Video: UFC vet Mark Hunt loses pro-boxing return to former rugby player Paul Gallen

Mark Hunt fought Wednesday in Sydney, Australia, where the UFC veteran lost his return to professional boxing. Hunt was able to hurt and wobble former rugby player Paul Gallen in round two, but as he was unable to finish, conditioning played a factor and he lost a unanimous decision.

After a close and entertaining back and forth for six rounds, the former UFC title challenger ended up losing with the scores of 58-56, 58-56 and 59-55.

Hunt, now 46, has been inactive since his 2018 UFC loss to Justin Willis, and came into this contest weighing 279 lbs. His previous two boxing matches also happened over two decades ago in 2000 and 1998, with this loss dropping his overall boxing record to 0-2-1.

Hunt has also spent recent years in legal disputes with the UFC.

The 39-year-old Gallen on the other hand, improved his record to 10-0-1. The heavyweight also called out another MMA star from the region after the contest, promising to “smash” UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

“I’m just gonna beat him – I’m gonna beat him like I beat Mark,” Gallen said (via ESPN). “I’ll get in there and smash him.”