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Sonny Bill Williams beat Barry Hall three times in the first round in a dominant performance in Sydney.
Barry Hall has backed Sonny Bill Williams to beat Paul Gallen, as their Grudge fight is now big.
Williams annihilated Hall with a first-round knockout in Sydney Wednesday night and immediate attention was drawn to the possibility of league big galls in New Zealand talking about the cross-code superstar in a fight over for years.
Hall, an AFL legend, and Gallen fought a live draw over six rounds in late 2019, so Hall has a gauge on both fighters.
STAN SPORT
Sonny Bill Williams beat Barry Hall three times in the first round in a dominant performance in Sydney.
“One thing I can compare is that I took Gallen’s punches,” Hall said when asked how Williams and Gallen were behaving.
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“They certainly did not have as many stones as Sonny Bill. I was a seat this evening.
“I would like to see them if I’m very honest. I’m sure to be ringside. Go tonight … I think I beat Paul Gallen, but you have to think Sonny Bill wins.
“He did a lot of work, very committed, but styles make fights and both of their styles are totally different. It would be very interesting, but you have to tell Sonny Bill at this stage.”
Photo: Mark Evans / Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – December 22 – Paul Gallen (R) and Darcy Lussick fight during their Footy Fight Night Christmas Bash heavyweight fight at The Star on December 22, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans / Getty Images)
Williams hired Joseph Parker’s coach Andy Lee in the UK and his development showed how he put Hall on the screen three times to finish the one-sided contest after one minute 55 seconds.
Williams is now 9-0 with four knockouts in his boxing career.
Hall said he was embarrassed by his efforts and apologized to the fans.
“I’m obviously really disappointed because I did a lot of work when he did it, but I know all the fans out there are disappointed,” Hall told media after the fight.
“I apologize. I apologize to my family because I feel like I fired everyone.
“I was pretty nervous today, which is rare for me. The Paul Gallen fight I was not nervous at all, so it’s a bit out of character. Maybe just the hype, the build – up, I do not know what it is. But I was just not myself today …
“I congratulated and manned him. He was the better man of the night.
“He hit hard and I caught them. What do you say? I’m going home to my lovely family. I’m really disappointed, and I’m not sure where the road leads.
Ringside commentator and former multiple world champion Danny Green was impressed by Williams’ effort as the former All Black and Kiwis league player tried to move on with his boxing career.
“That’s unlikely. That was outrageous of Sonny Bill Williams. He just smoked him. I’m just in shock,” Green said.
“He did not miss. He was so correct. I was just so impressed with Sonny Bill. That was just a domination against a beast of a man at Barry Hall.
“Barry was caught cold. Full credit to Williams. He did not miss how he made the finish. He did it with precision.”
Australian lightweight world champion George Kambosos was also impressed by Williams.
“Sonny’s sharpness, forgeries were incredible. If you catch someone like that early and put pressure on them, it’s very difficult to recover,” said Kambosos.
Williams’ performance made headlines internationally with major boxing websites and mainstream British media covering the fight.
In Ireland, home of his new coach Lee, irishboxing.com said: “The Andy Lee effect was clear to all to see as Sonny Bill Williams made a successful boxing return.
“It was ruthless of the SBW, some can say Kronk-like, especially as one of Kronk’s most famous graduates, Lee was in the heavyweight corner.”
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