It’s the fight his family and friends urged him not to take, but Paul Gallen is confident he will emerge victorious – and unscathed – from his eagerly awaited showdown with arch-rival Sonny Bill Williams.
After trading insults for what seems like an eternity, Gallen and Williams will settle their famous feud once and for all at Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday, July 16, in a heavyweight bout that will earn the former footballers about $1 million each and will be shown live and exclusively on Stan.
If Gallen had his way, the fight would have already taken place, preferably in Las Vegas earlier this year, to coincide with the NRL double-header.
Instead, he will enter the ring at the age of 43, more than two years since his last professional stoush, and is determined to silence his 39-year-old opponent before hanging up the gloves for good.
“It’s the end regardless,” Gallen said. “My family and those close to me didn’t want me to do this fight.
“Everyone has a negative mindset: ‘What if you lose? What if you lose?’ I said: ‘What if I win? What if I win?’ What changes in my life? Nothing’s going to change if I win. Nothing’s going to change if I lose.
“I’ve still got my family. I’ve got a very close-knit circle of friends. They’ll still be my friends. I’m preparing to win, and I think I will win.
“I’m going to win. But at the end of the day, winning or losing this fight doesn’t change my life.”
A fearless warrior during 348 NRL games, 24 State of Origins, 32 Tests and 18 professional fights, Gallen acknowledges the risks of his chosen professions, in particular the long-term consequences of concussions.
Paul Gallen takes time out during a training session at Cronulla on Monday.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
But it is a risk he remains willing to take, one last time.
“It would be silly and naive not to think about it [concussion],” he said. “But I’ve had all my tests done. I had them done after my last fight in late ’22.
“I was told I was in a good space. There were no issues, no marks on my brain or anything like that as far as the scans go.
“I’m doing everything that I can. I stopped drinking the last couple of years. I had a bit of a drink in Vegas, but all last year I didn’t drink.
“I haven’t drank this year. I know we talk about concussion, but I still think lifestyle has a bit to do with certain players having issues when they retire.
“Alcohol has got something to do with that, I think. It’s a concern, but I’m here.”
Paul Gallen works on his ring craft.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
Win, lose or draw, Gallen insists it will be the end of his career as a professional athlete, which kicked off in 2001 when he made his debut in the NRL with Cronulla at the age of 19.
He admits to being unsure what will fill the void to help sate his appetite for competition.
“That’s a good question,” he said. “It’s a thought that has crossed my mind lots of times. I can’t give you the answer.
Sonny Billi Williams will be Gallen’s final opponent.Credit: Thomas Wielecki
“I hate golf. I’ve got a few things outside of football that I enjoy doing. I’ve built a couple of properties over the last few years. That’s been a bit of fun to take my time up.
“It’s something I’ve got to work at. I don’t know what it will be, but I’ll find something.
“I’ve got four kids. That keeps me busy.
“I’m lucky I’ve got a good circle of people around me. Two or three guys love training every day as well. I think that’s a part of it, just challenging yourself day in, day out. I think that’s about all I can do.”
All of which can wait for another few weeks, as Gallen homes in on a victory against SBW, who he described as “an amazing athlete” but not a person he respected. The feeling is clearly mutual.
“ I don’t like him … we don’t get along,” Gallen said.
“We never have got on. That’s what makes the world go round – not everyone likes everyone. That’s just the way the world is.”
That sentiment won’t make any difference once the bell rings on July 16.
“I’m not going to be in there wanting to punch him any harder than I want to punch anyone else,” Gallen said. “It’s going to be a great win. I know I can win.
“So the personal feud between me and him, it’s got no influence over me, to be honest. He’s just an object in front of me I’ve got to beat. That’s it.”
SBW v Gallen showdown streaming live and exclusive on Stan pay-per-view.
Order the SBW v Gallen pay-per-view | live and on demand Wednesday 16 July. After a decade of bad blood, the Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen grudge match is on.
