TURF WAR: Sonny Bill Williams vs Barry Hall, live and exclusive on Stan Event, March 23. Purchase the event now at stan.com.au/event
If Barry Hall can fight Sonny Bill Williams like he did Paul Gallen, then the former AFL player “will be hard to beat”, according to boxing Hall-of-Famer Jeff Fenech.
Hall hasn’t fought since his only professional outing – a controversial draw with Paul Gallen in November 2019, while Williams shook off some ring rust in his return last June when he defeated Waikato Falefehi via unanimous decision.
Hall and Gallen fought over 6×2 minute rounds, while the clash against Williams on Wednesday night will be 8×3 minute rounds. Even though Hall goes into the fight without having fought over longer rounds, like Williams has during his 8-0 record, Fenech believes he saw enough from Hall in his one and only professional bout to suggest he can trouble Williams.
“There were a couple of things he did against Gallen that made me say wow, he made him miss, rolled over some punches, came out with some good shots,” Fenech told Wide World of Sports.
https://twitter.com/StanSportAU/status/1506073177356750853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“For Hall to do that with all the time he was out was impressive. He was an amateur and has the boxing skills. He’s got more of that experience so he can work on the jab.
“It was obvious that he had been in the sport prior to his AFL days. For me boxing is a real simple sport, we try and over complicate it by getting guys to jab, and get them to become boxers, it’s a hard transition when you haven’t done it for years or when it’s new to you.
“Gallen makes you fight whereas Sonny Bill will box and he definitely won’t put the same pressure on him like Gallen did and make him work that way.
“Watching Barry Hall against Gallen for those six rounds, if he can do that for eight rounds, he’ll be hard to beat, he has some good skills.
“But Sonny goes to the nth degree to make sure he prepares properly, he went overseas to train with Fury, if he can pick that stuff up which I think he can, who knows.”
When is Sonny Bill Williams vs Barry Hall?
The pair are set to meet on Wednesday, March 23 on Stan Event in what will be the beginning of a big week for Australian boxing with Tim Tszyu’s US debut against Terrell Gausha set to take place this weekend.
Where is the fight?
The 9,000 capacity Aware Super Theatre at the ICC Exhibition Centre near Sydney’s Darling Harbour will play host.
How to watch Williams vs Hall?
The fight will be the first on streaming service Stan Event for pay-per-view sporting events.
Unified lightweight world champion George Kambosos is set to commentate on the event, as will Aussie boxing greats Anthony Mundine and Danny Green.
To buy the fight, you’ll need an existing Stan account.
Sign up for a free 30-day Stan trial here.
From there, subscribers can purchase the event for $50 here.
Stan’s Frequently asked Questions
Williams vs Hall tickets
Tickets for the event are on sale through Ticketek now.
What are the betting odds?
Sonny Bill Williams is the slight favourite in the head to head on Palmerbet, having amassed more experience over the years even though he had been out of the ring for about 6 years.
Head to Head:
Sonny Bill Williams $1.80
Barry Hall $2.00
Draw $16
Full fight card
Card subject to change.
Sonny Bill Williams vs Barry Hall (8×3 minute rounds)
Paul Fleming vs Jackson England (10×3 minute rounds)
Rahim Mundine vs Lepani Levatia (4×3 minute rounds)
Mitchel Stapleton vs Michael Hall (6x3minute rounds)
Willis Meehan vs Hunter Sam (6x3minute rounds)
Terry Nickolas vs Jason Medawar (4x3minute rounds)
Bilal Akkawy vs Sebastian Singh (6×3 minute rounds)
Khalid Baker vs Filimoni Naliva Jr (4×3 minute rounds)
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