Sonny Bill Williams is seen after the round 15 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Sydney Roosters at Panthers Stadium. Photo / Getty Images.
Sonny Bill Williams is seen after the round 15 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Sydney Roosters at Panthers Stadium. Photo / Getty Images.
Sonny Bill Williams says he would welcome the chance to fight Paul Gallen and Barry Hall as he seeks to reignite his boxing career.
The 36-year-old retired from rugby league and rugby union in March this year after a stellar career that saw him win two NRL premierships and two rugby World Cups with the All Blacks.
Williams' first foray into boxing was in 2009 and he has won all eight fights he has contested.
Just months after his retirement from rugby, he narrowly defeated Waikato Falefehi in a low-profile fight in Townsville in his first outing in the ring in six years.
After that fight, Williams said he hoped to take on Hall once he was less rusty and had a couple more fights under his belt.
Now the former code-hopper has doubled down on his desire to fight the likes of ex-football stars Hall and Gallen. Any clash between Williams and one of Gallen or Hall would be sure to attract a massive audience.
When asked if he would like to fight Gallen, Williams said he would be more than capable of taking it up to the former Cronulla Sharks captain.
"I hope you weren't insinuating that he's (Gallen's) out of my league, because for myself I definitely don't believe that," he told ABC Radio on Saturday.
"He'll be all part of the process. For me it's the challenge."
Williams also took a thinly-veiled swipe at Gallen, saying he only fights "for the money".
"I don't need to fight and he's stated that he's a prized fighter so he's obviously in it for the money," he said.
Gallen pocketed around $1.275 million from his bout with Justis Huni in June, which he lost.
Williams indicated he wants to get back in boxing for more noble intentions and hopes to dedicate himself to the sport for at least two years.
Sonny Bill Williams is seen during the round three NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters. Photo / Getty Images.
"For me, I'm in it for the challenge," he said.
"When it comes to fighting Paul Gallen or Barry Hall, those guys are all part of the process but for me it's about the daily grind and being wholeheartedly in it.
"That stems from something more than say, 'I've got my eyes on solely focused on Paul Gallen or Barry Hall'."
Williams is eager to fight Gallen or Hall in the future but emphasised he will need to devote himself to training and fight a couple of lower-profile opponents before taking on the ex-footballers.
"I'm just trying to lock in something," he said of his next fight.
"I've given my all to rugby and rugby league over the years and it would just be nice to see where I'm at after 24 months instead of a six-week camp or a 12-week camp."
