NSW captain Paul Gallen has moved one step closer to a dream match up with code-hopping superstar Sonny Bill Williams after scoring a fourth-round TKO win over Herman Ene-Purcell in Toowoomba on Friday.
"Ever since my first charity fight a few years ago, it's been spoken about," Gallen said.
"I've got great respect for Sonny. I would never go out there and disrespect him or call him out, but it's been spoken about by a lot of people for a long, long time now and there is history between us.
"10-15 years of playing rugby league against each other, it's a fight everyone wants to see so hopefully it can happen in the next year or so."
Gallen scored a crushing won over Ene-Purcell with arguably his most polished performance in the boxing ring.
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The bout ended two minutes into the fourth round after Ene-Purcell's corner threw in the towel.
The Cronulla Sharks star controlled the contest from the opening bell landing the crisper punches, including a controversial knock down in round two when it appeared Ene-Purcell slipped as opposed to being felled by a punch.
"I felt in control in there, Gallen said.
"I always thought if I fought anywhere near the way I had trained I would win quite convincingly and that's what happened.
"He was dangerous all the way, even when I had him there at the end he let one go and I could still feel the power behind it.
"He can punch and he's a tough guy. I can't say he hurt me to any great degree, he got me with one good body shot, that did hurt me but other than that I felt pretty comfortable.
"I thought I picked my shots well and landed a large percentage of them."
Gallen plans on fighting again later in the year but for now his attention will turn back to rugby league.
"I'm going straight back to footy training possibly tomorrow (Saturday) or Monday and I'm looking forward to that."
While Herman Ene-Purcell was disappointed with the outcome he paid credit to the Blues skipper.
"No excuses this time, he was the better man on the night," Ene-Purcell said.
"The better man won and I take my hat off to him."
