Queensland Reds' Quade Cooper is getting ready to take part in his first professional boxing match. Picture: Annette Dew Source: The Courier-Mail
QUADE Cooper is five days away from making his professional boxing debut - and he pulls no punches as he expresses a desire to become a three-sport athlete.
Few Australian athletes court love and hate in equal measure like Cooper - or put their neck in the guillotine quite so often. And by expressing his desire to emulate code-hoppers Israel Folau and Sonny Bill Williams, Cooper is sure to polarise opinion again.
He will fight insurance agent Barry Dunnett in the co-main event of Friday's pay-per-view card at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, before good friend Williams battles Francois Botha.
It is the start of what Cooper hopes is the year of his life. In preparation, he has not had a day off in months.
"This is a huge year for me," Cooper said. "I want to have this fight, win, then help the Reds have a good season, hopefully a premiership, then play against the British and Irish Lions, then the Rugby Championship and go on the Spring Tour.
"If I'm lucky enough to do that, it would be amazing."
When asked if he could become a three-sport athlete like NSW Waratahs recruit Folau or the Roosters' Williams, Cooper lit up.
"Three? It is within my reach, definitely," he said. "I am doing two sports now and I'm enjoying it.
"It has to provide me an interesting challenge. I'm signed to the ARU for another two years. When that is ending I want to be able to look back and say I really achieved a lot during that time and I left a mark. Then we will see."
Quade Cooper could be on his way out of Australian rugby. Source: Getty Images
The realistic third option for Cooper would be rugby league. His boxing trainer Shannon "Shaggy" King has no doubt he could add another sport to his resume.
"You teach him something on Monday, he's got it down pat on Tuesday," King said. "He works so hard. He wants it more than most. It is the challenge that he loves."
Asked what would mean more, a series victory against the Lions in June as Wallabies five-eighth or beating Dunnett on Friday night, Cooper could not help himself.
"I want both. That's what is great about taking up boxing, it means I can do both," Cooper said. "The challenge. I love the challenge.
"The Reds' season is 18 games. We are probably, realistically, going to lose a couple of those games and you can accept that.
"In boxing, you cannot accept a loss. A loss could mean the end. They are two very different challenges."
Quade Cooper is set to announce tomorrow he is quitting rugby union. Source: AFP
To make the Wallabies team, Cooper must earn the trust of coach Robbie Deans, who he openly criticised in a series of tweets and interviews primarily aimed at senior Australian Rugby Union officials.
Cooper and Deans had coffee in Brisbane in December, just two weeks after he re-signed with the ARU until the end of next season. Cooper said their relationship was healthy.
"I'm sweet with Robbie and I was always going to be," he said. "There are no problems there. I'm not a negative person. We will do the best for Australian rugby and I just want to make those teams."
It was injury and his shopping list of issues with the ARU that led him to boxing. He fell in love with it while watching Anthony Mundine spar on the Gold Coast two years ago.
He has dropped three opponents during sparring and is a serious boxing prospect. Cooper was ringside last Wednesday night to support Mundine in his fight against Daniel Geale.
"That shows how hard you have to work, every round. Even if you think if you're winning the round and you're doing well you have to maintain that the whole way," he said.
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