BoxRec

Sonny Bill Williams vs. Barry Hall Showdown Set For March 23 in Syndey

According to multiple reports, Sonny Bill Williams will return to the boxing ring against one of Australian sport's most notorious figures, ex-AFL hard man Barry Hall.

Back in 2008, Hall knocked out a rival player with a vicious punch. He fought to a draw with league player-turned-boxer Paul Gallen in 2019.

Hall has been itching for a showdown with Williams.

The former All Blacks player will face Hall in Sydney on March 23.

According to Williams, he will prepare in the UK with former WBO champion Joseph Parker and WBC champion Tyson Fury.

Williams hit the ring in June of last year, when he picked up a close six round decision over Waikato Falefehi. Williams went down in the second and won on three scorecards of 57-56 at Townsville Entertainment Centre.

It was Williams' first bout in six years.

“It felt good [coming back], until I got a couple of those bombs. That is the sport of boxing, you don't play boxing, that is for sure. I am just doing my due diligence to respect the sport," Williams said.

“It was pretty hard, but after five years out I would expect nothing different. I hope everyone enjoyed that, I know where I am as a boxer, but I am just trying to learn as much as I can.”

fornicate hoope sonny bill sparks then fights gallen, with a bit of an undercard it would do 90,000 tickets at homebush i recon.

Press Release | Paul Fleming vs. Jackson England Added to Williams-Hall Card, March 23

Western Australian Jackson England is set for the biggest night of his career, as he steps up in class against Australian standout Paul Fleming.

The fight takes place on March 23 at the ICC Exhibition Centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

A heavyweight bout between Sonny Bill Williams and Barry Hall will headline the card.

England has been mostly punch-perfect as a professional, with his recent contests resulting in him winning silverware and gaining ratings in the WBC and IBO respectively.

The Perth native now takes a career step up against Fleming over 10 rounds, and the likable all-action featherweight opened up on his clash with Fleming.

England said, "This is what dreams are made of. The first PPV event on Stan Sports at the ICC Arena in Sydney and sharing a card with the likes of Sonny Bill Williams. This is what I got into boxing for.

"I have to say a massive thank you to my manager Tony Tolj and Green Machine Promotions for putting me on in such a great fight with Paul Fleming. Fleming is a great fighter and all the respect to him for giving me this opportunity.

"Paul has been around forever, this is a real test for me, but I think my youth and my athleticism give me the edge in this fight. As the fight goes on I know I'll get stronger and this will be the key."

England is guided by Australian boxing mastermind Tony Tolj, and the Dragon Fire Boxing chief weighed in on his charge's chances against the experienced Fleming.

Tolj said, "This is a great fight for Australian boxing fans, and thank you to Green Machine Promotions for putting this fight on this great event.

"Jackson has looked great in his last few fights and is ready for a step up, and I think this is a better chance than ever to get rated in the WBA IBF, WBC & WBO, so why not.

"Boxing is all about taking calculated risks and this is what this is. Fleming is a class act and I have nothing but respect for him, I just think this could be Jackson's time to shine."

Fight Week!!

This crud is ppv
I couldn't even care to check who wins, let alone wait until the fights are on youtube

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 17:53 This crud is ppv
I couldn't even care to check who wins, let alone wait until the fights are on youtube

They literally sell you shit down under don’t they?

How much is it ??

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 18:01

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 17:53 This crud is ppv
I couldn't even care to check who wins, let alone wait until the fights are on youtube

They literally sell you shit down under don’t they?

How much is it ??

$39. 95 or £20
Dire indeed. What baffles me is, who the heck does pay for it, and will they ever pay for crap like this again?
It has to bad for boxing.

50 bucks in aus... Thats a fornicating outrage. If it was Sonny bill vs Gallen it would be a scandlous price but id understand. but vs Hall is taking the piss.

Think there going to get a rude shock with low numbers on this... normaly in aus you can get away with things like this because honestly so many people have plenty of spare income to waste. but right this second, with feul costing 2;30 a litre, prices of everything on the rise, and wages standing still i think people are actualy starting to think about not wasting money.

