HANNANT TAKES ON MASSIVE MISSION
FORMER Maroons prop Ben Hannant hasn’t been in a fist fight since Year Nine at high school but in four weeks he will take on the most dangerous forward in rugby league in his professional boxing debut.
Hannant, 36, is eight years older than Canberra Raider and current Maroon Josh Papalii but won’t be intimidated when he steps into the ring at Townsville’s NRL All Stars boxing showcase.
His journey to this point began on social media when former Broncos teammates Justin Hodges, Scott Prince, Sam Thaiday and Neville Costigan were revealed as the headline attractions on the Townsville card.
Hannant’s cheeky comments on social media led to a phone call from the event’s organiser and an offer to get involved.
Without knowing who he might face, Hannant took the plunge and accepted.
“Today I know who it is and he’s a fair opponent,” he said.
“He’s a giant, Josh, and in outstanding form in rugby league. You’d have to say he’s the No.1 prop in the world and everything he does, he does at 100 per cent.
“So what better challenge? I’ve got eight kids and I’m always trying to teach them to put themselves in situations where they push themselves to their limits.
“It’s nerves and excitement because you can see the power, speed and skill he has, but it’s like in football: I’ll have an opponent in front of me and a game plan I’ll execute to the best of my ability, and he’ll do the same.”
Before dreaming up his master strategy, Hannant must learn the ropes of the sport.
“In footy you had have ‘footy scraps’ every now and again but boxing is an art,” he said. “It’s like learning a whole new language.”
He has not finalised a gym to train at nor a trainer, but there will be no shortage of sparring partners after a Tongan family of six brothers from Hannant’s church offered their services to stand in for Papalii during training.