Sonny Bill Williams KOs AFL legend Barry Hall in first round after flooring opponent TWICE in huge mismatch
NEW ZEALAND boxer Sonny Bill Williams flattened former Aussie Rules star Barry Hall by first round KO in a one-sided beating.
Heavyweight Williams, 36, is a former rugby league player but showed he was serious about the fight game as he dismantled Hall inside two minutes to move to 9-0 as a professional.
Hall dropped to the floor in the opening minute of the contest but the referee deemed it to be a slip.
Moments later though he was legitimately stung and forced to take a count on the mat.
The 45-year-old clambered to his feet but was a sitting duck for the fresher, younger, more technically sound Williams.
And the Kiwi only needed to wait a matter of seconds before clinching the KO with a vicious right hand to the temple.
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Hall was laid out on the canvas as the referee waved it off.
Williams immediately jumped up onto the top rope and celebrated the victory in front of a raucous crowd at the Aware Super Theatre in Sydney.
Hall had only fought once professionally before the defeat to Williams.
That came way back in 2019 when he claimed a draw against Paul Gallen.
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And it was Gallen who Williams called out after his spectacular knockout victory over Hall.
Williams also thanked trainer Andy Lee, as well as heavyweight stars Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker who he had been training with in preparation for the clash.
Lee, along with SugarHill Steward, has trained Fury for his two wins over Deontay Wilder.