*Added bonus there is a Tim tszy ppv 3 or 4 days later...*

gregregegg wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 19:16 50 bucks in aus... Thats a fornicating outrage. If it was Sonny bill vs Gallen it would be a scandlous price but id understand. but vs Hall is taking the piss.

Think there going to get a rude shock with low numbers on this... normaly in aus you can get away with things like this because honestly so many people have plenty of spare income to waste. but right this second, with feul costing 2;30 a litre, prices of everything on the rise, and wages standing still i think people are actualy starting to think about not wasting money.

*Added bonus there is a Tim tszy ppv 3 or 4 days later...*

The Tim Tszyu fight is PPV in AUS?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 20:13

gregregegg wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 19:16 50 bucks in aus... Thats a fornicating outrage. If it was Sonny bill vs Gallen it would be a scandlous price but id understand. but vs Hall is taking the piss.

Think there going to get a rude shock with low numbers on this... normaly in aus you can get away with things like this because honestly so many people have plenty of spare income to waste. but right this second, with feul costing 2;30 a litre, prices of everything on the rise, and wages standing still i think people are actualy starting to think about not wasting money.

*Added bonus there is a Tim tszy ppv 3 or 4 days later...*

The Tim Tszyu fight is PPV in AUS?

Yea, Kayo PPV (probably available as ppv on "mainevent" too)

gregregegg wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 20:16

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 20:13

gregregegg wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 19:16 50 bucks in aus... Thats a fornicating outrage. If it was Sonny bill vs Gallen it would be a scandlous price but id understand. but vs Hall is taking the piss.

Think there going to get a rude shock with low numbers on this... normaly in aus you can get away with things like this because honestly so many people have plenty of spare income to waste. but right this second, with feul costing 2;30 a litre, prices of everything on the rise, and wages standing still i think people are actualy starting to think about not wasting money.

*Added bonus there is a Tim tszy ppv 3 or 4 days later...*

The Tim Tszyu fight is PPV in AUS?

Yea, Kayo PPV (probably available as ppv on "mainevent" too)

If that’s in the US, what time do you get it?

Like 9am to 12pm?

Tszyu is ppv in NZ as well.
Heck knows why.
I doubt anyone buys it here though.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 20:21

gregregegg wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 20:16

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 20:13

The Tim Tszyu fight is PPV in AUS?

Yea, Kayo PPV (probably available as ppv on "mainevent" too)

If that’s in the US, what time do you get it?

Like 9am to 12pm?

3 fight card starts 11:30am so main even should be about 2pm ish on a sunday arvo. Pretty good timeing, tune in at lunch time with a beer.

Interestingly cant see a published price yet but got to be cheap for 3 fights.... (wont be)

(i keep seeing it say 3 fights on the main card, but its only 4 fights toatal, surely on a streaming servis you just start slightly earlier and include all the fights? i dont mind the "4th fight")...

Never have and NEVER will buy these crap fights ,, who cares about rugby or football players , put them on has undercard with the Moloney bros , and i'd watch it ,, but the only way i will watch it is if the local pub put it on , then its a good excuse to say to the missis i'm going for a midweek drink with the mates ,,, other than that . no way , I'll here the result somewhere and won't even bother watching it for free on u tube if it gets put on .

Got to be honest never ever bought a Tim Tzu ppv either ,, no way was i spending my money to watch him bowl over undersize guys and build a record , .

Greg is correct too many have disposable income they can throw away , muself i'm retired and every dollar i spend i don't replace so theres no way i'm paying and throwing my money away to make rich footballers richer

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 20:33 Tszyu is ppv in NZ as well.
Heck knows why.
I doubt anyone buys it here though.

Agree , ppv should be for the big name fights only , not guys with padded records against underweight opponents , built up just for there one crack at a really big payday

barry hall did well vs gallen for someone with no boxing experience........these rugby dudes in aus/nz have actually been pretty handy considering how late a lot of them came to the start

I think bellow 200lbs theres tons of skill all the way down. you cant compete without being skilled, noone is athletic enough to just be good. But at heavyweight, if you are big, fit, tough and coordinated your halfway there. Obviously not half way to the top, but your competitive with anyone outside of the top 100.

it helps if you dont mind getting hit in the head....

