Side Shannon, the late-night Sydney boxing match between Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams. Being the main event of an explosive card, the match took place at the Qudos Bank Arena.
The televised coverage started around 8:00 in the evening AEDT, and the undercard bouts kept the excitement growing. The fans stayed up late for the event, because the Gallen vs. SBW fight entered just after 12:30 A.M.
The packed venue and millions of pay-per-view viewers made it another big catch for Australia in a recent sporting crossover spectacle.
How did the opening rounds unfold?
Early on, Sonny Bill Williams was looking sharp with speed and ring awareness. He staggered Gallen with stiff jabs to keep distance from the ex-NRL enforcer. Williams made good use of his height and reach in the first three rounds.
A couple of stiff uppercuts, some never, my sweetheart Gallenraiser during the second-round lull in spirits. Williams was the early rounds’ winner in most eyes, seemingly in full control. Gallen, known for stamina, took the hits and pressed forward. He was looking out for an opportunity to flip the momentum in his favour.
Did Gallen’s pressure shift the fight?
He put in some pressure during the fourth round and attacked the body. He started cutting off the ring through which Williams would be forced towards the corners. The turning point came when a slower pace meant that Gallen’s experience and gritty nature could prevail.
In round five, the tide began or continued to turn against Williams as Gallen started landing heavy left hooks. He also started clinching Williams more frequently, frustrating him somewhat.
Williams’ footwork started to falter, giving Gallen the better control of the centre. This phase ultimately proved crucial in asserting the momentum in Gallen’s favour.
Was there a controversial moment?
Yes, the controversy started in round seven. Williams was docked a point for excessive holding after several warnings from the referee. The crowd exploded in disbelief, having thought that the call was unfair. This deduction may have sealed the scoring on a knife-edge.
Williams looked jittery after the decision and almost visibly frustrated. He started flailing about, landing nothing. Meanwhile, He kept his cool and worked smartly on the inside. Many observers said later that the calling of that point was the turning point of the fight.
How did the judges score Gallen vs Williams?
After eight intensive rounds, the judges rendered a split decision. Two judges awarded the bout to Gallen, while one was against it for Williams. Official scores were 77-74, 74-77, and 76-75 to favour Gallen. It was extremely close, both fighters knowing that they had done enough.
He walked away with his fingers raised high in triumph at the very last bell. Williams, on the other hand, seemed considerably in doubt as he paced around, awaiting the verdict.
Upon announcement, SWB left hurriedly, foregoing any sort of interview and leaving the fans in shock. It created a huge debate in the social media sphere and the boxing world alike.
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Will there be a rematch between SBW and Gallen?
He happily said yes to the idea.”Gonna have to take that coffee Sonny was offering earlier,” Gallen quipped in the post-fight speech.
He also complimented the calibre of his very tough opponent, noting Williams’ excellent fitness and skills. Williams initially remained silent, though his camp expressed disappointment.
Due to the controversy of the ending, a rematch would surely generate a tremendous amount of interest. Both men are still considered big sporting personalities within Australia.
And for the moment, the search keyword “gallen vs sbw time” is trending across the sports platforms. The fight may not have settled the rivalry—it may have only just begun.
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Final Thoughts
The SBW fight was marketed as a super clash of codes. In the finale, Gallen vs Williams served drama, tension, and controversy.
He was working his body shots, which included a point deduction for his opponent, or maybe it came from sheer will. For Gallen, it was redemption and arguably the defining moment in his career.
For Williams, the bitter result was unlike something one would expect after such a promising start. Now, fans argue not who won but if we’ll get to see everything one more time. Should we get a rematch, the SBW v Gallen saga will be that much further ingrained in Australian sporting history.
