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Rugby league and boxing are two of the toughest, arguably the two toughest sports in the world. Win, lose or draw, it takes a lot of guts to do either sport at any level.
Plenty of NRL players have stepped into the boxing ring for cross-training or unofficial charity fight nights, while a few have taken the plunge into the pro boxing ranks.
Some boxing purists criticise those that do. They argue that NRL players are usually fairly average boxers who detract from the sport, gaining undeserved publicity over other genuinely talented boxers who get very little media exposure. There is also a criticism that footballers generally ‘cherry-pick’ their boxing opponents.
Both of those arguments are true to some extent. But there are also plenty of average pro boxers out there as well, and many boxers of all ability levels also ‘cherry-pick’ their opponents. This often happens early in their careers, especially if they plan to have a long career. You can’t have a war every time you fight and expect to stay healthy.
As long as they pick the right match-up, there is a place in pro boxing for NRL players who want to have a go. They provide publicity for boxing as a sport. And with the right opponent, their fights can be entertaining, just like any boxing match can be.
They can also be ordinary to watch, just like it would be if stars in other sports tried their hand at rugby league. There is nowhere to hide in an individual sport like boxing, unlike team sports. Everything a boxer does is magnified.
Below is a list of relatively recent NRL players to have taken the plunge, along with their pro boxing record.
Anthony Mundine (47-7)
He has easily been the most successful of them all, and he had a great boxing pedigree with his father being the legendary Tony Mundine (80-15-1). Of course, Anthony has the re-match with Danny Green coming up in February, even though both are past their prime.
Solomon Haumono (24-3-2)
He has been successful, though lost to rising New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker in his last bout earlier this year.
Billy Johnstone (21-6)
The former Canterbury, St George and Gold Coast hooker turned strength and conditioning guru was a pioneer who successfully combined the two sports in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Joey Williams (12-3-1)
The former Canterbury halfback has compiled a creditable record.
John Hopoate (12-5)
He won the Australian heavyweight title just two years after stepping into the pro ranks.
Monty Betham Jr (8-1)
The former New Zealand Warriors captain also has a good boxing pedigree, being the son of Monty Betham Sr (43-10). He has also compiled a creditable record.
Sonny Bill Williams (7-0)
Once he recovers from his Achilles tendon injury, expect the calls for a match-up with Paul Gallen to get louder and louder.
Jason Williams (6-2)
The former Canberra prop – not to be confused with his namesake winger who played Test football for New Zealand in the early 1990s – had some success.
Paul Gallen (5-0)
Instead of having a relaxing off-season celebrating Cronulla’s first premiership victory, he is in training for his sixth pro fight next month.
Other NRL players have been less successful – Carl Webb (0-1), Paul Whatuira (0-1), Blake Ferguson (0-1), Lance Thompson (2-1) and Anthony Watts (1-1).
Whether they have been successful or not, hats off to all of these current and former NRL players for having the guts to step in the boxing ring.
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