SBW’s $2m return to boxing ring
Sonny Bill Williams confirmed he is keen to return to the boxing ring to fight the winner of the Paul Gallen versus Barry Hall fight with a $2 million purse attached to it.
It’s raining money for Williams as he starts the next chapter of his sporting life, a $10m deal with the Toronto Wolfpack who play in Britain’s Super League.
As he fronted media in London, Williams confirmed he still had a boxing clause in his league contract and that he intended to exercise that by taking on the winner of last night’s cross-codes clash in Melbourne between NRL star Gallen and AFL star Hall.
‘‘I’ve had it in my contract throughout my career that clause so whether its Paul Gallen or Barry Hall, or whoever, time will tell,’’ Williams said.
‘‘I’m pretty interested in that fight. There has been a lot of talk from both camps. I am not sure who’ll win.
‘‘Barry has been out of the ring since he was 18 and is 42 now. Gal has been fighting consistently for the last few years and that may give him the advantage.’’
Gallen has long pursued a fight with Williams but they haven’t been able to agree terms. Now, it seems, the money is right – providing Gallen can get past the lanky Hall.
Williams’ manager Khoder Nasser has phoned boxing promoter Danny Green to confirm the prospective fight against the winner of Gallen v Hall with The Australian reporting there could be as much as $2m at stake.
Williams, a double Rugby World Cup winner with the All Blacks, has boxed professionally since 2009 and has a 7-0 record with three wins coming via knockouts. His last fight was in 2015.
Gallen is 9-0 with five knockouts since making his debut in 2014. Hall has had one fight, a knockout win in 2015.
Meanwhile, Williams doubts he will be able to make a return to the NRL.
‘‘I’m happy here, I’ll be 36 when this contract finishes so I don’t think I’ll be going back to Australia anytime soon,’’ Williams said.
‘‘That’s part of my role in the team . . . to bring a bit of anxiety potentially by bowling extra speed.’’
‘‘I think international cricket has had quite an awesome year with fast bowlers and the World Cup.’’
‘‘It’s the longer form both mentally and physically and so it’s going to be a challenge for sure.’’