Departing NZ Warriors enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake is reportedly being lined up for a blockbuster boxing crossover this year, with Kiwi UFC star Kai Kara-France talking up his prospects.
Boxing promoter George Rose has confirmed to Fox Sports that the reigning Dally M Prop of the Year is on his radar for a fight in the near future.
"We keep hearing Addin Fonua-Blake has the heaviest hands of any player at the Warriors and we've love to test that," said Rose, himself a former NRL prop, who has since carved a career with fighters like brothers Tim and Nikita Tszyu, and league legend Paul Gallen.
"I can tell you he's definitely someone we're looking at for a fight later this year and potentially on one of our massive cards.
"We've obviously had plenty of success with guys like Paul Gallen and Curtis Scott, so we'd love to now toss Fonua-Blake into the mix too."
Kara-France is in Perth, preparing for his UFC 305 fight with Aussie flyweight Steve Erceg on Sunday, and is emphatic Fonua-Blake would be an instant hit in the ring.
The Auckland-based grappler is also Warriors wrestling coach and has witnessed Fonua-Blake's potential first hand.
"Addin Fonua-Blake could switch to boxing tomorrow and do really well," he told Fox Sport. "He could fight anyone.
"I'd actually love to see him get in there and fight Nelson Asofa Solomona.
"Obviously, anyone who gets in there with Nelson would need some big balls — that guy is absolutely massive — but Addin has definitely got it."
The pair have already faced off many times on the field, where Kiwi international Asofa Solomona, standing 2.08m (6ft 10in) and nicknamed "The Big Nasty", will soon bring up 200 games for Melbourne Storm.
After helping the Warriors to the NRL preliminary final last season, Fonua-Blake hasn't been able to replicate that form consistently since securing an early release to join Cronulla Sharks next year.
He still ranks third in the competition for running metres (3545) and leads post-contact metres (1460), but was stood for a game in May for breaching club standards, when he missed a post-game debrief and team song, after a victory over champions Penrith Panthers.
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