It's all on! Die
Darren Walton, NZ Newswire
December 19, 2014, 2:18 pm
Sonny Bill Williams and Quade Cooper will headline the action at the inaugural Footy Show Fight Night in Sydney next month.
Fellow football stars Paul Gallen and All Blacks forward Liam Messam, along with rising Australian boxer Willis Meehan, will also feature in the January 31 event at Allphones Arena.
Unbeaten in six heavyweight bouts, Williams will take on American Chauncy Welliver, a vastly experienced competitor who has won 55 of his 70 professional fights.
It will be the dual international's first fight since beating South African Frans Botha in a controversial 10-round encounter in February last year.
Organisers have yet to finalise an opponent for cruiserweight Cooper, who is undefeated in his two fights.
The Queensland Reds playmaker enjoyed a sparring session with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika on Australia's spring tour last month and said he was grateful for the ARU's approval to fight during the off-season.
"Just a few rounds on one of the captain's runs," Cooper said.
"I looked at it as a different way to do some fitness. I was going to look at finding a gym and do some boxing anyway and Cheika just hit me up and said he'll go buy some gloves."
Williams said he also sounded All Blacks coach Steve Hansen before committing to a seventh professional bout.
"The major concern for myself was getting his approval," Williams said.
"He said that as long as I don't get knocked out, he's happy with it.
"So hopefully that's the plan."
Darren Walton, NZ Newswire
December 19, 2014, 2:18 pm
Sonny Bill Williams and Quade Cooper will headline the action at the inaugural Footy Show Fight Night in Sydney next month.
Fellow football stars Paul Gallen and All Blacks forward Liam Messam, along with rising Australian boxer Willis Meehan, will also feature in the January 31 event at Allphones Arena.
Unbeaten in six heavyweight bouts, Williams will take on American Chauncy Welliver, a vastly experienced competitor who has won 55 of his 70 professional fights.
It will be the dual international's first fight since beating South African Frans Botha in a controversial 10-round encounter in February last year.
Organisers have yet to finalise an opponent for cruiserweight Cooper, who is undefeated in his two fights.
The Queensland Reds playmaker enjoyed a sparring session with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika on Australia's spring tour last month and said he was grateful for the ARU's approval to fight during the off-season.
"Just a few rounds on one of the captain's runs," Cooper said.
"I looked at it as a different way to do some fitness. I was going to look at finding a gym and do some boxing anyway and Cheika just hit me up and said he'll go buy some gloves."
Williams said he also sounded All Blacks coach Steve Hansen before committing to a seventh professional bout.
"The major concern for myself was getting his approval," Williams said.
"He said that as long as I don't get knocked out, he's happy with it.
"So hopefully that's the plan."