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Home / Sport / Boxing

Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen: Former league greats to clash in boxing ring

Elijah Fa'afiu
By Elijah Fa'afiu
Multimedia Journalist·NZ Herald·
20 May, 2025 01:01 AM2 mins to read

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Sonny Bill Williams and Paul Gallen will clash in the ring. Photo / Getty Images

Sonny Bill Williams and Paul Gallen will clash in the ring. Photo / Getty Images

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After the best part of a decade of verbal jabs and feints on a boxing fight, Sonny Bill Williams and Paul Gallen will finally square off in the ring.

It’s been confirmed that the pair will meet in a long-awaited bout on July 16 in Sydney in eight two-minute rounds.

Williams, the former dual-code star, will end a three-year absence from the ring, having last fought in a fourth-round TKO loss to former mixed martial arts icon Mark Hunt.

It’s the lone defeat in the former All Black’s 9-1 professional record.

Sonny Bill Williams will face Paul Gallen on July 16 in Sydney. Photo / Photosport
Sonny Bill Williams will face Paul Gallen on July 16 in Sydney. Photo / Photosport
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Gallen, the former Cronulla Sharks and New South Wales Origin captain, also returns to the ring for the first time since 2022, when he beat fellow former NRL player Justin Hodges by unanimous decision.

The enforcer boasts more in-ring experience than Williams, with a record of 15-2-1.

Gallen’s notable fights include stunning former heavyweight champion Lucas Browne with a first-round knockout in 2021 and falling to current WBA heavyweight title contender Justis Huni in the 10th and final round of their bout that same year.

The pair have been back-and-forth over negotiations to settle their differences, with both claiming the other fighter has been dodging them as recently as 2022 and beyond.

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The 39-year-old Williams, who is four years younger than Gallen, may find an advantage with the shortened length of rounds, which was the final sticking point in negotiations between the two parties.

Professional boxing rounds are typically three minutes, with the two-minute stipulation notably seen in the controversial Jake Paul-Mike Tyson bout in November

Williams and Gallen are expected to earn $1 million each in a 50/50 split, in a fight that will garner plenty of interest across New Zealand and Australia, with a broadcasting rights battle brewing on this side of the Tasman.

The undercard will see cruiserweight fighter David Nyika return to the ring for the first time since his devastating knockout defeat against IBF champion Jai Opetaia in January.

Discover more

Boxing

'The card is a banger': Nyika on SBW v Gallen and his boxing return

16 May 10:00 PM
Rugby

'Proud privilege': SBW's surprise career move

26 Nov 09:28 PM
All Blacks

'We have a problem': SBW weighs in on ABs' selection policy

17 Sep 10:08 PM
Super Rugby

Aussie radio host calls for SBW to be sacked, says he's 'embarrassed' to work with him

23 Apr 01:08 AM

The Kiwi’s opponent has yet to be confirmed.

Elijah Fa’afiu travelled with assistance from Manuka Phuel.

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