Would of absolutely loved to have seen Zdeno Chára have a crack at boxing.. 6'8, 250lb, fit, loved to fight, icehocky player. sure he would have a lot to learn, but could of been beating some fringe top 50s without tons of work probably.

coneye wrote: ↑21 Mar 2022, 01:11

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 20:33 Tszyu is ppv in NZ as well.
Heck knows why.
I doubt anyone buys it here though.

Agree , ppv should be for the big name fights only , not guys with padded records against underweight opponents , built up just for there one crack at a really big payday

Crazy how boxing isn’t even in the top 10 most popular sports in the world yet it’s ended up in a position where it can charge PPV for even mediocre contests and people pay it.

In truth boxers at the top level are vastly overpaid and for that reason promoters need the PPV income. Fury (reportedly) being paid £25m for one fight, against Dillion Whyte, is crazy.

Fighters shouldn’t be getting paid 10,20,30 million for one fight. Unfortunately as boxing has multiple promoters with the fights going to the Highest bidder it will always happen.

Sonny Bill outweighs Hall by 25 pounds

Barry Hall 215.6 lbs.
Age 45 years
Height 6’4
Trainer: Tony Nobbs

Sonny Bill Williams 240.5 lbs.
Age 36 years
Height 6’3
Trainer: Andy Lee

Venue: ICC Exhibition Centre, Sydney, Australia
Televised on Stan Event Streaming Service

Barry Hall: “The press conference yesterday, there was an illustrious line-up (alongside Williams), all the names written down, I had two people with me. There’s a lot of people that don’t want me to win this fight, I understand that. There’s a lot of money lost if he loses, I understand that also. That’s why I need to win by knockout and why I’m going to.”

Sonny Bill Williams: “The last few months just shows what type of character he is – very, very arrogant. Like he’s just going to walk right through me, fight Paul Gallen and then walk off into the sunshine. He’s doing reality shows, saying he doesn’t need money, all this sort of stuff. It seems like all he’s doing it for is money.

“But I’ve got to respect him as a boxer because he can box. And I do respect him – I know he doesn’t respect me as a boxer so that’s what’s fuelling me. God willing, when I’m standing over him, picking him up for a hug after the fight, I’ll look in his eyes and he’ll say ‘yeah, you actually can fight, Sonny.'”

Barry hall throws a sneaky headbut at weigh ins to try sell it...

Can not belive looking at them next to each other that sonny bill is 20lbs heavier... those islander bones are heavyyyy. sonny looks the smaller man.

Did they have to knock two rounds off once the relic Frans Botha started knocking an exhausted Sonny all over the ring?

Wales wrote: ↑21 Mar 2022, 22:07

coneye wrote: ↑21 Mar 2022, 01:11

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 20:33 Tszyu is ppv in NZ as well.
Heck knows why.
I doubt anyone buys it here though.

Agree , ppv should be for the big name fights only , not guys with padded records against underweight opponents , built up just for there one crack at a really big payday

Crazy how boxing isn’t even in the top 10 most popular sports in the world yet it’s ended up in a position where it can charge PPV for even mediocre contests and people pay it.

In truth boxers at the top level are vastly overpaid and for that reason promoters need the PPV income. Fury (reportedly) being paid £25m for one fight, against Dillion Whyte, is crazy.

Fighters shouldn’t be getting paid 10,20,30 million for one fight. Unfortunately as boxing has multiple promoters with the fights going to the Highest bidder it will always happen.

They only do crappy PPVs because there is a market for them- albiet small- but enough to sustain the stupid purses.
The only way to make a change is to remove that market.
Don’t buy it.
And tell promotors why.

Will never happen.

A huge proportion of the people buying the PPVs are casual fans who dip in to follow the big fights, often sold a pipe dream by the media, then dip out until the next PPV comes along and the promotional band wagon starts again.

Committed boxing fans are starved of not only content, but also competitive fights and elite fighters competing .

We’ve seen likes of Crawford, Spence, AJ, Fury, Usyk, Bertebiev etc etc … what? 4 or 5 times in last 3/4 years.

How often do we see the best in the division fight?

So when anything remotely interesting happens we can’t help ourselves.

says it all when two debutants off you tube (KSI Paul) do a million PPV sales

Is this on free tv anywhere in USA or UK?

Sent you Pm mate