Sonny Bill Williams will never reach the heights in boxing like he did in rugby and NRL, according to Justis Huni’s promoter, with Dean Lonergan issuing a challenge to Williams’ camp fresh off his first round KO win over Barry Hall.
In what turned out to be a mismatch of epic proportions, a hulking Williams, nine years Hall’s junior and 11kg heavier, barely raised a sweat in dispatching the former AFL player in just over two minutes, with Hall suggesting he wasn’t himself on the night.
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The victory for Williams is a confidence builder after his shaky comeback to the ring last June, giving the former All Black a fresh set of options, with Paul Gallen the prime candidate to square up with the two-time NRL premiership winner in the near future.
However, it all depends on which road, Williams, 36, wants to take.
In the lead up to the Hall fight, Williams’ Irish trainer Andy Lee, a former world champion, who also trains Joseph Parker and Tyson Fury, said Williams had the potential to fight for a world title after two years of dedicating himself to the sport.
“People might think I’m crazy but my ambition for Sonny is that after two years, I would like to see him fight for the world title,” Lee told WWOS at the time.
“By the end of our journey, that’s how good I think he can be.”
In order for Williams, (9-0) to reach such heights he would inevitably have to face Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni at some point, something Lonergan contends would not end well for the two-time Rugby World Cup winner.
“I thought the comment he (Lee) made before the fight was a little bit outrageous, saying Sonny Bill could some day be heavyweight champion of the world,” Lonergan told Wide World of Sports.
“Mate I don’t think Sonny Bill could be heavyweight champion of Australia because one of the best boxers on the planet is currently that, and that’s Justis Huni.
“We’d fight Sonny Bill in a heartbeat, if he wants to test himself as a real boxer in a real fight, I’d be more than happy to throw Justis up.”
While the clash would be a promoter’s dream which would easily be worth millions of dollars, Lonergan admitted convincing the star’s father and trainer Rocki Huni to take part in such a fight might be difficult, especially since the Hunis have said they no longer want to fight ex-footballers after the Gallen bout.
Huni will take on New Zealand No. 3 Kiki Lutele (7-1-2) next on the Gold Coast on May 11, as the co-main event alongside Jai Opetaia, who has a world title fight against IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis.
Huni already has a bout with Joseph Goodall confirmed for June after their earlier fight was postponed because the Aussie champion caught COVID-19.
While Williams is a former footballer, he holds an undefeated record of 9-0 in the ring, and could chase a world ranking if he wanted to, which might give the Hunis the credibility they seek in their future opponents. However, Lonergan is doubtful.
“Sonny Bill is coming up to his tenth fight, so it qualifies him for a world ranking, Justis will have a world ranking in three or four months, if Sonny Bill wants to get into the big time then the offer is there,” Lonergan said.
“Sonny Bill is an impressive specimen, he’s incredible as an athlete and what he has achieved in both codes.
“But he’s stepping into the world of boxing and I don’t think he’s going to achieve the heights in boxing that he did in rugby league and union.
“If he wants to test himself in real boxing, not celebrity footy players, then we’d welcome a deal that would see them make millions of dollars.
“But I don’t think he will. I don’t think they want real fights like Justis Huni.”
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