The battle between two Samoan superstars has ended in a TKO win for MMA legend Mark Hunt forcing the multi-talented Sonny Bill Williams to register his first professional boxing loss.
“Sorry about that bro,” Mark Hunt says to Sonny Bill who is 11 years younger than him.
Williams went into the fight with a 9-0 record having last beaten Barry Hall in March, while Hunt’s last outing was a points decision loss to Paul Gallen in 2020.
There was no brotherly love in the ring as the 48-year-old UFC veteran pulled off an upset over the previously unbeaten Sonny Bill Williams.
The “Super Samoan” knocked SBW’s mouthguard out with a brutal right hand before dropping him with a couple of hooks in the fourth round.
“Sonny Bill is down,” commentator Andy Raymond said on Stan Sport.
“He’s hurt. Against the odds, Sonny Bill Williams has been dropped. His eyes are not clear.”
Williams survived the standing count but Hunt landed another powerful jab to his jaw while Williams had both hands against the ropes.
The referee had no choice but to stop the fight as the former rugby league and union star went down onto his knees.
In an interview after the match Hunt indicates he’ll be hanging up the gloves after this win.
“I’m smiling not because of the win, but I’m smiling because this is the last time I walked into a ring of combat of any sorts. My first thought after was ‘s*** I want to do that again!’, but no I won’t be back in the ring again..” Hunt said.
Hunt thanked everyone across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and he said it was sweet to retire in his adopted home of Australia.
Mark Hunt is known for his straight talk and humour and in the lead up to the event held at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, Hunt told media he was sitting on a couch eating cheesecake and pies when he got the call about the fight.
“I was putting on a little weight when I got the call. This gives me the chance to get back to being healthy again..”
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