sport news Ex-NRL Brisbane Broncos star Ben Hannant makes weigh-in ahead of boxing bout ... trends now
Ben Hannant made it to weigh-in with just seconds to spare ahead of Wednesday night's boxing bout with former teammate Justin Hodges, and had a simple reason as to why: 'I've been busy'.
Hannant, whose surprising no-show at Monday's press conference was slammed by Hodges, is making his professional debut in the heavyweight bout at the Brisbane Convention Centre, and weighed in at 107.66kg.
His former Broncos and Queensland teammate Justin Hodges, who has a 3-1-0 professional record, looks in great nick and weighed in at 104.1kg.
A potential blockbuster bout with another former NRL hardman, Paul Gallen, awaits the winner of the match, which is on the undercard of Liam Wilson and Matias Rueda's super featherweight title fight.
Ben Hannant (left) and Justin Hodges (right) square off ahead of the boxing bout
Hannant's arrival at the weigh-in with just 30 seconds to was welcomed by his former Broncos and Queensland teammate Hodges, who said he had been working 'extremely hard' ahead of the fight.
'It's good to see The Big Omelette [Hannant] arrived. Looking forward to tomorrow night, this is the best I've trained and I'm looking for a knock-out,' said Hodges.
'This could possibly be my last or I could have one more after this. Only one person stands in the way of my dream and normally when someone stands in the way I like to get rid of them. Benny's in my way … so I gotta take the big fella out.'
Justin Hodges (right) takes on former NRL player Nathan Ross at the end of 2021
In Hodges' three-bout professional boxing career; he has knocked out a former furniture removalist, Rob Baron, just 75 seconds into his debut, before knocking out New Zealander Troy McMahon within 20 seconds.
He was handed his first loss in when he took on former NRL prop Darcy Lussick in December 2019.
Hodges also won by majority decision in a 'Footy Fight Night' bout against former NRL winger Nathan Ross.
