New Zealand's dual-code football star Williams demolished the AFL great in Sydney on Wednesday night, dominating from the opening seconds.
He looked relaxed and composed and fired off some slick flurries of blows. "There's a reason why only one per cent of people do this type of stuff. - Sonny Bill Williams ended the fight in the first round
The former All Blacks/NRL star needed less than two minutes to dispatch his trash-talking rival.
Sonny Bill Williams has blasted Barry Hall out inside two minutes and says Paul Gallen could be his next opponent. New Zealand's dual code rugby star Williams demolished AFL great in Sydney on Wednesday night, dominating from the opening seconds.
Asked about his next fight, Williams referred to the long-talked about match-up against fellow former NRL great Gallen.
"There's talk of Gallen, so maybe Gallen," SBW said to rousing cheers from the crowd.
Paul Fleming (28-1) won five regional super featherweight belts with a unanimous 10-round points win over Jackson England (13-2) in an outstanding main event contest.
Fleming was knocked down by a right hand in the second round but recovered to jolt his opponent with a left in the same round.
Both men suffered a cut near an eye but pounded each other throughout the fight.
Another winner on the undercard was professional debutant Rahim Mundine, the third generation of the outstanding Australian boxing family.
With both father Anthony and grandfather Tony in his corner offering advice, light heavyweight Rahim scored a unanimous four-round points win over Fijian Lepani Levatia (1-5).
Mundine displayed some of the traits of his father, utilising slick feints and sometimes carrying his hands low and looked relaxed and composed and fired off some slick flurries of blows.
Sonny Bill Williams has blasted Barry Hall out inside two minutes and says Paul Gallen could be his next opponent.
New Zealand's dual code rugby star Williams demolished AFL great in Sydney on Wednesday night, dominating from the opening seconds.
Williams jolted the Sydney Swans premiership winner in the first half minute with some crisp accurate shots.
Hall was down after just 47 seconds, though referee Les Fear said he didn't see a punch.
It looked like Hall had been hit with a left hook and he appeared unsteady after standing up.
Within 40 seconds, the 45-year-old returned to the canvas after taking a couple of big shots.
A ruthless Williams ended the contest a few second later, after he landed a big right hand that felled Hall, prompting Fear to end the one-sided contest after one minute 55 seconds.
The 36-year-old Williams, who weighed in 11 kilos heavier than Hall, improved his professional record to 9-0 while Hall dropped to 0-1-1.
"There's a reason why only one per cent of people do this type of stuff.
Williams knocked Hall down twice in the opening minute of Wednesday night's fight - and that became four times in two minutes before the referee called a stop ...
"At the start of the year, I wanted to have three fights, that was the plan. "You might think it's crazy but my ambition for Sonny over the next few years is to build him into a world title contender and eventually fight for the world championship because that's how good he can be. "It's been a pleasure to train Sonny," he said during the pair's press conference. Now I know how my dad felt when I was coming through," he said. That taught me all I needed to know about Sonny and how serious he is about the game. If I drop this fight it's probably going to be a long road back." Between rounds, I was thinking about my boy." His statement came after he last year signed a two-fight contract with a promotion company with one fight still yet to happen. It was a slaughter right from the start. But I think Sonny will be fitter so if it goes past four rounds I think Sonny will win." He's going to look for the knockout. He also said at the start of the year he wanted to fight three times in 2022.
The AFL great had no answer to the punching power of SBW, who finished off Hall in the first round.
So we're asking you to support us with more than your attention. Like elite athletes at their peak, our sports journalists are highly trained in the art of news. "There's a reason why only one per cent of people do this type of stuff.
SBW delivers terrifying two-minute KO of AFL great Barry Hall.
Iโm just here to start my 2022 off with a bang.โ I was playing NSW Cup - I debuted in NSW Cup at 19, but got injured early in the season. Barry Hall is one bad dude and Sonny Bill has schooled him tonight,โ the lead commentator said.