LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a dramatic twist ahead of their boxing match, Paul Gallen boycotted a press conference intended to promote his fight with Sonny Bill Williams, opting to publicly criticize Williams instead.
Gallen was scheduled to attend the press briefing at 11 am on Tuesday but announced his absence via Facebook half an hour prior.
His post stated, "Hey guys, right about now I'm supposed to be at the press conference for me versus Sonny Bill Williams, but clearly I'm not." Gallen explained that he decided not to participate as he believed the negotiations had always centered around Williams.
He mentioned their disagreements over fight conditions, noting, "I wanted to fight early in the year, Sonny wanted to fight later in the year because (early) didn't suit him." Gallen pointed out their differing preferences for the number of rounds and duration, culminating in a compromise of eight two-minute rounds.
"Everything is always about Sonny.
Sonny gets what Sonny wants," Gallen added, asserting that he didn't want to overshadow Williams at this moment.
Gallen proceeded to mockingly praise Williams, using sarcasm to highlight his own perceived limitations.
He insisted, "He's a big enough star to carry this fight all on his own.
I mean, all his other pay per view shows have been absolute blockbusters, haven't they? They've been good, haven't they Sonny? Big pay per view numbers you've done…you're an absolute superstar." He continued to downplay his own abilities, stating, "You're a better athlete.
You're a better boxer than me.
You're younger than me, you're fitter."
In this unusual pre-fight exchange, Gallen's tactics suggest a strategic effort to redirect attention and create a narrative that places Williams in the spotlight, allowing for potential engagement before their match.
The boxing bout, set for July, is highly anticipated, and this public back-and-forth is likely to escalate interest and intrigue surrounding the event.