Barry Hall respects Sonny Bill Williams as an athlete, as a man and is extremely wary of his punching power and quality jab.
But the AFL champion has identified what he believes is a glaring weakness as they prepare to trade blows at Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre tonight.
“I think he’s got power – I think his chin is something that’s suspect,” Hall told Wide World of Sports ahead of his second fight as a professional.
TURF WAR: Sonny Bill Williams vs Barry Hall, live and exclusive on Stan Event, March 23. Purchase the event now at stan.com.au/event
“So that’s why I’ve been working on power so much – I just need one shot. I’ll be patient because I just need one shot.
“He’s hopped up before and fought on, I realise that, but we need to touch him.”
Hall is a former Victorian junior champion and his only pro fight was a controversial 2019 draw against Paul Gallen.
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He is confident in his own chin after being “put through the wringer” by hungry sparring partners.
“They say in the boxing game, you train hard and fight easy and that’s what happens. You’ve got fresh guys coming in each round and they put it on you because unfortunately you’re a name and they want that scalp, even if it’s sparring,” he said.
“It’s just how it is.”
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Hall also admitted he was far more nervous about the fight than he was before a big AFL final at the MCG.
“It’s way different. Footy, I knew I was good at it and you do it every week,” Hall said.
“Depending on how you’re feeling going in, you’re not nervous because you know you’re at a certain level. Boxing, I’ve had one fight and there’s still the unknown and you don’t do it every week.
“So it’s pretty hard to get used to. So a little bit more anxious doing this but that’s fine, that’s good, I’m excited about it.”
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