Boxing: Nikita Tszyu and Oscar Diaz make weight for their Newcastle Bout.
He’s the NRL cult hero who once chased a heavyweight boxing showdown with Paul Gallen — only to discover a cyst on his brain. But now, Warriors great Manu Vatuvei is back … and gunning for a showdown with Australia ’s new crossover king Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Almost 10 years after lighting up the NRL in a chaotic swirl all tries, terrorizing runs and those famed gold teeth, the man dubbed ‘Beast’ is now looking to write the latest chapter of his incredible life story. Tszyu vs Diaz | Wednesday 6 May from 7pm AEST | Nikita Tszyu continues his rise in boxing as he takes on Spain’s undefeated Oscar Diaz.
|can reveal Vatuvei, now 40, is looking to open talks with No Limit about a huge crossover showdown against Big Nasty. Better, the father-of-seven says he would love to throw down on the undercard of Tim Tszyu’s July blockbuster against Errol Spence Jnr. Only last weekend in Auckland, Vatuvei made a shock return to professional heavyweight boxing – stopping fellow Kiwi Michael Tuaiti in only the second round.
Incredibly, said comeback arrives eight years after Vatuvei’s professional debut against David Letele, which ended with a first round KO win. Soon after however, and while undertaking routine pre-fight testing, the crossover fighter was diagnosed with a brain cyst. At the time, Vatuvei was angling for a showdown with NSW Origin great Gallen, who had yet to embark on a run that included the likes of Barry Hall, Mark Hunt, Lucas Browne and Justis Huni.
And while he may now be entering his forties, the longtime NRL favourite insists he has what it takes to throw down against the man who walked out on an $800,000-a-year NRL contract to box. Asked about a showdown with Asofa-Solomona, Vatuvei replied: “Oh yeah, 100 per cent I’m keen to share the ring with him.
“Having my first fight back in a few years, it has really fired me up. I want to go chase some big fights …”“Look, I’m not a guy who trash talks,” he says.
“And Nelson is obviously the hot guy in boxing right now. “And we’ve seen that in his first two fights, those uppercuts and straight rights do damage. WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 05: Nelson Asofa-Solomona looks on during the Heavyweight bout between Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jarrod Wallace at WIN Entertainment Centre on April 05, 2026 in Wollongong, Australia.
Despite only boasting the two professional wins, there is no doubting Vatuvei would be a wonderful addition to what shapes as an exciting few months for Australia boxing – starting with Should ‘The Butcher’ win, he is already being talked up for the likes of American boxing great Keith Thurman next, while older brother Tim throws down against Spence in a July blockbuster. Elsewhere, Liam Paro is also readying to challenge for another world title while Eddie Hearn has big plans for at least two more Australian shows before September – each of which could be headlined by heavyweights Justis Huni and Teremoana Teremoana.
Vatuvei’s manager Jay Younis, meanwhile, insists his client is also willing to step up and into the mix, against either ‘Big Nasty’ or other crossover fighters.
“Because we believe Manu, right now, could beat a lot of genuine heavyweight boxers,” the Alpha Boxing agent stressed, “let alone ex-footy players. “So if it’s Justin Hodges, Jarrod Wallace, NAS, whoever, line ‘em up. Manu wants to be as active as possible over the next 12 months. ” Vatuvei agreed that if No Limit wants him to build into a NAS fight, he will happily throw down against other NRL Old Boys.
“First time around, fighting those guys was one of my goals,” he said, referencing a hit list that was topped by Cronulla premiership hero Gallen. “But I was looking at all those guys who were jumping into the ring. Asked his memories of NAS on the rugby league field, and if they ever had a run in, the Warriors favourite grins: “I’ve never been one of those guys who wanted to cause trouble on the field.
“Obviously I do know he has beef with some of the other boys. But regardless, I’m up for the challenge. If he is ready for it, so am I.”While he doesn’t boast an amateur boxing career, Vatuvei has previously sparred the likes of longtime Kiwi cruiserweight star Shane Cameron.
“So I really made sure I was ready, knowing it would only take one good punch to put me down. “And I realise I’ll have to prove myself. Get fans excited and show them why I should be the guy getting into the ring for those big fights. The retired Warriors winger has also credited his return to professional sports as a way of helping rebuild his life after being jailed for drug importation.
The fighter added however that, due to his time inside, he is currently prevented from travelling to Australia to compete.
“And I’ll always take accountability for my actions,” Vatuvei says. “But I’m rebuilding my life now and hopeful people see that, over the past three years, I’ve changed enough to come back over there and compete. “It was after that initial health scare that my life went off the rails.
But I’ve recently been for scans, been cleared to fight, and so now I’m just keen to chase big fights and do as much as I can while the body can still handle it. ” Asked about the initial diagnosis, Vatuvei says: “It was a real scare and meant I had to stop fighting.
“But then recently, the boys approached me about coming back to the sport and I thought ‘Ok, maybe we can give this a go’. So I went for another scan and got cleared by the doctors.
Rugby League Field New South Wales Lucas Browne Remarkable Pre-Fight Admission Jay Younis Cult Hero Initial Health Scare Guy Getting Oscar Diaz Tszyu & Diaz Oceania Paul Gallen Wollongong Gold Teeth Hit List Chaotic Swirl Manu Vatuvei Eddie Hearn Boxing Return Australia And New Zealand Europe Shane Cameron Premiership Hero Tim Tszyu Crossover Fighters World Title Dream Favourite Grins Mark Hunt Spain Fight Back Crossover Showdown Nick Walshaw New Zealand Heavyweight Boxing Justin Hodges Professional Heavyweight Boxing Jarrod Wallace Mega Fights Looming Barry Hall Incredible Life Story Routine Pre-Fight Testing Heavyweight Boxing Showdown Genuine Heavyweight Boxers Southern Europe Nikita Tszyu Australia Brain Cyst
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