Kiwi sporting superstar Sonny Bill Williams is ramping up his pursuit of a heavyweight boxing career, training with former WBO middleweight champ Andy Lee in Ireland.
Williams, 36, has an 8-0 record thus far in his career, and recently told SEN that he hopes to fight ten times in the next two years.
His next fight is against former AFL star Barry Hall, and the former Swan would be shocked to learn of Williams’ newest training partner.
Joining his close friend former WBO heavyweight title holder Joseph Parker, Williams was able to meet and train with boxing superstar and current lineal heavyweight champ Tyson Fury.
While Fury is the biggest name in boxing and one of the largest personalities in all of sport, Williams says that the Brit welcomed him with open arms as they hit the pads together.
“We did some body sparring, quite a bit of body sparring actually,” Williams said on SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“To be honest, he (Fury) is a gentleman, he’s a really, really good guy.
“He welcomed me in because he knows I’m close with Joseph Parker, he just welcomed me in like I was one of his close mates.
“I was in the inner sanctum and got to train alongside him and got to run.”
Although Fury is one of the most skilled heavyweights of all-time, Williams thinks it’s his mentality that sets him even further apart from his opponents.
“For me, the biggest take that I took from that experience was besides all his attributes that he has inside the boxing ring is his mentality,” Williams said.
“Mentality, I think that is his biggest strength.
“It was a great experience.”
Williams’ bout with Hall is set for March 23 in Sydney.
Image courtesy @SonnyBWilliams Twitter.
Straight off the ✈️ to the gym with these beasts, time to work & learn 🥊💯❤️ @Tyson_Fury @joeboxerparker pic.twitter.com/ENB8tk1H35
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) January 14, 2022