By SHAYNE BUGDEN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
Updated: 07:09 EDT, 16 July 2025
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Follow Daily Mail Australia’s live blog for round-by-round updates and all the latest reaction as two heavyweights of the footy world finally throw down in the ring
Terzievski fought hurt
He’s just revealed he had a torn tendon in his rotator cuff – an awful injury for a fighter – and a problem with breathing through his nose, but refused to back out of the bout.
Terzievski calls Pilcher, who was 10-1 going into the fight, a tough test. He passed it with an A+, and says he wants to be talked about like Tim Tszyu and Jai Opetaia.
Outstanding win to the bridgerweight champ
Pilcher was brave and committed, but the gulf in class was obvious from the tail end of round one, and that gulf just kept growing.
The fact Gallen went the distance with Terzievski has been put into impressive perspective by that fight. He doesn’t have stunning power but his combinations are gold-class, with accuracy, timing and technique in buckets.
Round 6: Kris Terzievski vs Troy Pilcher – TKO win to Terzievski!
Pilcher is down again after 28 seconds – a left-right hook that absolutely rocks him.
He’s up at the count of seven and is wobbly. Luckily for him, his mouthguard comes out and he gets valuable time to recover.
Big overhand left, then a left to the body. Terzieveski rocks him again, smashing him into the corner and to the canvas, and the ref waves it off.
Terzievski by KO – what a performance.
Round 5: Kris Terzievski vs Troy Pilcher
Terzievski slips and hits the canvas to start this, it’s correctly not called a knockdown. He gets up and another of those lefts, this one a looping shot with more power than the previous blows.
And Pilcher is down from a left rip to the liver! Those are absolute killers, very painful with a lingering effect.
Kris lands a hard right hook after Pilcher gets up. He’s carrying his right elbow lower to protect his liver – leaving him open for the left hook to the jaw.
Another shot hurts Pilcher, who is complaining to the ref in the clinch – a very bad sign.
Another left to the body from Terzievski, who laughs at Pilcher as the bell rings.
10-8 to Terzievski. He is a class above.
Round 4: Kris Terzievski vs Troy Pilcher
The left is landing almost at will for Terzievski, this tim to the body. Pilcher’s right glances off the gloves and he cannot figure out his rival’s style, offensively or defensively.
Terzievski makes Pilcher miss with ease. He’s got the range down to perfection, lands another left to the jaw.
Pilcher’s combos look pedestrian and they’re getting dealt with easily, either by Terzievski skipping out of range, guarding up or slipping the shots.
Another left for Kris. And another. Pilcher cannot see them coming. He’s tough and the punches aren’t knockout stuff, so it remains to be seen if Terzievski can stop him.
Another 10-9 to Terzievski.
Round 3: Kris Terzievski vs Troy Pilcher
Left counter to the jaw from Terzievski after Pilcher once again fails to find his range. His rival is dancing out of the way easily as he comes forward.
Left-right from Terzievski gets through and Pilcher is starting to look frustrated. With good reason – he’s making next to no impact here.
Lovely left lead from Terzievski, then another. They’re not hard but they are accurate as hell and preventing Pilcher from setting up for his power shots.
Pilcher drops his hands and throws, to little effect. He cops another left lead.
Clear-cut 10-9 to Terzievski.
Round 2: Kris Terzievski vs Troy Pilcher
The straight left to the body again from Terzievski. Pilcher gets off a lead right but it’s slow, and Terzievski lands a solid shot to the head.
Another left to the jaw lands on Pilcher, who’s having trouble figuring out his man. Terzievski on the other hand is in a good rhythm.
Pilcher gets through with a right to the body, then complains about a shot to the side of the head – but there was nothing wrong with that. He throws Terzievski to the canvas and gets a talking to from the ref.
Pilcher tries a one-one-two combo but isn’t in range, then gets hit with two sweet shots for his trouble.
Terzievski is in control and has a good game plan, although Pilcher stepped it up that round.
It’s 10-9 to Terzievski again.
Round 1: Kris Terzievski vs Troy Pilcher
Terzievski, a southpaw, goes to the body with the lead left to kick us off. Pilcher is playing a waiting game as he looks for an opening for a big shot.
