QUDOS BANK ARENA, SYDNEY
Live & exclusive pay-per-view in New Zealand on Sky Arena and Sky Sport Now
The biggest grudge match in trans-Tasman sport is finally on.
After a decade of increasingly bitter verbal jousting, Kiwi cross code sporting legend Sonny Bill Williams and Aussie league’s hardest man Paul Gallen will at long last lace them up and sort out their differences in the boxing ring on July 16 in Sydney.
Gallen (15-2-1), a veteran of 348 NRL games for the Cronulla Sharks, 24 Origins for New South Wales and 32 tests for the Kangaroos over a storied league career has stoked an already simmering fire by pointedly snubbing Williams at the bout’s first press event in Sydney.
“Everything is always about Sonny,” Gallen posted to social media as he confirmed a calculated move to leave Williams to face the media spotlight alone.
“Sonny gets what Sonny wants,” a clearly bitter Gallen continued.
“You’ve wasted my time the past 10 years.”
For his part Williams (9-1), the two-time world cup winning All Black, two-time NRL Premiership winner and Super Rugby champion, vowed to smash Gallen’s face in.
“It’s pretty clear these two don’t take a shine to each other,” David Higgins of co-promoter Duco Events said.
“They’re both incredible athletes – but very different people.
“This fight – which we’re thrilled to be bringing to Kiwi sports fans on Sky Arena and Sky Sport Now – has all the magic ingredients for an epic showdown.
“It’s New Zealand versus Australia – two legendary household names and serial winners looking to bookend their incredible sporting careers with one final victory.
“It’s a huge, huge fight on a night that will also see the New Zealand’s most exciting prospect David Nyika return to the ring – an event no to be missed.”
Australia bookmakers have installed Williams as a slight favourite for the blockbuster trans-Tasman showdown.
Gallen boasts the superior boxing pedigree having fought the likes of genuine heavyweight contender Justis Huni and KO’d former world title holder Lucas Browne, alongside a string of impressive victories over fellow footy legends including John Hopoate, Justin Hodges and Darcy Lussick.
Williams, on the other hand, at 39 is four years younger and boasts a massive height and reach advantage.
“It’s genuinely impossible to pick a winner,” Higgins said.
Those looking for clues could consider the pair’s results against the one opponent they have in common – legendary kickboxing and UFC knock out artist Mark Hunt.
It’s a metric where the gritty Gallen has the edge, having not just survived but out-pointed Hunt over six rounds, while Williams was stopped in four rounds after eating a thunderous trademark hook from Hunt in his lone professional boxing defeat.
A stacked undercard is headlined by Olympic medallist and two-time Commonwealth Games champion Nyika’s return to the ring for the first time following a brave but unsuccessful tilt at Jai Opetaia’s IBF world cruiserweight title.
“I’m ready,” said Nyika (10-1), who will face fellow Kiwi Nik ‘the Greek’ Charalampous six months after going toe-to-toe with Opetaia before being stopped in the fourth round of a brutal slugfest.
“My journey restarts here,” said Nyika.
“Fair play to Jai, he was the better fighter on the night. But true champions get back up again when they get knocked down – and I have no doubt I am going to be world champion.”
Nyika, though, is unlikely to have it all his own way against Charalampous (23-6-2), a cagey, highly-skilled veteran who is undefeated in his last four outings.
“I think Nyika is an overrated pretty boy.” Charalampous said.
“One of us went 10 rounds with Jai Opetaia, the other got stopped. I’m ready to go hard!”
The thrilling undercard also features emerging heavyweight talent Alex Leapai Jr [401]. The undefeated teenager is following in the footsteps of his father, Alex Leapai Sr – who famously challenged Wladimir Klitschko for the heavyweight world title in 2014.
In another all-action contest, former UFC light heavyweight contender Tyson Pedro will continue his promising fledgling boxing career when he defends his WBC International Bridgerweight title against Melbourne’s Kris Terzievski (1312).
Pedro has jumped straight in at the deep end in boxing after notching a 6-win 5-loss record in the UFC – with his first fight an impressive seventh-round stoppage of the then undefeated prospect Taimoor Khan.
All of that action – and more – will set the table for the long-awaited clash between Williams and Gallen.
“It’s finally time to find out who really is the better man,” said Higgins.
Tale of the tape
Sonny Bill Williams
Born: 3 August 1985 (age 39)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height 191 cm
Weight 108 kg
Record: 9-1 (4KO)
Former NZPBA heavyweight champion, two-time Rugby World Cup winner, Two-time NRL Premiership winner, Super Rugby champion, 2016 Olympian with the All Blacks Sevens team.
Paul Gallen
Born: 14 August 1981 (age 43)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 102 kg
Record 15-2-1 (8KO)
2016 NRL premiership winner with the Sharks, captain of NSW State of Origin team, Rugby League World Cup winner in 2013 with the Kangaroos, three-time Dally M lock of the year, sixth on NRL all-time appearance list (348 games)
Event details
SBW v Gallen
Featuring Nyika v Charalampous
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Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW
Wed 16 Jul 2025 7:30pm NZT
Watch live and exclusive in New Zealand on Pay-Per-View from Sky Arena and Sky Sport Now
