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Paulo has spoken for the first time ahead of his highly anticipated boxing debut on December 8, where he has vowed to “take the trouble” to Gallen in a four-round charity bout at The Star.

Former South Sydney and Parramatta halfback Chris Sandow will also appear on the card against an as yet unknown opponent.

While Paulo has faced Gallen several times on the football field, he said standing opposite the Cronulla premiership-winning captain inside the ring was a more imposing prospect.

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Raiders prop Junior Paulo sparring ahead of his first pro bout, against Paul Gallen. Picture Craig Greenhill

“In the ring, there’s nowhere to hide,” Paulo said.

“You’ve either got to punch yourself out of trouble or take the trouble to the other person.

“It’s easier on the footy field when you’ve got your teammates there. You’re working for the person next to you and he is working for you too.

“It will be a lot different to footy. There is no-one to make a tackle for you. It’s just you and the other person.”

Gallen is unbeaten in his five bouts, which have included three knockouts. With a 12-year age gap between the pair, Paulo is wary, despite it being a charity fight.

“People say he (Gallen) will hurt me at some point in time. I have to stay away from that,” Paulo said.

The intense workouts to prepare for the Gallen also have the Raiders prop primed for a big off-season. Paulo played at 128kg during the year and had a huge weight advantage over the 104kg Gallen.

Raiders prop Junior Paulo sparring ahead of his first pro bout, against Paul Gallen. Picture Craig Greenhill

“I am trying cut the weight down as well,” said Paulo, who hopes to drop below 120kg in the next five weeks.

“I am 125kg at the moment. I am 3kg down from my playing weight.

“That is something to help me build into next season as well.”

Trained by Justin Fitzgerald at Minto, Paulo, 22, has been training for the fight over the past month.

Some of Paulo’s former Parramatta teammates have helped him prepare at the gym, where he’s rubbed shoulders with the likes of code-hopping superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

Sharper and fitter each day, Paulo acknowledges he must fight clever against Gallen, who has described boxing as between “a hobby and a passion for me”.

“Everyone has tried to come out in the first round and knock him out and they have all failed,” Paulo said.

“I am going to have to be a bit smarter than coming out and ‘gassing out’ in the first round.

“Gal is a smart fighter, he’s tough and never goes away. He keeps coming at you. I have to match it with him and be smart. I will have to knuckle down in the five weeks left before the fight.

Paul Gallen back in the ring with trainer Graham Shaw at Southside Boxing Gym. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“It will be the first time I am jumping into the ring and I know Gal is a fit bloke so I have to be as fit as I can. You will always be nervous going into your first fight but I am more excited than anything else. I have been looking forward to this since I got the tip that I was fighting Gallen. It will be a tough challenge.”

The Sharks, Raiders and NRL are aware the evening will help raise funds for respected charities, FSHD Global and Livin.

“That is why I put my hand up once they said it was for a good cause,” Paulo said. “Why not jump in the ring for a good cause.”

Gallen will step back into the ring on December 23 for another fight at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

He told The Daily Telegraph a fortnight ago: “People who don’t do it wouldn’t understand how much technique goes into it. It’s in-between a hobby and a passion for me. I love the training, I like the fighting.”