Rugby League legend Sonny Bill Williams has broken his silence following news that he will fight a fellow former NRL legend in July this year.
SBW is one of the most iconic characters in sport for New Zealand, never mind just rugby league, with the 39-year-old having played both codes and sought out a career in boxing as well.
A Rugby Union World Cup winner in 2011 and 2015, he never found such international success in rugby league but he did establish himself as one of the sport’s most iconic names and talents.
Fans were denied the chance to see him flourish in Super League as Toronto Wolfpack sadly went under, prompting his return to Sydney Roosters with whom he called time on his playing career.
He would resume his boxing career after his retirement, however, he’s not fought since late 2022 after a loss to Mark Hunt but that’s set to change when he takes on fellow former rugby league legend Paul Gallen later this year.
Rugby League legends set for long-awaited fight
The fight was confirmed last week but Williams has now started the war of words after breaking his silence on the matter, alleging that former Cronulla Sharks stalwart Gallen prevented the fight from happening previously.
Gallen, who is four years Williams senior, retired in 2019 after spending all of his career with the Sharks, making 348 appearances. That puts him fifth on the all-time NRL appearance list, although Brisbane’s Ben Hunt and Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans could surpass him this year.
Like Williams, Gallen last fought in 2022 with his career focused on media work since then but the pair will meet in the ring on July 16th in a fight worth a reported $2 million.
State of Origin will be used to help promote the game with the fight coming just one week after the third and final clash, however, this affair could be even more brutal.
Gallen started the verbals last week when he labelled SBW a “fraud” for refusing to fight three-minute rounds but the New Zealander has now hit back, claiming the ex-Cronulla man delayed the fight for years out of fear.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, SBW said: “He’s always acted like he wanted to fight me but whenever it was about to happen, it never did. Years ago his adviser (Peter Mitrevski Jnr) agreed to a deal.
“He took it back to Gallen, who then reneged on it. That’s a fact.
“Finally, he’s signed the contract. July 16, see you there. There’s no backing away now.”
With the purse set to be split 50/50, it’s expected both men will make upwards of $1,000,000, which isn’t bad for 16 minutes in the ring – if it goes that far.
