‘What a farce’: Australia stunned as Sonny Bill KOs Barry Hall in a flash

Sonny Bill Williams absolutely destroyed Barry Hall inside two minutes on Wednesday night in a performance that has likely ended the former AFL star’s boxing career.

Williams was a hurricane from the first bell and had knocked Hall down inside the first 45 seconds of the fight.

It was a slaughter right from the start when Williams landed a heavy left hook after just 15 seconds that had Hall falling back onto the ropes.

The 45-year-old never recovered.

Suddenly it was very easy to tell Williams was nine years younger and boasted an 11kg weight advantage.

There was some confusion with the referee appearing to wave the fight off as Hall got back to his feet the second time.

However, the bout was allowed to continue before Hall was knocked to the floor a third time.

Williams ended the contest with a searing right hook that collected Hall across the cheek. It was the second time the Swans premiership winner had been knocked down in the space of 15 seconds.

Mercifully, Hall was saved any further punishment when the fight was stopped at the 1:55 minute mark of the first round.

Ringside commentators, including Aussie boxing legend Danny Green, were left in awe of Williams’ thunderous return to boxing.

However, some fans thought the fight was a joke for finishing so soon.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield tweeted: “What a farce.”

NRL commentator Phil Gould wrote: “I’ve spent $50 on greyhound races that lasted longer than that fight.”

Asked on Twitter if the fight was a “farce”, former NRL reporter Chris Garry replied: “Absolutely.”

Hall apologised for his performance after the fight. “I’m really disappointed obviously because I put in a lot of work, as he did, but I know all the fans out there will be disappointed,” he said.

“I apologise. I apologise to my family because I feel like I’ve let everyone down.

“I was quite nervous today, which is rare for me. The Paul Gallen fight I wasn’t nervous at all, so it’s a bit out of character. Maybe just the hype, the build-up, I don’t know what it was. But I just wasn’t myself today.

“I congratulated him and manned up. He was the better man on the night.

“He hits hard and I got caught. What do you say? I’m going to go home to my beautiful family. I’m really disappointed and I’m not sure where the road leads.”

Williams called out ex-NSW Origin captain Paul Gallen after the fight and the pair spoke as the victor was walking out of the ring.

The scene has set up a dream showdown between the footy legends, more than 10 years after Gallen first challenged Williams.

When asked who he wants to fight next, Williams responded: “There’s talk of Gallen, so maybe Gallen.”

Green was stunned at the manner of Williams’ knockout win, saying during the fight: “He is annihilating Barry.

“That’s unbelievable. That was incredible from Sonny Bill Williams. He just smoked him. I’m just in shock.

“He didn’t miss. He was so accurate. I’m just so impressed with Sonny Bill. That was just a domination against a beast of a man in Barry Hall.”

Fellow commentator Andy Raymond said: “Sonny Bill Williams is the king.

“For Sonny Bill to drive straight through him like that, that’s a statement.”

There were some serious questions being asked of the Kiwi code-hopper after his less than spectacular return to boxing last year where he was knocked down by his unfancied opponent.

Now he has sent a message that he is back as a legitimate force in the ring.

There were also several classy moments after the fight, with Williams walking to Hall’s corner and embracing his opponent.

The ringside microphones heard the pair exchanging words of “nothing but respect”.

 

Story first published on Fox Sports Australia

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Fox Sports Australia