SBW's sparring session with AFL 'freak of nature'

2 years ago 80

Rugby prima turned heavyweight boxer Sonny Bill Williams believes immoderate of the champion AFL players could ft it successful the boxing ring.

The two-time Rugby World Cup victor volition beryllium supported by an entourage of AFL stars successful his combat against Mark Hunt astatine Sydney's International Convention Centre.

That includes existent Richmond subordinate Dustin Martin, erstwhile Essendon and Richmond subordinate Bachar Houli, and ex-West Coast Eagles and Richmond prima Ben Cousins.

Sonny Bill Williams volition look Mark Hunt successful a titanic heavyweight clash connected November 5. Watch unrecorded and exclusive connected Stan

Speaking with Wide World of Sports, Williams said he's sparred with Martin and would backmost immoderate AFL subordinate to spell the distance.

"Dusty throws them truly well," said Williams.

"Those guys are freaks of quality erstwhile it comes to the cardio broadside of things.

"I'm not an AFL guy, but I would accidental the guys that tin battalion a punch, they would person that cardio motor that would spell on with it.

"I've done a small spot of grooming with Dusty implicit clip and I cognize helium tin grip himself beauteous good successful the ring."

While AFL players taking to the ringing is simply a rarity, respective rugby stars person made the crossover.

Williams fought Paul Gallen earlier this twelvemonth and Saturday's combat volition diagnostic Bulldogs prima Tevita Pangai Jr who volition look Jeremiah Tupai-Ui.

Williams said helium is humbled to person the trio of AFL players supporting his bid to bushed Hunt.

"They're truly bully fellas – I'm truly adjacent with Dusty and person known Benny for a agelong time. Good guys, bully men," helium said.

"Just talking astir Benny and however chill it is to spot wherever helium is astatine successful beingness close now. Dusty, my aged mate Dusty, ever doing his happening truthful it's ever peculiar spending clip with him.

"Then member Bach, helium came up with his beauteous household and it's large to person those boys successful the corner."

At the least, Williams is optimistic having high-profile names funny successful his lucifer volition beforehand boxing.

With a dense Polynesian and Aboriginal beingness connected the card, Williams hopes to

"For me, that's portion of what I emotion astir the combat crippled – being capable to enactment a spot of airy connected it and empower immoderate young fighters, successful particular, the Polynesian and Aboriginal assemblage getting connected the paper and getting a spot of exposure," said Williams.

"At the extremity of the day, you've got to marque it successful beingness and you've got to hustle. It's large to beryllium capable to bash that.

"Yes, I'm not a heavyweight champion of the world, I'm not successful that class, I'm a footy player, but that's wherever we are successful athletics astatine the moment.

"It has that amusement origin successful that space. It's inactive chill for me, the pluses outweigh the negatives."

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