
Wallabies star Lukhan Salakaia-Loto reveals next sporting challenge once his rugby career draws to a close
Towering Wallabies forward Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has confirmed he is eyeing off a career as a professional boxer once his footy career ends.
But before Salakaia-Loto, 28, potentially enters the ring, he hopes to be selected to take on the British & Irish Lions in July.
He was also pumped up after meeting Aussie cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia on the Gold Coast this week.
'I'd 100 per cent jump in (and box),' the lock told News Corp.
'I'm not going to disrespect the sport or people that do it by saying I'm gonna be a world champion or be any good at it, but it's something that I'd love to do.
'I just love the sport....you've obviously got to put in the work and train...(I also like the fact that) its not for everyone, because its so different.'
The Wallabies enforcer was also pumped up after meeting cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia (pictured, left) on the Gold Coast this week
Salakaia-Loto won't have to look far for advice if he dons some gloves - his younger brother is a boxer and his late father fought professionally in Auckland.
Opetaia - who next fights Italian Claudio Squeo on June 8 - is also willing to help Salakaia-Loto prepare for any future bout.
Currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, Salakaia-Loto had a message for Wallabies selectors - pick me to face the Lions.
'I feel like I'm slowly approaching that (full fitness),' said the veteran of 41 Tests for Australia.
'Getting back on the field is my main priority. It's a day-by-day process.'
The likes of Will Skelton, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Darcy Swain and Josh Canham also want to feature against the tourists in the second row.
July 11 will see Joe Schmidt name his Wallabies squad, with the opening Test in Brisbane on July 19.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times
34 minutes ago
- Times
Nick Kyrgios's role as Wimbledon pundit to end after only one year
Nick Kyrgios will not be part of the BBC's Wimbledon coverage this year and the Australian is set to miss the tournament as a player too. The BBC was criticised for hiring the 30-year-old for Wimbledon last year after he admitted assaulting an ex-girlfriend. Sources close to the broadcaster have confirmed that Kyrgios will not be part of the line-up for the 2025 event, which starts on June 30. Kyrgios confirmed last week that his hopes of playing in SW19 for the first time since 2022, when he reached the final, had been dashed by a setback in his recovery from injury. In 2023 Kyrgios admitted to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari when he pushed her over during an argument, but avoided a criminal conviction after a magistrate ruled that the offence was 'low-level'. He was also criticised for sharing social media posts by the misogynist influencer Andrew Tate — he later deleted them. Last year the BBC was forced to defend its decision to hire Kyrgios, saying: 'We are in no way condoning his cited previous actions or behaviours, on and off the court, and he is employed to share his views on tennis only.' Kyrgios has also been outspoken in recent months about the leniency of a three-month ban given to the French Open finalist and world No1 Jannik Sinner after two positive drugs tests in 2024. Kyrgios, who has been open about his mental health struggles, said the sanction showed that 'fairness in tennis does not exist'. Last year he told the interviewer Louis Theroux it was 'impossible' that the pyramids had been built by humans and also indicated he believed there was evidence to back up other conspiracy theories, including whether the moon landings had actually taken place.


BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Fagerson will 'come back stronger' from Lions blow
Zander Fagerson will "come back stronger" from his British and Irish Lions heartache, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has 29-year-old Glasgow Warriors prop was one of eight Scots selected for the Lions tour to Australia this summer but has been ruled out because of injury."He picked up his injury on Thursday and it was a new injury," Townsend told the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast."He was in the final stages of his recovery from his previous injury and I was still hoping maybe they'll still take him, he's going to be out for a period of time, but that didn't transpire, which is really unfortunate for Zander. "He was in brilliant form for us in the Six Nations. He was in a real strong position to play Test rugby for the Lions, so to have that taken away, we know what happens in a sporting career and a rugby career, that you get injured at the wrong time, but he'll bounce back, he'll come back stronger."He has with previous injuries and he's still young, young for a tighthead too, so if it doesn't happen this time, I'm sure he'll be an even better place to be a test Lion in four years time."Townsend suggested that, while he was pleased with the Scottish representation in the Lions squad, even more Scots could have been likes of Darcy Graham, Tom Jordan, Ben White, Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge were all considered to be in contention and Townsend says those players have responded well to the disappointment of missing Scotland based in New Zealand and Fiji for their summer tour matches against the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa, the head coach says they have a great opportunity to keep themselves in the minds of the Lions coaches when injuries inevitably take a further toll on the squad."I think the most pleasing aspect of the players is how well they've played and how they've responded to the news they weren't going to be in the Lions tour," Townsend said."Darcy scored a hat-trick the week after he wasn't selected. Rory was man of the match against Stormers, he's been playing excellently. Jamie's carried on his really good form, as has Tom Jordan."They're still playing very good rugby, if not even better rugby than they played in the Six Nations, so that's going to put them in the best position possible if there were changes to that Lions squad, which, if you go on history, it's going to happen."Already we've had one change to the tour party, unfortunately for Zander, but there's likely to be more when you play games and you've got the travel throughout Australia, which is tougher to recover from from game to game."


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Canelo Alvarez to fight Terence Crawford in Las Vegas in September
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez will take on Terence Crawford in a Las Vegas super-fight on September 13 – with UFC president Dana White announced as the bout's co-promoter. A September showdown had been pencilled in as the pair faced off following Alvarez's lacklustre points win over William Scull last month to retain his WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO super-middleweight titles. The date has now been firmed up, with former two-weight undisputed world champion Crawford, who has won all 41 professional contests, set to move up two divisions from light-middleweight to take on Alvarez. It has been dubbed the 'fight of the century' by chairman of Saudi Arabia's general entertainment authority Turki Alalshikh, who will promote the clash in collaboration with White. 'Turki wants to make the biggest fights that the fans want to see in boxing and this is right up my alley,' said White of a bout that is expected to land at the 65,000-seater Allegiant Stadium. 'Are you kidding me that the first boxing fight I'm going to get to promote is Canelo vs Crawford? It's literally a once in a lifetime fight.' It was also announced that Alvarez-Crawford will be broadcast globally by Netflix at no additional cost to its 300 million-plus subscribers. 'My perfect record speaks for itself,' Crawford said. 'I am the best fighter in the world and no matter the opponent or weight class, I have always come out on top. 'On September 13, my hand will be raised once again as the world watches greatness.' Alvarez, who has won 63 and drawn two of his 67 bouts in the paid ranks and been undisputed at 168lbs since 2021, said: 'I'm ready to show once again that I am the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.'