The previously 9-0 Williams had controlled the first, second, and third rounds of their heavyweight clash at Sydney's Aware Super Theatre.<\/p>\n
Re-watch the explosive Sonny Bill Williams vs Mark Hunt heavyweight clash, ad free<\/strong><\/em>and exclusive on Stan<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n He'd moved freely and landed plenty of punches, many that looked like they might level the 'Super Samoan' early on.<\/p>\n In the third, Williams landed a series of punches to the head \u2013 but in the fourth, the floodgates opened for Hunt.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite cries from his corner to move and dance, Williams stood still and Hunt swung hard at his head and landed a right hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n HOW IT UNFOLDED:<\/strong> 'Shocking defence' costs Wallabies famous win<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Sonny Bill stunned by 48-year-old fighting great<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Final over thriller seals Australia's World Cup fate<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n With a little under two minutes to go, Hunt knocked Williams' mouthguard out and landed a sequence that dropped the two-time Rugby World Cup winner to the canvas.<\/p>\n Then the knock-out blows came, leaving Williams to stagger around the ring in a daze before falling to one knee.<\/p>\n "I tried to get into the Samoan slanging match and that's what happened \u2013 got knocked out," said Williams, who lamented going away from his game plan.<\/p>\n "As hard as it is to accept, as hurt as I am for my supporters, I'm almost a little bit embarrassed.<\/p>\n "I've just got to keep sticking to what I stand for and it's always Alhamdulillah, I always thank God for what I have.<\/p>\n "I'm able to go home to my kids and my beautiful wife. It's just disappointing."<\/p>\n That game plan was to keep moving, use his reach, keep him at a distance, and fatigue Hunt.<\/p>\n In the end, Williams admitted he got sucked in and ultimately allowed Hunt to do what he does best.<\/p>\n "I felt like I was keeping my range, boxing smart, then I just got too excited," said Williams.<\/p>\n "I felt like there were some openings there and got carried away. Then he caught me with an overhand right. It's just the experience of the fella.\u00a0<\/p>\n "He's just a crafty guy. I rocked him, I punched him with some beauties. Then that's what I got excited about and tried to go forward, then boom \u2013 rattled me.\u00a0<\/p>\n "He's an old fox. Tough chin. I just got too excited."<\/p>\n What's next for Williams is yet to be determined.<\/p>\n Following Saturday's fight, he admitted that his career as an athlete could be up.<\/a><\/p>\n Prior to the fight, Williams had left the door open for a long-awaited Paul Gallen match-up that seems doomed to be a what-if.<\/p>\n \ufeffFor a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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