Sonny Bill Williams storms out and rejects post-fight interview as Paul Gallen is flipped off in fiery scenes

Sonny Bill Williams did not take defeat to in their highly anticipated bout on the chin, storming out of the ring and then out of the stadium.

Paul Gallen beat his long-time rival Sonny Bill Williams on Wednesday night and safe to say his opponent didn’t take it well.

After countless stories, insults, accusations and missteps, the two former footy greats took to the ring at Qudos Bank Arena well after their primes to finally settle their beef once and for all.

Williams looked much fitter and fresher in the early rounds, fighting behind his jab, but faded late as Gallen came on strong in the latter rounds to claim bragging rights by split decision, 77-74, 74-77, 76-75.

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Post-fight, Gallen said he was shocked that even one judge gave it to SBW, feeling he had lost only one to two rounds.

“Seriously, how did they score that? I definitely lost one round, think there was another close one and he had a point taken off,” Gallen said.

“Anyway, I got the win, that’s all that matters. I’m not going to gloat. It’s been a long time coming, and I got the job done.”

He then doubled down at the media scrum: “You heard the crowd when his score was read out. Please, I won the fight, I won the fight.”

Sonny Bill Williams stormed out of the ring after losing to. Picture Thomas Lisson

Paul Gallen beat Sonny Bill Williams by split decision on Wednesday night. Picture Thomas Lisson

But Sonny Bill formed a vastly different belief, feeling he was robbed of the win.

Such was his dismay that he stormed out of the ring after the result was announced and refused to do a post-fight interview or address the media.

After news.com.au pushed for a comment on the result from the Sonny Bill camp, they came back with: “You saw it, you can report on what you saw.”

Paul Gallen said he felt he clearly won the fight, despite many feeling Sonny Bill landed the cleaner shots. Picture Thomas Lisson

And while Gallen considers their beef settled, at least some of the SBW camp do not.

Adding to the post-fight drama, Williams’ former manager, Khoder Nasser, flipped off Gallen after the result was read and then argued with the Sharks great in the ring.

He was escorted out by security, but by then, SBW was already halfway back to the dressing room, where the doors were firmly shut and it was made clear that no questions would be answered.

And while Gallen thought the result was clear, many others believed SBW was hard done by, including Danny Green and Renee Gartner, who said in their opinion the Kiwi had done enough to win the fight.

But nevertheless it will go down in the record books as a Gallen win.

And with the 43-year-old saying he is “too old to do this anymore”, he goes out of the sport a winner.

Originally published as Sonny Bill Williams storms out and rejects post-fight interview as Paul Gallen is flipped off in fiery scenes