Melbourne Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona has sent a thunderous message to the sporting world, demolishing former NRL journeyman Jeremy Latimore in a brutally short professional boxing debut in Brisbane.
A Debut Defined by Devastating Power
The super-sized heavyweight needed just two minutes and 22 seconds of the first round to end the fight on Friday night. Asofa-Solomona, weighing in at a formidable 133 kilograms, finished the contest with a colossal uppercut that left the 39-year-old Latimore unable to continue.
The bout took place on the high-profile undercard of the domestic blockbuster between Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa. Despite the emphatic victory, the man nicknamed "Big Nasty" was critical of his own performance, citing issues with his stance and feeling "a bit loose" in the ring.
From Grand Final Heartbreak to the Boxing Ring
Asofa-Solomona's switch to boxing follows a period of disillusionment with rugby league. The two-time Storm premiership winner was sidelined for Melbourne's past two grand final losses due to suspension. His commitment to a new path was underscored by his decision to turn down a reported $800,000-a-season deal with the Parramatta Eels—one of Latimore's five former clubs—to pursue pugilism.
"You can’t get sent off in boxing," Asofa-Solomona quipped in November when announcing his code switch, highlighting the appeal of a sport where disciplinary rulings couldn't cost him a major final.
After his win, he paid respect to his veteran opponent. "Credit to this man right here. A lot of people wouldn’t dare to jump in this ring... Takes a lot of balls to get in," he said, prompting applause from the Brisbane crowd.
Calling Out the NRL and a Multi-Year Plan
The victory has already sparked call-outs, with retired South Sydney forward George Burgess declaring himself fit and ready to face the New Zealand Test star. Asofa-Solomona, however, has a broader target in mind.
When asked about his next move, the 29-year-old issued a sweeping challenge: "I want to clean up the whole NRL division and then we go from there. Any NRL player can get it."
While not closing the door on a return to the NRL, Asofa-Solomona has signed a multi-year deal with No Limit Boxing. He plans to refine his skills before making any definitive decisions about his future in either sport.
"It was a bit wild but, look, I’m just going to go back to the drawing board and just try and perfect everything in my game," he reflected. "Man, what a journey. We know we’ve got bigger and better things to come and really excited for the future."