A glancing right from Pilcher, who then backs his rival up on to the ropes but can’t get through his guard.
More lefts to the body from Terzievski, who’s dancing around the edges of the ring. Those shots can tell later in the fight but getting Pilcher to drop his hands, setting him up for a shot to the jaw.
Not much to go on there but Terzievski was the busier and got a couple of body shots in, 10-9 to him.
Up next: Kris Terzievski vs Troy Pilcher over 10 rounds
Terzievski beat Paul Gallen and was at the centre of a big controversy when his fight against UFC star Tyson Pedro fell through at the last minute. He’s a technical fighter, whereas Pilcher is about bringing pressure and looking for the KO.
And Sonny Bill has just been pictured arriving at the venue, looking happy and relaxed, taking time out to shake hands with the security guards at the entrance… and about 10 more people on his way to the dressing room.
Danny Green’s take
The ex-world champ reckons the 58-55 score for Linde was spot-on – and there was an audible gasp from the crowd when the judge’s score giving the fight to baker was read out.
And the winner is… Linde
The judges score it 57-56 Linde, 57-56 Baker, 58-55 Linde. The Ice Man gets the split decision.
Round 6: Kane Baker vs Johan Linde
Baker needs a KO to pull this one out of the fire after such a promising start. The size and power of Linde has been the biggest factor.
Linde just misses with a dynamite left uppercut. Baker lands a left hook, then a hard right with Linde on the ropes.
Baker is catching a few shots and doesn’t look to have enough petrol to keep Linde on the back foot. He gets put on the ropes again with that Linde power.
A great combo from Linde, landing three of four shots, then Baker replies with a crisp one-two of his own. This is quality action.
Baker just misses with a straight right, gets out of the clinch and lands with a jab, right, jab. It’s desperate in there, right to the finish.
That’s 10-9 Baker. These two are good mates and they’re full of respect after the bell, but there was no quarter given.
Round 5: Kane Baker vs Johan Linde
Two nice jabs from Baker, then a right from Linde to get us started.
Right hand lead lands twice from Baker, sending his rival back into the ropes – but he smiles and laughs it off.
Baker is backing up then launching hard shots as Linde comes forward. Linde works the body as Baker is content to stay in close.
Exchange of short punches, with both men landing, and Baker shows excellent evasion to slip three and come back with a right.
Crushing right to the body from Linde, he gets Baker on the ropes and tees off, but can’t hurt Baker badly.
Counter right from Baker, who was on the back foot there.
Round 4: Kane Baker vs Johan Linde
Both men have slowed at the start of the fourth. Baker is dodging the jab well but eats a right.
Linde is missing and getting badly off balance, but lands a right, even though it doesn’t trouble his opponent.
Linde is having success pinning Baker on the ropes and going to the body, making it hard for Baker to get out. That’s the stuff – slow him down, pin him and lean on him.
Nice short right off the ropes by Baker, but both men are missing a lot more often now.
Baker lands a rocket of a left hook. That’s the closest round of the fight.
Round 3: Kane Baker vs Johan Linde
Linde has just been revealed as an ex-advisor to former NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet. So there you go.
Baker is evading heavy pressure from Linde and launches a great 1-2-3 combination, then a hard right that hurt Linde.
Nice left hook out of the clinch from Baker, who is seeing the punches far better this round.
Linde is slowing down and dropping his hands as he throws. But he lands a stiff left to the jaw that stung Baker. A low shot hurts Linde, earns Baker a warning, and sees the bigger man given a few seconds to recover.
Left rip from Baker, who is bobbing and weaving well.
Round 2: Kane Baker vs Johan Linde
Danny Green wants Linde to lean on baker and use his weight to wear him down. Instead, Linde kicks it off with a wild right hand.
He backs Baker up and throws very heavy shots, then goes for another right but gets beaten by a stiff jab.
Linde goes to the body with ugly but effective shots. He has owned the first minute of the round.
Baker gets tagged with a good right, then another – and he’s down!
Baker is up at the count of four but he’s hurt.
is bike but gets tagged up against the ropes. A minute left.
Good right from Baker slows Linde up. Then a crisp jab, both men connect, but Baker looks to have recovered.
A wild Linde right misses by a mile and the round ends with Baker pinned in the corner.
