Coach tips Sonny Bill Williams to ‘fight for the world championship’

Sonny Bill Williams’ return to the squared circle against Barry Hall could be just the start as his coach has some lofty ambitions.

Sonny Bill Williams’ trainer Andy Lee has declared the former NRL premiership winner and Rugby World Cup champion could be turned into a world heavyweight title contender.

Set to fight Barry Hall on Wednesday night at the International Convention Centre on Wednesday night, Williams comes into the fight at 8-0 with three knockouts under his belt.

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Ranked as the 13th best heavyweight in Australia, the 36-year-old’s last fight was against 2-14 fighter Waikato Falefahi in Townslville last June, where he was knocked down but won the six-rounder on points.

But Williams has now dedicated himself to boxing after his football career ended and 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.

Lee, who is not one half of the Hamish and Andy comedy duo but rather highly regarded boxing trainer and a former WBO middleweight world champion, declared the 36-year-old is ready to take on the best in the world over the next few years.

“It’s been a pleasure to train Sonny,” he said during the pair’s press conference. “For a man who’s achieved so much in the sport world, he’s very, very hungry, very, very dedicated, almost obsessive about boxing, so it’s been a pleasure to train him.

“If I showed him something this morning, by the next time we met in the gym, I could see that he worked on it, practised it and thought about it, and was already improved at doing it. That taught me all I needed to know about Sonny and how serious he is about the game.

“You might think it’s crazy but my ambition for Sonny over the next few years is to build him into a world title contender and eventually fight for the world championship because that’s how good he can be. He has that natural ability but you combine that with the hunger he has, I think he can go all the way.”

SBW's trainer Andy Lee. Photo: Supplied

Lee also told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age said: “Is that the greatest story in sports history, if he fights for the heavyweight title?”

“The blueprint is there. He’s a different person altogether but you’ve seen with (boxer and social media personality) Jake Paul, because of his profile – and Sonny’s is just as big – that will generate interest and interest will generate revenue,” Lee told the papers.

“With revenue, real fighters will want to fight Sonny. They will see how good he is, and they will want to test themselves against him, knowing they will get well paid for it.”

But in a rather cordial press conference for boxing, the pair did throw a few jabs.

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.

Tyson Fury and Sonny Bill Williams. Instagram

Williams said that he took himself out of his comfort zone by spending six weeks overseas.

They did throw a couple of jabs at each other as Williams said he sparred “guys who are respectfully a lot better fighters than Barry”.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Barry, I know he’s put himself through the ringer this prep, I don’t know too much about his prep but I think he knows all about my prep,” Williams said.

“I wish we were fighting tonight to tell you the truth but I’ve got no ill will towards Barry. I hope he goes home to his beautiful wife, beautiful children but I want to smash his face plain and simple.

“There’s no glory without putting yourself out there and I’m looking forward to getting out there and just being in the ring with Barry because I know we’re going to put on a good show.”

Williams also threw a couple of potshots, saying: “I should have gone on SAS, show you I was tough”.

After promoter and former Aussie champ Danny Green declared Hall would win by KO, Williams interjected: “That’s not what you told me on social media bro. A couple of weeks ago, come on bro. You didn’t say that when you messaged me.”

Green responded: “I didn’t say it on social media? Well I just said it now so it’s real media.”

Barry Hall isn't shrinking away. Photo: Supplied

Asked if he needed to make things personal to get up for the fight, Hall said he didn't “because I’m in fight mode”.

“It’s very personal because we’re fighting,” he said. “He’s trying to provide for his family and so am I so it is personal. There’s been a few things thrown back and forth and nothing of a personal nature but I’ve heard them and it just adds a little bit of fuel to the fire. I’m prepared, I’m ready and he’s mentioned we’re going to go to war and that’s exactly what’s in my mind, I hope he brings nothing less.”

Hall was then asked about experience in the ring, the former AFL star said he threw himself “in the deep-end” with nine weeks preparation for former NRL star Paul Gallen, which finished as a draw.

When’s it on?

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

How to watch?

The fight between Sonny Bill Williams and Barry Hall will take place at Sydney’s International Convention Centre.

To watch via streaming, viewers will be able to watch through Stan’s Event portal with the fight night to cost $50.

Full card

Sonny Bill Williams vs. Barry Hall

Paul Fleming vs. Jackson Jon England

Michael Hall vs. Mitchel Stapleton

Willis Meehan vs. Uria Afamasaga

Bilal Akkawy vs. Sebastian Singh

Khalid Baker vs. Filimoni Naliva Jr

Terry Nickolas vs. Jason Medawar

Rahim Mundine vs. TBA