Asofa-Solomona Stops Gallen in Round 1; Post-Fight Crowd Incident Follows

SYDNEY — Nelson Asofa-Solomona stopped Paul Gallen by first-round knockout Friday night at TikTok Entertainment Centre, moving to 4-0 with all four wins by knockout, per IFL TV, No Limit Boxing, ESPN and ABC News.

ESPN reported Asofa-Solomona landed a flurry of heavy shots that left the 45-year-old Gallen on the canvas for several minutes. ABC said the finish came with about 10 seconds left in Round 1. Gallen entered with a long crossover resume that included a split decision over Sonny Bill Williams; he did not beat Asofa-Solomona.

After the stoppage, Asofa-Solomona left the ring and confronted a spectator. ESPN and ABC both reported the crowd incident. In the ring afterward, Asofa-Solomona apologized.

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"I just want to apologise for what I did, I acted like a bloody idiot," he said, per ABC. "I just got in a bit of the heat of the moment. I should not behave like that, I'm sorry."

Later, he told Fox Sports Australia he believed a spectator made an ape gesture and that something may have been thrown. Boxbid reports that as his account of what prompted the confrontation; it has not been independently verified beyond his statements.

Update, Nov. 7: Police involvement has since been reported by both AAP, which says officers spoke with promoters backstage, and The Sydney Morning Herald, which quotes a NSW Police spokesman confirming an investigation into the events outside the ring. The investigation status is attributed to the Herald; AAP independently corroborates police involvement, not that specific status. The alleged racist gesture remains Asofa-Solomona's account, not a finding by Boxbid. Gallen has separately announced his retirement and said he is home after hospital checks.

On the undercard, ESPN and ABC both listed Callum Peters winning a unanimous decision over Juan Diego Ortiz and Paulo Aokuso stopping Mobin Khahrazeh by second-round TKO. Fox Sports Australia and Aus-Boxing.com also reported that No Limit promoter George Rose said in-ring that Aokuso will appear on the Dec. 19 Devin Haney vs. Liam Paro undercard in San Francisco.

Kimster's take: the knockout settled the NRL grudge in one round. The crowd scene is a separate story Asofa-Solomona owns with his apology. Track the Haney-Paro undercard on Boxbid as Aokuso's U.S. date firms up — and keep an eye on Liam Paro's page while you do.