Round 1: Kane Baker vs Johan Linde
No feelingout period here – both men are throwing with abandon straight away.
Baker has a big speed advantage and uses it to land a good right hand against his far bigger opponent.
Linde has power but he’s wild with his punches and a bit off balance – plus his left arm is strapped right up.
Another right from Baker stuns Linde, who keeps getting beaten to the punch – but answers with a right of his own.
Linde fights very upright, head in the air, and is paying for it. Baker is far sharper and is using his feet well.
A right/left hook gets through for Baker, who is smiling and laughing in the clinches.
Great round, it’s 10-9 to Baker.
Up next: Kane Baker vs Johan Linde
Both of these fighters sparred extensively with Gallen in the lead-up as the ex-NRL star wanted to get used to fighting taller men. Linde especially is a towering heavyweight, with Baker coming up to the premier weight division for this bout.
And yes, both men have tipped Gal to get the win tonight.
A look at the damage to Charalampous
Some fighters get small swelling patches called mice when they get cracked, but the Kiwi was sporting something more like a cricket ball over his right eye when it was stopped.
Nyika wins as Charalampous’s corner throws in the towel
The ref asked Charalampous if he wanted to keep going, he said yes – but his corner could see he was a big chance of getting hurt and called it off.
Danny Green is hailing that decision from the Kiwi’s seconds as Charalampous is the type of fighter who’d keep going until he was ground into hamburger.
Round 5: David Nyika vs Nikolas Charalampous
The swelling on Charalampous is pretty severe, but thankfully it’s above the eye and isn’t interfering with his sight.
And the ref brings him over to the doctor, who examines him as Charalampous pleads, ‘Give me one more round.’ He gets his wish.
That has spurred him on and he is really loading up with his punches. Then he headbutts Nyika and gets warned by the ref.
Some mean, mean left hooks from Charalampous, but they’re missing. He throws a combo to the body, lands an uppercut.
Nyika soaks it up and starts ripping to the body and you’d hear those shots 20 rows back.
A great left rip drops Charalampous, who’s up at the count of five.
He responds with two absolute bombs, then Nyika gets a warning about low blows before landing a nice right to the jaw.
Round 4: David Nyika vs Nikolas Charalampous
Nyika has outlanded his man by almost two to one, but there’s not a lot of power behind those shots. He’s kicked off the fourth with a crisp jab.
Charalampous’s face is badly swollen above his right eye, which is usually the result of a clash of heads. He has slowed down again – and gets his head rocked back by a right hand.
Good counter jab by Charalampous but he needs to up his output. He explodes out of the corner and backs Nyika up with a flurry, but nothing does much damage.
Nice left hook in the clinch from Charalampous, then a left rip. He gets off the ropes with power.
Best round for Charalampous but it’s still 10-9 to Nyika.
Round 3: David Nyika vs Nikolas Charalampous
Danny Green wants Nyika to try the jab, right, left hook, then a right to the body, promising it’s there whenever he wants it.
Charalampous lands a nice uppercut/left hook combo, which also worked in the previous round. His best punches of the fight.
The difference in conditioning already looks to be having an effect. Charalampous has never been stopped but he’s already starting to look a little ragged with his punches.
A right lands for Nyika, who is pouring it on late in the round.
Charalampous misses with a lead right and Nyika finishes it in a southpaw stance.
Round 2: David Nyika vs Nikolas Charalampous
Nyika has taken over the middle of the ring and is getting through with the jab more often, but he took a couple of uppercuts and a left hook when he got in close.
A brief switch to southpaw by Nyika, who isn’t loading up on his punches much but is by far the sharper of the two men.
10-9 to Nyika, but that was a closer round.
Round 1: David Nyika vs Nikolas Charalampous
That’s quite the walkout song for Charalampous, who chose Monty Python’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ for his entrance.
Nyika looks to be in far better condition than his rival, but appearances can be deceptive.
He gets the jab going early, throwing in the odd right hand and moving well, giving Charalampous the middle of the ring.
A heavy uppercut from Charalampous misses and he’s keen on closing the distance and not giving up much ground.
The ref warns both men about clashing heads and not being clean in the clinches, then Nyika backs his man up into the corner and goes to the body with a sharp right.
