Ahead of the Sonny Bill Williams v Barry Hall boxing clash on March 23 in Sydney, Wide World of Sports takes time out to speak to WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring lightweight title holder George 'Ferocious' Kambosos Jr., who says he is firmly in William's corner.
While SBW is confident that he is "ready to go" in the battle against Hall on Wednesday, Kambosos has a big announcement coming up. This interview has it all.
"You took the world by storm last year in Madison Square Garden," recalls Nine's Wide World of Sport host James Bracey, as he welcomes Kombosos to the show, "and you've got the belts to show for it."
"A big bout coming up for you later this year, which we're waiting for in anticipation and we'll find out more details soon.
"But you're part of the coverage on Stan for this guy's [Sonny Bill William's] fight with Barry on Friday night. Exciting times."
"Yes it is," answers Kambosos. "I'm very excited to watch the boys go at it. Sonny sacrificed a lot, went overseas and did whatever he could to make sure that there was no stone unturned and I love that."
"Obviousy Barry's going to come and bring it as well so it's going to be great. I'm looking forward to being by ringside."
"What George isn't saying,' laughs Williams, "is he's in my corner. He's actually coming and he's in my corner."
With a number of Kambosos's recent world title belts spread out across the panel desk, Bracey asks Kombosos about 'The Ring Magazine Award' Lightweight Championship Belt, an award given by 'The Ring' editors each year to the boxer who has the potential to become a future star in the sport as based upon the magazine's writers' criteria.
"Can you explain this belt, George?" Bracey asks Kambosos. "Why did you get this one?"
"That's 'The Ring Magazine' lineal champion," Kambosos says. "You're top of the vision. The Number 1 guy. No matter what anyone says you are the Number 1, so it's a great honour to bring all of these beautiful belts back here to Australia. It's been a long, hard road, but we did it.
"Now we defend.
"So the announcement is coming. It's very close and I can't wait to defend it in front of my people this time," says Kambosos referring to his next fight to defend his world titles on home turf in Australia.
"It's a great story," says former Rooster Premiership winner Williams, of Kambosos' rise to championship glory. "Maybe ten years ago we fought on the same card. Kambosos was in the gym - he was only a young fellow - and he was grinding."
"He was a ferocious George back then and obviously he's ferocious now. Obviously I'm really proud to see where he's come and what he's done.
"It's awesome for our community and for our kids to see that with hard work and ethic and dedication and persistence you can get these bad boys," says Williams, referring to Kambosos's title belts.
But how is Sonny Bill Williams' form? Is he ready to go toe-to-toe against Hall on Wednesday night?
"I wish the fight was tonight," says Williams. "The hard work's been done. I just want to get in there."
"I'm looking forward to going out there and showing my improved boxing skills.
Footy-stars-turned-boxers Sonny Bill Williams and Barry Hall will face off at the Aware Super Theatre, International Convention Centre in Sydney with the Exclusive to Stan Event streamed live on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
Australian undisputed lightweight boxing champion George Kambosos Jr. will defend his three world title belts at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on June 5, 2022.
Read also George Kambosos Has Done It - Undisputed New Lightweight Champion of the World