Nelson Asofa-Solomona has revealed why he has opted to switch from rugby league to boxing. The former Melbourne Storm prop says he fell out of love with rugby league and turned down multiple big money contracts. Asofa-Solomona will make his professional boxing debut in January.
The tallest player in NRL history has signed a multi-year deal with No Limit Boxing and will fight on the undercard of next month's Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa grudge match on the Gold Coast. Asofa-Solomona parted ways with Melbourne in October after a decorated two-premiership-winning career also blighted by missing the Storm's 2024 and 2025 grand final losses due to suspension.
The 201-centimetre, 115-kilogram enforcer on Thursday conceded the heartbreaking bans and endless sin-binnings played a part in his decision to walk away from the NRL. "You can't get sent off in boxing, which is good, so that's a start," he said.
No Limit Boxing boss and fellow former NRL premiership-winning prop George Rose doubled down, claiming Asofa-Solomona's size and aggression will be more suited in the ring. "You step into a boxing ring, we love reckless high shots. We love careless high shots. You're not going to get fined. You're not going to get three weeks [off]. You're not getting one week. You're getting patted on the back," Rose said.
It is understood Asofa-Solomona was offered $700,000 a season to join Parramatta, while the 29-year-old had also been linked to a move to rugby's mooted R360 competition. But the 215-game Storm powerhouse opted for a fresh challenge. "I've fallen out of love for the game of rugby league and now I've fallen in love with the boxing game," Asofa-Solomona said. "That's why I'm here today. I'm here to test myself, here to take a risk."
