‘I’ll put you to sleep’: UFC legend Mark Hunt and NRL star Paul Gallen trade heated insults ahead of their fight – as footballer is on the receiving end of a sexual slur

Paul Gallen plans on sending UFC legend Mark Hunt into retirement once and for all on Wednesday night.

If the pair's heavyweight showdown is even half as lively as their verbal slanging match on Monday, boxing fans at Bankwest Stadium are in for a treat.

Hunt branded Gallen a 'part-time fighter', while the rugby league great accused the so-called Super Samoan of making excuses for himself for when he loses.

'Making excuses already - you haven't fought for three years, haven't boxed for 20 years,' Gallen said.

'I've got no excuses. I'm going to step into the ring, I'm prepared. You're just setting those little traps in case you get beat.

'I'll win comfortably.' 

Paul Gallen and Mark Hunt (pictured together) have mouthed off during their press conference ahead of Wednesday night's boxing bout

Despite the trash talk, Gallen, unbeaten in 11 fights, does have immense respect for Hunt.

'He's the biggest name in Australian combat sports, probably for the last 20 years,' said Cronulla's 2016 NRL premiership-winning captain and former NSW State of Origin skipper.

'It's a huge challenge for myself. A huge step up. I understand that.

'But I'm ready for it. I'm ready to take whatever Mark's got and give back even more.

'He should have stayed in retirement. He won't come out of it after this.'

Hunt said the 39-year-old was out of his depth.

'This is fighting. I don't know where he gets his ideas. He's talking s**t again,' Hunt said.

'I'll put your a**e to sleep, that's what's going to happen. This is not footy.

'I'm going to fix you, man. I'm going to fix you good.' 

Hunt (pictured in training) took aim at Gallen's bicep injury, saying his opponent got hurt because he was 'j***ing off'

Hunt's reference to 20 years away from boxing had Gallen claiming his opponent was preparing himself in case he lost, leading Hunt to double down on Gallen's bicep injury. 

'I ain’t the one calling injury. "Hey Mark, I can’t fight." Why? "Because I’m weak a**,"' Hunt said. '"I ain’t fighting Mark. I can’t fight you, I pulled my bicep from jerking off."

'Use your left hand, not your right hand.' 

But Gallen reminded Hunt that he wouldn't be getting another big pay day if it wasn't for him.

'You should be thanking me, boy. I had two or three other options. I chose you. I chose you. You had no other options,' Gallen said.

'What else are you going to do? Who else are you going to fight?'

Hunt said: 'I don't need to pump myself up. I've been sitting at the top table of combat sport for two decades.'

Asked how he thought the six-round fight would end, Gallen said he didn't care.

'Everyone wants me to sit here and say I'm going to knock him out. I don't care. I just want to win the fight - do what I've trained to do and win the fight.'

Gallen (pictured during his fight with Barry Hall) claimed the UFC heavyweight was making 'excuses' in case he loses