Tyson Fury 's training partner and former rugby star Sonny Bill Williams was headbutted by his opponent during their face-off.
Williams will fight Barry Hall tonight and the former Australian rules footballer made sure he landed the first blow before the pair even stepped in the ring. Whilst facing off after their weigh-in, Hall ducked under Williams and pushed him back with his head.
Bystanders quickly separated the rivals to prevent tempers from boiling over. The pair then faced off for a second time and tentatively shook hands before Williams pushed Hall away from him.
Williams had been training with WBC heavyweight champion Fury in Morecambe along with the New Zealander's countryman Joseph Parker ahead of his fight. But Hall played down the effect that Fury and Parker will have on Williams when he steps into the ring.
“The press conference yesterday, there was an illustrious line-up [alongside Williams]," he said. "All the names written down, I had two people with me. There’s a lot of people that don’t want me to win this fight, I understand that. There’s a lot of money lost if he loses, I understand that also. That’s why I need to win by knockout and why I’m going to.”
Fury sent his training partner a message before his fight, stating: "Wish Sonny all the best, do the business. Come on Sonny, get it done son! Good luck boys, see you when you get back."
Williams is undefeated in eight professional fights and his trainer Andy Lee thinks the 36-year-old could even fight for a heavyweight world title in the future. His fight against Waikato Falefehi last year marked Williams' first bout in seven years.
After beginning his career in rugby league, Williams moved to rugby union in 2010. He is widely considered one of the best rugby players of all time, winning the 2011 and 2015 World Cups before retiring from the sport last year.
Who wins on Wednesday - Sonny Bill Williams or Barry Hall? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below
His opponent Hall is no stranger to controversy as the 45-year-old was known for his aggression on the field during his football career which earned him the nickname of "wild man". Hall has only fought once in the ring before, drawing with Paul Gallen in 2019.
A fight between Williams and Gallen has been highly sought, something that Williams is aware of. He plans to dedicate himself to boxing for the next two years, but wants to focus on his fight with Hall before exploring a fight with Gallen.
“The plan is to do this for 24 months and see where it takes me,” Williams told Nine News Gallen. "I know what your next question will be - is Paul Gallen a part of that? And definitely. We’ll have to see how Wednesday night goes, and after a great victory then we’ll work on what’s next."