Good jab from Nyika to finish this one off.
Up next: David Nyika vs Nikolas Charalampous
Nyika was knocked out in the fourth round by Jai Opetaia in his last fight, and there’s no shame in that – Jai is one of the best boxers on the planet right now.
His opponent, fellow Kiwi Charalampous, boasts a 23-6-2 record and blasted Nyika as an ‘overrated pretty boy’ after he lasted 10 rounds with Opetaia.
How Mundine took his man outAnother Green vs Mundine fight on the cards?
Rahim just explained that his long break from the ring was down to him getting injured when he played footy.
He’d been training with his grandfather, Aussie boxing legend Tony Mundine, who guided Anthony through his pro career.
Southpaws are often difficult for orthodox fighters like Mundine, but he had no problems whatsoever.
And Mundine has just said he’d love to face Danny Green’s son Archie – who is yet to fight and is several years younger than Rahim – if their careers take off over the next five years.
Danny is on the commentary panel and has just called Choc a ‘pelican’ for saying he won all their fights.
Archie has joined him and revealed he definitely wants to have a fight before the end of the year. He also agreed with the five-year timeframe.
Super impressive from Mundine
The right hook did the damage with both knockdowns, with the first coming on the end of a three-punch combination.
Anthony isn’t celebrating much but he must be super proud with that effort. Obviously a long road for Rahim to travel but he looked unruffled, relaxed and decisive in there – a great combination for a novice pro.
Round 2: Rahim Mundine vs Joe Vatusaqata – Mundine by knockout!
Choc was telling his son to keep moving his head after he throws during the break.
Nice counter jab for Mundine in the first 15 seconds after evading an uppercut.
A left hook stuns Vatusaqata but he recovers. He’s not asking many questions of his opponent.
Mundine slips three big punches, including another uppercut. He has a clear edge in speed on offence and defence.
And the Fijian is down from a lightning combination. He’s back up at the count of eight but gets dropped with a heavy right hook almost immediately.
Round 1: Rahim Mundine vs Joe Vatusaqata
Both fighters are canny in the feeling-out period, with more than a minute of the round gone before a good punch lands – a left hook to Mundine.
Rahim looks relaxed and sharp and looks a lot like his dad in there.
Another punch to Mundine, a looping right to the jaw that momentarily stuns the Fijian.
Now Rahim loads up with three good jabs and is starting to look a class above here.
Choc’s old foe Danny Green in commentary is measuring Mundine up for a possible fight with his son Archie.
A UFC legend predicts the result
Mark Hunt knocked Sonny Bill out and lost a points decision to Gallen, so he’s uniquely placed to judge who’ll come out on top tonight.
He believes both men are on the same level when it comes to boxing.
‘It depends on if Sonny Bill knows how to use his advantages. He’s got the height and the reach, but he doesn’t know how to use it; he’s pretty raw in that sense,’ Hunt said.
‘If Sonny Bill uses his length and the advantages that he does have, it will be an easy night for him. If he doesn’t, he will lose the fight.’
Pressed for an answer, Hunt went with Gallen as the winner because he has more ‘fighting dog’ in him than the former All Blacks, Bulldogs and Roosters star.
Up next: Anthony Mundine’s son
Rahim Mundine is up against Joe Vatusaqata in a super middleweight bout. Choc’s son has won his only pro bout so far, a unanimous decision over Lepani Levatia last December.
Stunning KO to kick things off
Alex Leapai Jr has knocked out Herve Silu Mata in the first round in what’s probably his most impressive performance to date.
The son of the former heavyweight world title challenger came out hard from the bell, throwing combinations and going to the body.
He got through with a stiff right hand that had Mata in all sorts and the ref waved it off after he crashed to the canvas.
Leapai remains undefeated.
G’day and welcome
Thanks for joining Daily Mail Australia for the most hotly anticipated footy fight night Australia has seen for years.
Sonny Bill and Gal have built up a fiery rivalry by slinging some astonishing insults at each other in the lead-up – and now they get to see if they can back it up in the ring.
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Sonny Bill Williams vs Paul Gallen LIVE: Round-by-round updates and reaction from Australia’s most hotly anticipated footy fight night