out.

By the time the combatants touched gloves for the final round, chants of "Junior! Junior! Junior!" rang across Moore Park. But Gallen steadied, retained his composure and regained control. The judges were unanimous in declaring him the winner.

"He's strong, he's a big boy and I didn't want to get caught," Gallen said, "I didn't.

"He's a good bloke, I hope he plays Origin next year."

Footballers put more than their chin at risk when they step in the ring. Carl Webb was once considered the most feared forward in the game. It was a reputation earned not only by steamrolling opposition forwards, but also the urban legends about his boxing prowess.

A former Queensland junior amateur champ, he came up against a Campbelltown forklift driver in his first pro bout. And got knocked out. The only worse move he made was joining Parramatta. 'Charlie' Webb was never the same player again.

Paulo emerged from this with his reputation enhanced. Gallen too.

There were other footbrawls.

Neither Todd Carney, Chris Sandow or the sport of boxing could be declared the winner after their stoush.

Carney was introduced to the crowd at the Hordern Pavillion as 'Mr Carnage', perhaps a nod to his off-field antics as much as his prowess in the ring.

It is fair to say that both of them throw a better spiral pass that a left jab. Sandow came out swinging like they were 30-second rounds rather than the two-minute variety. Over the ensuing six minutes the former Eels and Rabbtohs halfback threw dozens of wild roundhouse rights. His best connection came early in the first, but for the most part his inferior reach made it hard to get close to Carney.

It was easy to tell when Sandow registered a blow, his cheeky grin with each one gave it away. But they were few and far between. Carney, with a longer reach but a shorter preparation, stayed out of trouble for the most part and landed a couple of solid shots of his own.

On two occasions in the second round, Sandow hit the canvas. Both were the results of slips. Sandow landed a solid left in the third and final round, but it was hard to split them.

The judges scored it 29-29, 29-29 and 30-27 to Sandow. The official result: a majority draw.

Sandow was so gassed afterwards he struggled to speak to Fox Sports, the television partner, in the post-bout interview. It mattered little, given the amount of talking he did in the lead-up.

You would have to go to a State of Origin or All Stars match to see more rugby league talent in the one place. The ringside seats were occupied by the game's elite. Jake Trbojevic, Adam Reynolds, Latrell Mitchell, John Sutton, Martin Taupau, Mitchell  Pearce, Corey Norman, Daly Cherry-Evans all bore witness. Sixty NRL players in all. Promoter Matt Rose, also an NRL player manager, ensured the venue was at capacity.