It is not surprising that Sonny Bill Williams was initially reluctant to fight Mark Hunt.
The ‘Super Samoan’ has made a career from knocking people out, with a well earned reputation as one of the hardest punchers on the planet.
But for Williams, it wasn’t just the fear of getting hurt that made him sceptical.
Sonny Bill Williams will face Mark Hunt in a titanic heavyweight clash on November 5. Watch live and exclusive on Stan Event
“I’m a proud Pacific Island man and fighting another Polynesian is kind of off limits, taboo,” Williams told Wide World of Sports ahead of the November 5 showdown.
“For me it’s a personal thing. I want to see my Pacific brothers achieve and go far and I get great satisfaction out of that.
“There’s too many detractors out there trying to pull their fellow brothers down.”
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But with Williams eager to stay ring-fit after his March demolition of Barry Hall, it took a fellow rugby player to talk him around.
“We were just chatting, talking about names,” Wallabies star Quade Cooper told WWOS.
“And I said ‘what about Mark Hunt? Both Samoans, great for your people to be able to give back. He’s a credible name and you need to stay active. Mark’s a great fighter.”
Williams was eventually sold and a date was set for the bout at the Aware Super Theatre at Sydney’s International Convention Centre.
“Quade planted that seed and I started looking at the good things that will come from it,” Williams said.
“If it sells well, which I think it will, it will be a good night for both of us – helping him and his family out as well. We have that mutual respect for each other and we’re both going to come in well prepared and looking to put on a show.”
Cooper, who has also juggled boxing with rugby, said MMA legend Hunt would deliver yet again despite his advancing years.
“Being in the ring with a high calibre name like Mark – some people will write him off but anybody who knows fight sports knows he’s one of the best to ever do it,” he said.
“Very dangerous and that’s the exciting thing about it. Sonny knows he has to be on his A-game to win the fight and not get knocked out.”
Williams has a 9-0 professional record and respected trainer Andy Lee was impressed enough to say he could one day fight for the heavyweight world title.
Williams was flattered by those comments but wasn’t in the mood to talk himself up.
“He has the resume to say outrageous things like that but I don’t at all. Andy’s a great man and we’re in regular contact. But I’m just a young pup in this game trying to be a better version of myself from my last fight.”
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Turf War: Sonny Bill Williams vs Barry Hall headlines big night of boxing at Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre
