Sonny Bill Williams to fight for New Zealand Heavyweight Title

[TRF_nickdnz]

All Black Sonny Bill Williams will seek to add a boxing title to his Rugby World Cup winner's medal when he fights for the New Zealand heavyweight belt next year.
The former rugby league international will fight Richard Tutaki for the vacant title at Hamilton's Claudelands Arena on February 8.
Williams has a clause in his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union which allows him to continue to compete in the ring. The 26-year-old has had four bouts, winning them all.
Tutaki, 33, has won 19 of his 41 bouts, losing 21 with one drawn.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/new...vyweight-belt/


The terrible thing is he may just win it, given the state of boxing in New Zealand. He'd get killed against David Tua and Joseph Parker should he turn professional after 2012 Olympics. I've seen Richard Tutaki fight before, and I wasn't overly impressed. Wouldn't be suprised if Sonny Bill Williams takes the title (not that he's a great boxer). The only positive with this would be it would open SBW up to fight David Tua (Who I acutally think would take it if Monte Barrett doesn't fight him again for his WBO Asia-Pacific and Oriental titles, so would be after a belt and more than that, a Sonny Bill Williams v David Tua match would sell big).

[Dizzy]

SBW up for the Heavyweight title? Really??... After four fights unconvincing fights?.. Man, just really shows how bad NZ boxing is... On the Barrett vs Tua fight, I heard a little rumour that Barrett was on drugs and all and Tua's gettin' his title back or something like that...

[UilamOsa]

Nope - it was put up for appeal, and possibly laughed out. Tua's got more problems than trying to get his belts back.

International Boxing needs legitimacy and so does NZ boxing. This is not the way to go about it.

They should just have a Parker vs Williams match, so that Parker can end his Boxing career then and there.



Or better yet - Messam vs Williams.

[TRF_nickdnz]

Nope - it was put up for appeal, and possibly laughed out. Tua's got more problems than trying to get his belts back.

International Boxing needs legitimacy and so does NZ boxing. This is not the way to go about it.

They should just have a Parker vs Williams match, so that Parker can end his Boxing career then and there.



Or better yet - Messam vs Williams.

Parker? Surely you mean Williams?

Tua will probably get the rematch. The thing that really annoys me about Tua, is I genuinely think he could have been regarded as a great boxer. He had so mach talent, probably the best left hook of all time in my opinion, and his record suggests that he has deserved many more shots at a title. But he's a victim of his own arrogance. He retires after losing a legal dispute with one of the best trainers in the world in Kevin Barry (which Barry rightfully had two years left on his contract). He then goes from owning one of the most expensive properties in Auckland to owing $3m in cash to Inland Revenue.

He gets called out by Cameron and trains extremely hard to get back in good shape, gets in good shape and destroys Cameron only to fight a couple of nobodies in which he doesn't train hard for, and he eventually draws and then loses to Barrett, a 40 year old with no extreme talent. Had he kept in touch with his manager, prior to his second loss, he would have been told that if he won he'd get a title shot against Vitali Klitschko. Instead he intentionally stays out of touch with Kushner and once losing the fight, ends his contract with him. After not paying his new trainer again, they end their contract. This is also not to mention Inga Tuigamala's poor promotional work which had Demitrice King not paid weeks after the fight. He just comes off as this selfish and irresponsible fool.

It's so frustrating. You have a guy who essentially is the only boxer New Zealand and Samoa have ever really cared about, and yet there is just a poor attitude and work ethic which has stopped him becoming what Manny Pacquiao is the Philippines, to New Zealanders.

Boxing in New Zealand just is not healthy. Joseph Parker is probably the next best thing to come along since Tua in terms of boxing. I've met him a few times and he's a bit of a thug, but maybe he will become a good professional.

[UilamOsa]

Sorry I should've said - so that Parker can end Williams career then and there.

Tua's a TLDR in New Zealand boxing history. He's pretty much destroyed all his bridges along the way. He could've put it down to his management issues but all of that comes down to decision making. His and His alone.

He'll always be to me the People's Champ but like I told my mate when we were at the Barrett fight - it's over. The Glassy eyed looks of disbelief on everyone's faces said it all.

Like you said it's frustrating - the opportunities were there, he just missed them. If he applied even a 5th of the determination that Mike Tyson had when starting out we would be looking at more than 1 world title fight.



Ah well - I'll always have Fight Nights create a player mode. I'll do for NZ & Samoa.

[gingergenius]

If the NZ heavyweight champion has lost 21 fights, NZ boxing must be shite. Compare that record to anyone in the Ring's top ten...

[TRF_nickdnz]

If the NZ heavyweight champion has lost 21 fights, NZ boxing must be shite. Compare that record to anyone in the Ring's top ten...

Well obviously. But David Tua's record is 52(43)-4-2 which is very good.

[TRF_Cymro]

If Tua was so good how come he's not really fought anyone of note latley ... he's not been a punching bag for the Klitschko's yet?

[TRF_nickdnz]

If Tua was so good how come he's not really fought anyone of note latley ... he's not been a punching bag for the Klitschko's yet?

...Several reasons. The first is that he retired. Twice. Since he left Barry he's been in and out of court and hasn't had a good trainer since. More than that, as I highlited in my first posts, he's pretty much burned all bridges to get a title shot, and his lack of commitment cost him.

It's not like he hasn't fought big names. He absolutely killed John Ruiz (2 time Heavyweight Champion) in the first round with a 20 second KO, beat Hasim Rahman (2 time Heavyweight Champion) in his prime, destroyed Michael Moorer (Three time heavyweight champion) 30 seconds into the fight, beat Fres Oquendo, beat Oleg Maskaev (WBC Heavyweight Champion). By right he should have been given many more oppertunities than he has got (1 fight against Lewis in his prime...Vitali Klitscho lost to Lewis and yet he got more shots). He needed to fight a big name after the Barrett fight (which would have been one of the Klitschko's) but he lost after 6 rounds of nothing, to then destroy Barrett in the final round but lost by decision.

I don't think he'd be a punching bag for the Klitschko's but I don't think his reach would allow him to win. Still, he has certainly earned a shot. It's still a possibility, but he's turning 39 soon and he doesn't seem to have the ambition to start getting fights. He needed to hit back quickly after the Barrett loss with another fight, instead he waits to organise a fight 6-7 months later. What an idiot. He's not getting younger and if he ever wants to pay off his bills he needs more than Tua v Barrett III, especially considering his last two fights were a draw and a loss.

Anyway, you never know. If he beats Barrett and then faces someone like Chris Arreola (which I think he could) or Eddie Chambers then he's in with a shot for a title fight, but what he is currently doing by waiting, won't help his cause at all.

[Muzzy]

After the way Tutaki was acting in his press conference I actually want SBW to win this one, and its only one of the NZ titles which was vacant, Chauncy Welliver has been the real NZ champion and holds his title and he has a good record 51-5-5, but he hasn't fought anyone good.

I don't want to see Tua waste his time fighting Barrett again, but a fight with Arreola would be a dream match, Eddie Chambers might be difficult for Tua because Chambers is tricky, he'll be like Chris Byrd and move away from Tua the whole fight

[TRF_nickdnz]

After the way Tutaki was acting in his press conference I actually want SBW to win this one, and its only one of the NZ titles which was vacant, Chauncy Welliver has been the real NZ champion and holds his title and he has a good record 51-5-5, but he hasn't fought anyone good.

I don't want to see Tua waste his time fighting Barrett again, but a fight with Arreola would be a dream match, Eddie Chambers might be difficult for Tua because Chambers is tricky, he'll be like Chris Byrd and move away from Tua the whole fight

That's true. Chauncy Welliver's camp have continually tried to get Tua into a match, which i think would be a great fight. Welliver has a pretty good chin, and is a very nice guy in person. He also came to one of his fights so unprepared it was amazing, which he had 10 days prep after what seemed like the most amazing binge of all time.



Welliver would kill any other New Zealand heavyweight other than Daivd Tua and maybe Joseph Parker. He was ranked 10th by WBO and 8th by WBC, which had Tua beat him, he'd have a case for a World Title shot. As it happened Tua made the wrong career move...Again.


Agree with your call on Tutaki. What an absolute gobsh*te. He was very arrogant and very unprofessional, and it's hardly like his boxing record is anything to be too proud of.

[ranger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuX6f_TEF5I

Not the best boxer, but for brawling power men there aren't many better

[TRF_nickdnz]

Probably the best Tua compilation.

[William18]

I'm honestly over Tua. TBH he does not deserve another title shot at all. Barrett is a journeyman, at best. He was destroyed by Haye and Solis (Welliver even did better against Solis than Barrett) and his overall record is poor. It was pathetic that Tua lost to him. You can't just turn up out of shape, give away the first six rounds and then put on a late flurry. Honestly, there does not look to be much credibility to those drug reports about Barrett. Tua was good in his day but he has had his chances and quite frankly does not deserve any more. He'll be lucky if Barrett chooses to fight him again. Helenius, Fury, Chisora, Povetkin etc are all far more deserving of title fights.

[Sam Owen]

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow, youre always a day awwwwwwaaaay

[TRF_nickdnz]

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow, youre always a day awwwwwwaaaay

Wow, Tillman lost his cool. Looking forward to this for several reasons. No matter the result I'll be happy. SBW will either get his ass handed to him, which other than being good for entertainment value, may put an end to his boxing ambitions. Alternatively he could win and persue a boxing career earlier, which again is a win/wn situation.

[William18]

I bet that's just a stunt.

[TRF_nickdnz]

I bet that's just a stunt.

Probably, but the way SBW nearly folded showed the hit was real.

[William18]

Probably, but the way SBW nearly folded showed the hit was real.

Yeah, I don't SBW knew about but I'm sure Tillman and his management planned to do it.

[Gavin]

Just saw that SBW beat Tillman with a first round TKO (saw on Stuff.co.nz)

After the two boxers sounded each other out early, Williams connected with a good left hook and then finished Tillman off with a flurry of blows that had his opponent with his head hanging out of the ring.

[TRF_nickdnz]

Wow, not a huge SBW fan but good to see him take care of Tillman without trouble. New Zealand Heavyweight Champion. Would like to see him go up against someone like Chauncy Welliver next. Would generate money for Welliver and could launch SBW's career on the odd chance he won.

Looking again at the TKO, it seemed a bit early, especially with 10 seconds left on the clock. Referee was also the person whom approved the fight >.>. Still SBW, clearly had Tillman against the ropes and not doing well of defending himself.

[Aedaphon]

Great first round by Sonny.

Would like to see him fight a more credible boxer though... Tillman looked pretty unprofessional.

[TRF_Darwin]

Great first round by Sonny.

Would like to see him fight a more credible boxer though... Tillman looked pretty unprofessional.

SBW's management would never put him up against someone that could fight back

Anyways... Tillman was overweight and a pretty poor boxer (what else would you expect from a boxer whose record is won 11, lost 8, drawn 2...?), but SBW did well to put him away with relative ease. SBW can now concentrate on rugby for the next few weeks before he decides to box again, switch back to league, take up pole dancing, or become a professional poker player (or whatever he plans to do next...).

[Sam Owen]

I cant believe Sonny Bill Williams is the NZ heavyweight champion.

[FlukeArtist]

SBW is a shameless, selfish, self-promoter.

NZ Boxing should hang their heads in shame that they even let him near a Championship fight when the guy has done NOTHING. So he beat Tillman, and what was the guy he last fought...? an over-weight beneficiary??... give me a break!!
What a farce that fight was.

I can't wait til SBW 4*@&% off back to league.

So sick of the guy and the party of money grubbing morons he keeps company with.

[lucky number 7]

Tillman looked shocking....I've recently started boxing and I would wager there are some of the bigger boys in there at 21 that would have put up a better fight.

[TNT88]

Does he have to fight the best NZ boxers around now that he has the title? This might get interesting.

[UilamOsa]

I cant believe Sonny Bill Williams is the NZ heavyweight champion.

Me too Uce. It's a bit embarassing if I'm honest with myself. Whilst I congratulate him on his effort (or the efforts of his production team) he's not someone I would confidently put forward as a NZ boxing title holder.

Tillman looked shocking....I've recently started boxing and I would wager there are some of the bigger boys in there at 21 that would have put up a better fight.

There are. A few them offered but were declined. A few in the amateur divisions actually tried to pursue the option of fighting him, but were also knocked back by SBW Productions (Khoder Nasser & Mundine Family).

Tillman was a rushed job, they had someone else handpicked but he had...umm...legal issues to worry about.

Does he have to fight the best NZ boxers around now that he has the title? This might get interesting.

We can only hope. If anything it probably means (given our location) he has more reason to cherry pick his opponents.

[TRF_nickdnz]

I get what everyone is saying. It doesn't make NZ boxing look very good. Tillman was a bit of a joke if we are being honest. Came in looking out of shape and showed no technical ability, especially after getting knocked with the left hook. As I said, he is only one of New Zealand's boxing champions and to see him go against David Tua or Chauncy Welliver, I'd pay to see that slaughter. Heck, I wouldn't even mind seeing Shane Cameron reclaiming his belt if he moved back up.

The thing that gets me is, New Zealand media go crazy with titles like "Have to take SBW's boxing career seriously" and "Time to stop doubting him as a future prospect". No. He's 26 who now has five wins against custom picked, poor opponents. Those five wins have come over two years of boxing. He's not Anthony Mundine. He will not become a great boxer. Most great boxers have celebrated amature careers often competing in the Olympics (Foreman, Frazier, Ali, Jones Jr, Lennox Lewis, Joe Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko etc) in their teens and early twenties and then fight 10-15 professional fights in the next 2 or 3 years. Sonny Bill Williams is good for the profile of boxing in New Zealand, but people have to take him at face value.

[William18]

I get what everyone is saying. It doesn't make NZ boxing look very good. Tillman was a bit of a joke if we are being honest. Came in looking out of shape and showed no technical ability, especially after getting knocked with the left hook. As I said, he is only one of New Zealand's boxing champions and to see him go against David Tua or Chauncy Welliver, I'd pay to see that slaughter. Heck, I wouldn't even mind seeing Shane Cameron reclaiming his belt if he moved back up.

The thing that gets me is, New Zealand media go crazy with titles like "Have to take SBW's boxing career seriously" and "Time to stop doubting him as a future prospect". No. He's 26 who now has five wins against custom picked, poor opponents. Those five wins have come over two years of boxing. He's not Anthony Mundine. He will not become a great boxer. Most great boxers have celebrated amature careers often competing in the Olympics (Foreman, Frazier, Ali, Jones Jr, Lennox Lewis, Joe Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko etc) in their teens and early twenties and then fight 10-15 professional fights in the next 2 or 3 years. Sonny Bill Williams is good for the profile of boxing in New Zealand, but people have to take him at face value.

Exactly. We didn't take someone like Tutaki seriously when/if he was NZ heavyweight champion so we shouldn't take SBW too seriously either. What annoys me the most is that actual boxers don't even get on TV in New Zealand and no one knows anything about them. It doesn't look like Sky is going to have Klitschko vs Chisora which is an actual fight between two quality boxers.