Rugby league international and NRL premiership winner, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, is set to embark on a new chapter in his athletic career as he transitions from the rugby field to the boxing ring.

Recently, Asofa-Solomona was released from his contract with the Melbourne Storm, a decision finalized in October. Although there were whispers of him joining the R360 competition—now deferred until 2027—it seems his focus has shifted entirely to boxing.

The towering prop had two years left in his contract with the Storm, but tensions reportedly rose with club management. His repeated clashes with referees and disciplinary actions had begun to overshadow his performance on the field.

Now, Asofa-Solomona is gearing up to launch his boxing career by facing off against a familiar figure from the NRL, with aspirations to eventually claim the world heavyweight title, as reported by News Corp.

His interest in boxing isn’t entirely new. Asofa-Solomona first drew attention in 2020 when he issued a challenge to Darcy Lussick and later planned a 2021 fight with Josh Papalii, which ultimately did not materialize. Now, he seems ready to fully commit to the sport and make his mark in the boxing world.

Melbourne Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona (pictured on his way to an NRL judiciary hearing) will walk away from rugby league to take up a new sport

The NRL star has had a controversial playing career marred by incidents on and off the field

The Storm have granted Asofa-Solomona (pictured at the 2018 Dally M awards) a release despite having two years left on his contract

By 2023, his training footage was turning heads in the boxing community. Melbourne trainer Antoni Topic said he’d ‘never seen a big man move like Nelson’, praising his speed, footwork and frightening knockout power. 

Pad-holder Leo Taliu even joked he risked permanent hand damage while holding mitts for the 200cm, 115kg enforcer. 

His only official in-ring outing so far came at the 2023 Battle on the Reef, where he detonated a spectacular right uppercut, the punch of the night, to floor fellow footy star Jarrod Wallace in the opening seconds. 

Asofa-Solomona’s NRL career has been punctuated by a series of controversies, starting with his infamous Bali incident in 2019. 

While holidaying in the off-season, he became involved in a late-night brawl outside a nightclub, with the altercation captured on video and circulated widely. 

The NRL Integrity Unit launched an investigation, and he eventually received a three-match suspension for upcoming New Zealand Tests, along with a suspended $15,000 fine. 

Asofa-Solomona maintained that he acted to defend a teammate who had been coward-punched, but he also conceded he could have handled the situation better. 

Boxing promoter Matt Rose had already tried to sign him after seeing him throw heavy punches during the Bali brawl while protecting teammate Suliasi Vunivalu. 

Asofa-Solomona has used boxing for training for years, and top promoter George Rose has previously tried to sign him

In his only foray into the ring so far, Asofa-Solomona (right) put on a powerhouse clinic to knock out fellow NRL star Jarrod Wallace

Asofa-Solomona is expected to start his new career with a blockbuster bout against a big-name NRL star

On the field, disciplinary problems also followed him as his aggressive style repeatedly brought him before the NRL judiciary. 

In 2024, he was found guilty of a Grade 3 careless high tackle during the preliminary final for a shot on Lindsay Collins. 

The ruling cost him the chance to play in the grand final against the Penrith Panthers, which the Storm lost.

More issues emerged in 2025, when he accepted an early guilty plea for a dangerous contact charge after a match against Manly, resulting in a two-match suspension.

Asofa-Solomona was also one of the earliest high-profile names attached to the RUNIT Championship League, helping promote the launch and appearing in promotional clips that framed the contest as a test of power and toughness. 

He encouraged competitors to ‘run it straight’ and spoke about dominating contact, which gave the fledgling competition instant credibility among rugby league fans. 

His involvement was widely used across RUNIT’s social media channels and early marketing material. 

But after serious concerns were raised by concussion experts and footage showed competitors being knocked unconscious, Asofa-Solomona quietly stepped back. 

Reports confirmed he withdrew his support over fears the safety measures were inadequate. 

He has since shifted his attention to promoting a separate, lower-risk game called Big Steppa, distancing himself from the escalating controversy around RUNIT.