Mark Hunt has recounted the comical moment Sonny Bill Williams’ manager Khoder Nasser made the call to set up a landmark fight between the two boxing tyrants.
The pair are set to go head-to-head at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena for an eight-round match-up on November 5.
It will be Williams’ first fight since his knock-out win over Barry Hall earlier this year and Hunt’s first since his loss to Paul Gallen in 2020.
SBW vs Hunt pay-per-view on November 5 will be available for any Stan customer to purchase on Stan Event. New customers can sign up for a 30 day free trial and purchase the fight
Speaking during Thursday’s announcement, Hunt drew a chuckle from the audience after he revealed he’d been taking it easy since his last outing.
“To be honest, I was just sitting on my couch eating cheesecakes and pies and I was just putting on a lot of weight,” said Hunt.
“Then when I got a call from Khoder about it I was like; it gives me a chance to get back to being healthy again.
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“All respect to Sonny, he’s no slouch. I admired him for all his accomplishments in sports that he does, especially being a fighter now.
“He’s jumped into the boxing already. I already fought with Gallen who won that fight, so I give him respect, but I did ring that f—–‘s bell, to be honest.
“He wants my name, he’s got to earn it. Like I said, full respect. I’m getting on in age these days but I still love competing and I’ve always been a fighter at heart.”
The fight – available for Stan customers to purchase on Stan Event – sees Williams go in undefeated with a 10-0 record.
The former Kiwis and All Blacks representative hailed the fight between the two Samoan men one to watch in the knowledge that either could deal a knock-out punch.
“My demeanour has changed a lot over the years – I’ve got a bit of a wild streak in me too,” said Williams.
“We can sit out here and do all this trash talking, but at the end of the day I feel like this fight is special because people actually know that he can knock me out.
“Off my last performance, I’d like to think I can do the same too. I’m just excited.”
Hunt said he can’t read much into the fight between Williams and Hall after the latter was knocked out early.
However, the Auckland-born Sydneysider said he can’t discount the time Williams has spent with champion fighters Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker.
“It wasn’t much of a performance, he just rung his bell, just knocked him out, was out cold,” said Hunt of Williams’ fight with Hall.
“It wasn’t much of a fight. Just goes to show how much of a good skillset Sonny has.
“Hanging out with Tyson and Joe, it doesn’t get better than that. A couple of world class fighters.”
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