Paul Gallen’s split decision victory over Sonny Bill Williams has raised questions about whether the rivalry has truly ended. Although split decisions typically invite rematches, Gallen has dismissed the idea of facing Williams again, stating that a sequel is highly unlikely.
Prior to their bout, both fighters engaged in heated exchanges aimed at boosting ticket sales, with Gallen vowing not to shake hands post-fight due to Williams’ conduct. However, following the match, Williams extended his hand, leading to a brief discussion, hinting at a possible coffee catch-up between the two.
Williams’ camp might push for a rematch, especially after he described the judges’ ruling as “criminal.” The fight’s scoring was contentious, with one judge favoured Gallen, another for Williams, and a third giving a narrow win to Gallen after he had a point deducted from Williams for persistent holding.
Boxing experts, including Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech, suggested that Williams should be seeking another bout, indicating he could have secured a win with a more aggressive strategy. Williams himself felt he won all the rounds and expressed his belief in his superiority during the match.
Fenech, while acknowledging Gallen’s victory, noted that a draw might have been a fair outcome due to the close nature of the contest. He remarked on Williams’ often conservative style, emphasising that he failed to utilise his size and strength effectively.
In contrast to his earlier performance against Barry Hall, where Williams displayed more aggression and intent, his approach with Gallen appeared overly cautious. Fenech speculated that Williams may have been trying to emulate another fighter’s style instead of leveraging his own physicality, which ultimately hindered him.
In discussing the fight dynamics, Fenech noted that Williams did not engage fully and left crucial elements of his strategy unutilised, suggesting he didn’t capitalise on Gallen’s vulnerabilities. The two-minute rounds, a setup Williams’ team advocated for, may have worked against him by limiting opportunities to maximise impact, whereas Gallen seemed fatigued and kept appearing more spent after the rounds.
While the fight has sparked much debate regarding tactics and decisions, the primary takeaway remains that Gallen has no interest in a rematch despite potential calls from Williams, leaving fans pondering the future of their rivalry.