Barry Hall headbutts Sonny Bill Williams as boxing mind games begin

Sonny Bill Williams and Barry Hall have been trading light verbal jabs so far but the AFL great has finally landed the first blow.

Barry Hall has finally landed the first blow on Sonny Bill Williams ahead of Wednesday’s fight night, getting up close and personal with the former NRL and rugby star.

The pair have shot the occasional verbal jab at each other in the lead up to the fight night but nothing has really landed.

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Even during the press conference on Monday, MC Andy Raymond noted how the pair had steered away from the trash talk.

But one trope of boxing finally seeped into the grudge match as Hall got physical, appearing to headbutt Williams after their weigh in.

Although the 45-year-old Hall is giving up nine years and, at 97.8kg to Williams’ 109.1kg, more than 11kg, the AFL great’s team appeared to believe they were winning the battle of the mind ahead of the fight.

The pair got nose to nose before Williams began to push forward with his head before Hall lashed out to push the dual-international back.

Before it could get more physical, promoter and Aussie boxing great Danny Green stepped between them.

They did come back together and share a few words before Williams offered his hand, they shook and the ex-All Black pushed him away.

WWOS reported a member of Hall’s team said “Sonny didn’t know what to do” after the confrontation.

A headbutt's what you get when you get too close. Photo: Stan Sport

Barry Hall wasn't happy with how close SBW got. Photo: Stan Sport

Coming a day after Williams’ trainer Andy Lee tipped Williams to fight for a world title over the next two years, it appears the pleasantries are over with a day to go before the grudge match.

While they pair has not gone as wild or personal as some boxing promotions have gone, Williams has labelled Hall “arrogant” and said some of the AFL greats comments have been “outrageous”. Hall also said Williams’ six-week overseas trip was “a weakness” as he changed trainers and strategies.

Williams went on a six-week training camp where he sparred the likes of world champ Tyson Fury, former WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker and European champion Tommy McCarthy.

But despite the big names in Williams’ corner, Hall played down the effect.

“The press conference yesterday, there was an illustrious line-up (alongside Williams), all the names written down, I had two people with me,” he said.

“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.”

Hall has had just one fight in his boxing career, having had a draw with NRL great turned boxer Paul Gallen, while Williams is 8-0 but in his last fight was knocked down by 2-14 heavyweight Waikato Falefahi in Townsville last June.

They boys are ready to throw hands now. Photo: Stan Sport

But Williams is already looking past Hall to Gallen after years of build up.

Gallen has all but given up on fighting Williams and told news.com.au that he will retire at the end of this year in an interview earlier this month.

Gallen said he wasn’t sure who he would be able to fight as the UFC had said no to a hyped Robert Whittaker fight, he was “not sure what was happening” with Sam Burgess but that it was unlikely, and said he wasn’t sure what would happen after Barry Hall and Sonny Bill Williams’ fight on March 23.

Williams reopened the door however, telling Nine News Gallen was in his plans.

“The plan is to do this for 24 months and see where it takes me,” Williams said.

“I know what your next question will be - is Paul Gallen a part of that? And definitely (yes).

“But we’ll have to see how Wednesday night goes, and after a great victory then we’ll work on what’s next.

“But at the moment I’m where my feet are.”

When’s it on?

The fight will take place on Wednesday night with the show beginning at 6pm.

Full card

Sonny Bill Williams vs. Barry Hall (8x3min rounds)

Paul Fleming vs. Jackson Jon England (10x3min rounds)

Rahim Mundine vs. Lapani Levatia (4x3min rounds)

Willis Meehan vs. Hunter Sam (6x3min rounds)

Michael Hall vs. Mitchel Stapleton (6x3min rounds)

Terry Nickolas vs. Jason Medawar (4x3min rounds)

Bilal Akkawy vs. Sebastian Singh (6x3min rounds)

Khalid Baker vs. Filimoni Naliva Jr (4x3min rounds)

Originally published as Barry Hall headbutts Sonny Bill Williams as boxing mind games begin