Former NRL star Curtis Scott will take on rugby league bad boy and former teammate Joey Leilua in his professional heavyweight boxing debut on Wednesday night.
The 26-year-old won the premiership with Melbourne Storm in 2017 and was seen as a potential State of Origin player, but his career was blighted by a series of off-field issues.
In 2022, he was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order after being found guilty of three charges against his ex-girlfriend, athlete Tay-Leiha Clark, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and stalking or intimidation with intention to cause fear or physical harm.
He had previously been sacked by the Canberra Raiders on the assault charge, for a separate incident involving an altercation at a nightclub, although he was later cleared of all charges.
He is also in a legal battle with New South Wales Police over what he claims was an “illegal” arrest in 2020.
NRL bad boy Curtis Scott to take on Joey Leilua on Wednesday night
Scott (left), who comes into the fight 30kg lighter than Leilua (right, at weigh-in), says his former teammate is so overweight that he “doesn’t know which chin to hit.”
When Scott attempted to revive his football career in the bush, he was caught on video repeatedly punching an opponent after claiming his eyes had been gouged out.
With his chances of returning to the NRL ruined, Scott is fully focused on teaching Leilua a lesson in her professional boxing debut, even though she weighs a staggering 30kg.
“I don’t know which chin I’m supposed to hit,” Scott joked at Monday’s press conference after telling reporters that his opponent’s abdomen was “soft as shit.”
The pair exchanged words at the weigh-in, with Leilua warning Scott that he better move during the fight or he would be knocked out.
“Obviously I can’t turn this into a fight,” Scott said. news corporation.
‘The weight difference means I have to be smart. I can’t just go in there trading big blows with him.
‘I have to use my head and not get hit by the big guy. And I’ve done all the hard work.
Scott had a promising NRL career until he ruined it with a series of off-field problems.
Leilua is undefeated as a professional boxer and warned Scott that he will knock him out when they meet in the ring on Wednesday night.
“I’ve done a lot of tough rounds of sparring, so now it’s time to come in and show what I’ve got.” I’m excited.’
Meanwhile, Leilua, who is undefeated after three professional fights, says he is not impressed with what he has seen from Curtis on the pads.
“I thought he looked stiff,” Leilua said.
‘But Curtis is the person in front of me.
‘Right now, I just want to hurt him. Then we can be gentlemen, shake hands and go have a beer.
Scott knows he will be in serious trouble if he faces his much heavier opponent.
At the top of the card, Australia’s undefeated rising star Sam Goodman tangles with power puncher Mark Schleibs.
In the co-feature fight, Issac Hardman will face Endry Saavedra in an exciting middleweight showdown.
How to see the fight card
The card will be available live on Kayo, Fox Sports and Main Event.
Foxtel viewers can purchase the pay-per-view portion of the event through Main Event, while Kayo subscribers can purchase Goodman v Schleibs through the app.
What time is the fight between Curtis Scott and Joey Leilua?
Scott and Leilua are scheduled to fight at 8:30pm (AEDT), but things could change depending on previous fights.
The main event is expected to begin after 9:45 p.m.
The order of the fights is as follows, from the last fight on the card (top) to the first fight (bottom):
- Sam Goodman vs. Mark Schleibs; super bantamweight
- Issac Hardman vs. Endry Saavedra; Middleweight
- Curtis Scott vs. Joey Leilua; heavyweight
- Kiki Toa Leutele vs. Arsene Fosso; heavyweight
- Koen Mazoudier vs. Travis Druce; super welterweight
- Campbell Somerville vs. Jordan Martin; super welterweight
- Zeke Campbell vs. Laban Stringer; super welterweight
- Ahmed Reda against Lui Magaiva; light
- Chloe Grech vs. Connie Brown; super flyweight
Charlie Kazzi vs. Roy Gavera; light