Asofa-Solomona’s Uppercut Made His Boxing Debut
Nelson Asofa-Solomona knocked out Jeremy Latimore in the first round on January 16, 2026, at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. The former Melbourne Storm forward’s professional boxing debut ended with a heavy uppercut against another retired rugby league player on the Tszyu–Zerafa undercard.
The new heavyweight brought a significant size advantage
Asofa-Solomona entered the ring aged twenty-nine against thirty-nine-year-old Latimore. The former New Zealand international weighed approximately 133 kilograms, about twenty-two kilograms heavier than his opponent.
His move followed a successful rugby league career that included two Melbourne premierships. Signing a multi-year arrangement with No Limit Boxing gave the transition a platform beyond a single celebrity appearance.
The uppercut ended the contest before a second round
Asofa-Solomona connected with the finishing uppercut during the opening round. Latimore fell and could not continue, giving the debutant a knockout rather than a decision after the scheduled four rounds.
The official promoter’s result confirmed the first-round ending. It supplied one of the night’s clearest finishes before the main event later ended in an injury-related no contest.
The winner still identified technical work to improve
Despite the result, Asofa-Solomona said he was unhappy with aspects of his stance and felt his performance had been loose. He credited Latimore for accepting the assignment.
He also expressed interest in facing other rugby league figures, with George Burgess among those discussing a potential contest. The immediate achievement remained a successful debut, alongside an acknowledgment that his boxing technique still required development.
Sources
- No Limit Boxing: January 16 Brisbane card and official outcomes
- AAP via ABC: debut, size difference and postfight assessment
