Sonny Bill Williams to headline charity fight night

Sonny Bill Williams

LIVE COVERAGE: FOOTY SHOW FIGHT NIGHTLIVE COVERAGE: NRL Auckland Nines 

Williams is undefeated in six fights and hasn’t stepped into the ring since February 2013 but says he’s fully prepared for the 31-year-old Welliver in a rare free-to-air boxing event to be broadcast on Gem courtesy of the Footy Show.

Welliver is no slouch with 55 wins, ten losses, five draws and 22 wins by knock-out but is coming off losses to undefeated Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne and Russian slugger Alexander Ustinov.

The star-studded event will see Quade Cooper step into the ring for his third professional bout while NSW Origin captain Paul Gallen and All Black loose-forward Liam Messam are also on the undercard.

Roosters Under-20s star Willis Meehan, who has been likened to SBW in the ring and on the field, will also feature on the undercard.

Opponents for Cooper, Gallen, Messam and Meehan are still being finalised, with Williams keen to talk up the free-to-air component of the event.

“It was awesome Channel Nine had the foresight to do something like this,” he said.

“Obviously with fight nights in New Zealand going so well, hopefully we can bring it back here and I believe on a much bigger scale.

“It’s so awesome to be a part of and the charity component hopefully gives it that blessing and we can raise a bit of money.”

Retired Sharks and Tigers winger Beau Ryan hosted the announcement on behalf of Channel Nine and said all the Footy Show regulars would appear.

“There will be myself, the Big Marn, Fatty and we’ll also have some of the best boxers in Australian history in Danny Green, Anthony Mundine and Jeff Fenech giving expert analysis,” he said.

“While there’s going to be banter and laughs, there’s going to be a charity component which we’re still getting together.

“We’ve got one of my favourite All Blacks, behind Sonny Bill, in Liam Messam and we’ve got Paul Gallen, my accomplice – I won’t say friend because he doesn’t call me anymore.”

Anyone for Gallen v Ryan?

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