League: Paul Gallen keen to fight Sonny Bill Williams in 2016

Paul Gallen's preparing to don the gloves against Warrior Bodene Thompson, but made it clear a match-up against SBW is his main goal. Photo / Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

Cronulla Sharks and New South Wales State of Origin captain Paul Gallen is hoping to arrange a boxing match against Sonny Bill Williams by the end of 2016.

Gallen is preparing to don the gloves for his Super Eight bout on November 3 against Warriors back-rower Bodene Thompson, but made it clear a match-up against Williams is his main goal.

Williams, currently starring for the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup, is a former NZPBA heavyweight champion and WBA international heavyweight champion and boasts an unbeaten record of seven wins, including three knockouts.

Gallen, speaking on Fox Sports last night, said Williams' hectic schedule has made it difficult to arrange a date to fight but hopes one can be arranged for some time in 2016.

"Probably not the next six months," said Gallen.

"Sonny's got the World Cup coming up and the Olympics.

"It's something I certainly want to do and the people want to see so hopefully in the future in the next 12 months we'll see it happen."

Meanwhile, Gallen needs to overcome an ankle injury suffered in the Sharks 39-0 NRL semi-final defeat to the North Queensland Cowboys last Saturday before he can commence training for his upcoming fight with Thompson.

His last fight saw him win by unanimous decision over mixed martial arts fighter Randall Rayment at the Footy Show Fight Night in Sydney on January 31.

He fought twice in 2014 and claimed two TKO's, beating Herman Ene Purcell in February, before dealing to former teammate Anthony Watts in one minute and 28 seconds last December.

Prior to that, Gallen began his boxing foray with two amateur bouts in The Fight for Life event in Auckland, scoring a knock-out against former All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot in 2012, and claiming a split decision against current All Blacks loose-forward Liam Messam.