Ben Barba set to take up professional boxing

Former Super League and NRL star Ben Barba is to take up professional boxing according to reports in Australia.

Barba was sacked by North Queensland Cowboys prior to this season and given a lifetime ban from rugby league after allegedly assaulting his partner.

After losing his $300,000-a-year contract, the 29-year-old has been earning $20-an-hour as a metal worker in order to pay the bills and feed his family.

However, all might not be lost for Barba with boxing promoter Matty Rose set to sensationally offer him $20,000 to enter the boxing ring next month.

Rose wants the reigning Super League Man of Steel to fight on the undercard of the upcoming bout between Tim Tszyu and Brock Jarvis’s on Wednesday 15 May.

“He’s done the wrong thing but you can’t just abandon him, he needs something else in his life and he has a young family to support,” Rose told the Australian Daily Telegraph.

“Boxing would give him some direction, some discipline and something to aim for. We’ve spoken about the May 15 date and he’s thinking about it.”

An announcement is expected in the next seven days on whether Barba has accepted the invitation to be part of the event at The Star Casino in Sydney next month.