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'He'll fight again': Sonny Bill Williams keen to fight alongside Quade Cooper

Quade Cooper and Sonny Bill Williams share a laugh at the 2016 Sydney Sevens. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

All Blacks great Sonny Bill Williams says he would “love” to fight alongside Wallabies star Quade Cooper as part of a headline boxing card.

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Williams, the two-time World Cup winner who played 58 tests for the All Blacks between 2010 and 2019, is set to fight ex-AFL bad boy Barry Hall in Sydney on Wednesday in what will be his second fight since returning to boxing last June.

It was then when the 36-year-old triple-code star ended his six-year hiatus from the ring with an unanimous decision victory over Australian fighter Waikato Falefehi in Townsville.

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Now the two-time NRL title-winner and former New Zealand heavyweight champion is looking to maintain his perfect 8-0 record with another win against Hall in the New South Wales capital.

Following on from his next bout, Williams is eager to extend his boxing career by another two years as enters the final chapter of his glittering sporting career.

“The plan is to do this for 24 months and see where it takes me,” Williams told Channel Nine days earlier this week.

Over the course those two years, Williams could find himself sharing a card with Cooper, the veteran first-five who returned from test rugby wilderness to star for the Wallabies last year.

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It had been four years since Cooper last played for Australia, but the 33-year-old guided the Wallabies to five straight victories, including back-to-back wins over the Springboks, before returning to the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in Japan.

Cooper’s performances have put him at the centre of Australia’s plans for next year’s World Cup in France, but it may be that he follows Williams back into boxing after that tournament.

Cooper has previously dabbled as a fighter, holding an unbeaten record across three professional fights held between 2013 and 2017.

The New Zealand-born playmaker made his boxing debut on the undercard of Williams’ bout against South African fighter Francois Botha eight years ago.

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Cooper was also supposed to fight on the undercard of Williams’ bout with American boxer Chauncy Welliver in 2015, but later withdrew.

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The prospect of Williams and Cooper teaming up on another boxing card isn’t out of the question, though, as the former told the Sydney Morning Herald in the lead-up to his fight with Hall that he believes his long-time friend isn’t done with boxing just yet.

“We’re always in contact. I’d love to have him here, and he loves boxing. I’d say once his next contract is up, he’ll fight again,” Williams, who retired from rugby union and rugby league last March, said.

“I reckon if the pandemic folded the [Japanese rugby] competition – there was some talk about that – I dare say he would be right here, right now, looking at a fighting career for himself.”

Cooper’s potential return to the ring could coincide with a highly-anticipated bout between Williams and rugby league legend Paul Gallen.

Williams and Gallen, the former NRL title-winning Cronulla Sharks captain, have long been linked with a big-money fight against each other, with Gallen having forged an impressive 12-1-1 professional boxing career since 2014.

Among those Gallen has fought includes Hall (who he drew with in 2019), former WBA heavyweight champion Lucas Browne (who he beat with a first round knockout last April) and ex-UFC star Mark Hunt (who he beat via unanimous decision in 2020).

He and Williams are yet to share a ring together, though, but the latter indicated that he wants that to change over the coming years.

“I know your next question will be, ‘Is Paul Gallen part of it [his two-year boxing plan]?'” Williams – who trained alongside WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in preparation for his fight against Hall – told Channel Nine.

“Definitely, but we’ll have to see how Wednesday night goes and, after a great victory, then we’ll work on what’s next.”

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H
Hellhound 33 minutes ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

I mean overall talent, not that they will all play 20 years. That is impossible with rugby. The younger players like Elrigh is of course not world class yet. With more experience they will become world class. They are already exceptional players. Not even Eben and the current boys was world class when they started. They were exceptional yes, but not world class. Only experience brings that.


Generational players is very few and far inbetween who is world class from the off. The younger players can only become world class with the proper training and experience isn't something that can be bought. It's something they have to earn through their careers.


As for SRP being a good competition, I disagree. It's slanted in NZ favour and always has been. It's not what it used to be. The URC is now rated as the top club competition in the world next to the top 14 outside of the CC, and I didn't make up that rankings. You feel SRP is better because of our bias towards the NH, but it simply is not.


Yes, I don't know all the young Bucs of NZ coming through, but most of those you named I've seen and they are very good players but not exceptional nor world class. Just as with SA youngsters, that is something that will come with experience and they will become world class and is definitely the future for them.


NZ and Australia don't have the player pool depth that SA have. NZ's are bigger than most, but then most of their stars came from the Island nations like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. If you count them, then maybe yes, they have as big a pool.


NZ will always be a top 3 team, as will SA. At least for the next 2 decades. That doesn't mean that other countries don't have some world class youngsters coming through either.


I don't claim that SA will win everything for the next 20 years. Nor that they will win the next 5 WC's. A lot depends on players, coaches, law changes and how the game keeps changing. There is too much variables. SA do have a bright future for the next 20 years , players who will hold the flag high. Same with NZ.


Nothing and no one can stop the Rivalry. I know the Irish is trying to replace the Boks with themselves as the main rivals. Everyone tunes in to watch the Boks vs AB's, all over the world. Every year. That is the most anticipated Tests by everyone every year.

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