Hunt dumps 'cheesecakes and pies' for SBW fight

Mark Hunt has recounted the comical infinitesimal Sonny Bill Williams' manager Khoder Nasser made the telephone to acceptable up a landmark combat betwixt the 2 boxing tyrants.

The brace are acceptable to spell head-to-head astatine Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena for an eight-round match-up connected November 5.

It volition beryllium Williams' archetypal combat since his knock-out triumph implicit Barry Hall earlier this year and Hunt's archetypal since his nonaccomplishment to Paul Gallen successful 2020.

SBW vs Hunt pay-per-view connected November 5 volition beryllium disposable for immoderate Stan lawsuit to acquisition connected Stan Event. New customers tin motion up for a 30 time escaped proceedings and acquisition the fight

Mark Hunt said helium was taking beingness casual until Sonny Bill Williams' manager called. (Rhett Wyman)

Speaking during Thursday's announcement, Hunt drew a chuckle from the assemblage aft helium revealed he'd been taking it casual since his past outing.

"To beryllium honest, I was conscionable sitting connected my sofa eating cheesecakes and pies and I was conscionable putting connected a batch of weight," said Hunt.

"Then erstwhile I got a telephone from Khoder astir it I was like; it gives maine a accidental to get backmost to being steadfast again. 

LIVE UPDATES: US Open time 10 highlights

READ MORE: Tempers flare successful disfigured cricket confrontation arsenic players pulled apart

READ MORE: Disturbing crushed 'Essendon people' turned Lyon off

"All respect to Sonny, he's nary slouch. I admired him for each his accomplishments successful sports that helium does, particularly being a combatant now.

"He's jumped into the boxing already. I already fought with Gallen who won that fight, truthful I springiness him respect, but I did ringing that f-----'s bell, to beryllium honest. 

"He wants my name, he's got to gain it. Like I said, afloat respect. I'm getting connected successful property these days but I inactive emotion competing and I've ever been a combatant astatine heart."

Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Hunt spell face-to-face successful Sydney. (Rhett Wyman)

The combat – available for Stan customers to acquisition connected Stan Event – sees Williams spell successful undefeated with a 10-0 record.

The erstwhile Kiwis and All Blacks typical hailed the combat betwixt the 2 Samoan men 1 to ticker successful the cognition that either could woody a knock-out punch.

"My demeanour has changed a batch implicit the years – I've got a spot of a chaotic streak successful maine too," said Williams.

"We tin beryllium retired present and bash each this trash talking, but astatine the extremity of the time I consciousness similar this combat is peculiar due to the fact that radical really cognize that helium tin sound maine out. 

"Off my past performance, I'd similar to deliberation I tin bash the aforesaid too. I'm conscionable excited."

Stan volition clasp an exclusive combat betwixt Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Hunt connected November 5. (Rhett Wyman)

Hunt said helium can't work overmuch into the combat betwixt Williams and Hall aft the second was knocked retired early.

However, the Auckland-born Sydneysider said helium can't discount the clip Williams has spent with champion fighters Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker.

"It wasn't overmuch of a performance, helium conscionable rung his bell, conscionable knocked him out, was retired cold," said Hunt of Williams' combat with Hall.

"It wasn't overmuch of a fight. Just goes to amusement however overmuch of a bully skillset Sonny has. 

"Hanging retired with Tyson and Joe, it doesn't get amended than that. A mates of satellite people fighters."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here

Turf War: Sonny Bill Williams vs Barry Hall headlines large nighttime of boxing astatine Sydney's Aware Super Theatre