Curtis Scott says there is no chance of him and Matthew Lodge ever throwing down after the Manly prop surprisingly reached out to help with preparations for Wednesday night’s boxing debut – which sees him staggeringly outweighed by almost 30kg.
Elsewhere, the exiled NRL star has also shrugged off suggestions his fight style is too “stiff” to have any hope against fellow crossover fighter Joey Leilua at Wollongong Entertainment Centre.
Only weeks after having a return to rugby league denied, Scott is now embarking on life in a new sport which, he insists, could see him pushing to win the Australian cruiserweight title by the end of 2024.
BOXING: Goodman v Schleibs, Hardman v Saavedra and Scott v Leilua | WED 13 MAR | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
But still, the 26-year-old is confronted with a huge task, first up.
Despite initially being told Leilua would not sit above 108kg for their showdown, Scott instead arrived at Tuesday’s weigh ins to watch his opponent hit the scales at 122kg.
Scott, meanwhile, topped out at just 93.9kg — and while still wearing trackies and sneakers.
After stepping from the scales, he and Leilua also exchanged words in what was a fiery final face off – with Scott revealing afterwards his rival had been sledging him about the weight discrepancy.
Leilua laughs at Scott’s body bag insult | 00:32
“He was just saying 94 kilos … 94 kilos,” the 2017 NRL premiership winner grinned.
“That, and telling me I better move.”
Which is exactly what Scott plans to do.
“Obviously I can’t make this a brawl,” the former Stormer continued.
“The weight difference, it means I have to be smart.
“Can’t just go in there trading big punches with him.
“I’ve got to use my head and not get hit by the big fella.
“And I’ve done all the hard work.
“Done plenty of hard sparring rounds
“So now it’s time to get in there and show what I’ve got.
“I’m excited.
“Few nerves but mainly excited.”
Pushed on conceding 28kg to his rival, Scott grinned: “I won’t throw anyone under the bus, but I was originally told Leilua was going to weigh 108kg.
“Although first time I saw him in person, yeah, I knew that was going out the window.
“Still, I did think he might try to lose some weight.
“But whatever works for him I guess.
“To be honest, I’m not worried about what he is doing.”
Leilua, meanwhile, suggested he was ready to make the fight a “war” and also had a short response when asked about Scott’s form after watching him hit pads during an open workout in fight week.
“I thought he looked stiff,” shrugged the 32-year-old, who has himself gone undefeated through his first three professional fights.
“But Curtis is the person in front of me.
“Right now, I just want to go hurt him. Afterwards we can be gentleman, shake hands and go for a beer.”
Given his bid to go fulltime into fighting, Scott has signed up with popular Sydney trainer Brian Doyle and will also have Aussie boxing legend Johnny Lewis in his corner on fight night.
Scott v Leilua – FULL FACE TO FACE | 21:00
Elsewhere, the debutant revealed he has also been getting support from Sea Eagles forward Lodge, who has also shown interest in adding his name to the crossover boxing list.
“Lodgey has been great,” he said.
“We never played together but after hearing that I was fighting, he just reached out saying he was willing to help wherever he could during my camp.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t do any sparring because we were trying to get work in with southpaws but he’s been a great support.”
Asked if, should he beat Leilua, he would consider taking another crossover fight at heavyweight, he said: “I initially started camp at 97kg.
“But just through the work we were doing I stripped down.
“So I’d have to get in a good paddock for that.
“So we’ll get through this fight and see.
“There are definitely a few names on my hitlist.
“But I’d rather not say yet.”
So obviously no fight between you and Lodgey though?
“I’ll let that one go through to the keeper,” he grinned.
“He’s been great.
“Once he steps into the ring, I’m sure there will be a million people want that fight too … and there’s a heap of others for me.”