Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Other Stuff
All Other Sports
Sonny Bill Williams to fight for New Zealand Heavyweight ***le
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Dizzy" data-source="post: 482777" data-attributes="member: 21905"><p>The Sonny Bill Williams knockers are in for a field day based on their own questionable arguments. </p><p></p><p>News of the next big boxing promotion coming to New Zealand should have them salivating. </p><p></p><p>Williams won't be part of it but three ex-league players who are dabbling in boxing will. </p><p></p><p>It's the Heavyweight Explosion, with the lead act being American Monte Barrett against Kiwi Shane Cameron, and the undercard to feature "leading heavyweight talent" from either side of the Tasman. </p><p></p><p>But the questionable state of the professional heavyweight talent in this neck of the woods is exposed when the promoters raise the names of Solomon Haumono, John Hopoate and Monty Betham as contenders for the early fights. </p><p></p><p>Doesn't that have an SBW feel to it? These guys were decent league players but they have hardly shaken the boxing world with their time in the ring. </p><p></p><p>Haumono has the best record, beating a bunch of no-names in a 20-fight record that features 18 wins, 16 by knockout. </p><p></p><p>Betham quickly found out the reality of the rigours of boxing, curtailing his career after five fights, despite winning them all. He was dragged out of retirement for the charity Fight For Life promotion and now, apparently, might have renewed interest. </p><p></p><p>"Stink Finger" Hopoate has plugged away for 17 fights to help keep the family fed, losing five of them including being knocked out three times. </p><p></p><p>Yet none of them have received the constant knocking that has encased Williams' attempts to be a boxer while still playing rugby. They have escaped the microscope that has been put on Williams' boxing attempts. That hardly seems fair. </p><p></p><p>If boxing and footy fans are so upset about Williams' efforts in the ring, surely the same attitude should apply to this other trio of converts. </p><p></p><p>I just don't get the relentless attacks on Williams. Take him for what he is â€" a good league and rugby player who is having a crack with the boxing gloves on. He's a novice and he readily admits it. </p><p></p><p>So why knock him for trying? There looks to have been enough improvement between his last two fights to suggest he's on the right track. I'd go as far as to suggest that with persistence and concentration on boxing, he could go a lot further than Haumono, Hopoate and Betham in the fight game. It will be interesting to see if the critics â€" both public and in the media â€" who have been deriding Williams' boxing efforts do similar to the league players being lined up to feature on a fight night that has already been promoted as an answer to the "under-funded, over-hyped shows that have left Kiwi punters dismally disappointed with the fare on offer". </p><p></p><p>Ad Feedback That blatant attack on the SBW promotions leaves the men behind this next venture with a lot of PR work to do to justify any hype around the likes of Hopoate.</p><p></p><p>SOURCE: stuff.co.nz</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dizzy, post: 482777, member: 21905"] The Sonny Bill Williams knockers are in for a field day based on their own questionable arguments. News of the next big boxing promotion coming to New Zealand should have them salivating. Williams won't be part of it but three ex-league players who are dabbling in boxing will. It's the Heavyweight Explosion, with the lead act being American Monte Barrett against Kiwi Shane Cameron, and the undercard to feature "leading heavyweight talent" from either side of the Tasman. But the questionable state of the professional heavyweight talent in this neck of the woods is exposed when the promoters raise the names of Solomon Haumono, John Hopoate and Monty Betham as contenders for the early fights. Doesn't that have an SBW feel to it? These guys were decent league players but they have hardly shaken the boxing world with their time in the ring. Haumono has the best record, beating a bunch of no-names in a 20-fight record that features 18 wins, 16 by knockout. Betham quickly found out the reality of the rigours of boxing, curtailing his career after five fights, despite winning them all. He was dragged out of retirement for the charity Fight For Life promotion and now, apparently, might have renewed interest. "Stink Finger" Hopoate has plugged away for 17 fights to help keep the family fed, losing five of them including being knocked out three times. Yet none of them have received the constant knocking that has encased Williams' attempts to be a boxer while still playing rugby. They have escaped the microscope that has been put on Williams' boxing attempts. That hardly seems fair. If boxing and footy fans are so upset about Williams' efforts in the ring, surely the same attitude should apply to this other trio of converts. I just don't get the relentless attacks on Williams. Take him for what he is – a good league and rugby player who is having a crack with the boxing gloves on. He's a novice and he readily admits it. So why knock him for trying? There looks to have been enough improvement between his last two fights to suggest he's on the right track. I'd go as far as to suggest that with persistence and concentration on boxing, he could go a lot further than Haumono, Hopoate and Betham in the fight game. It will be interesting to see if the critics – both public and in the media – who have been deriding Williams' boxing efforts do similar to the league players being lined up to feature on a fight night that has already been promoted as an answer to the "under-funded, over-hyped shows that have left Kiwi punters dismally disappointed with the fare on offer". Ad Feedback That blatant attack on the SBW promotions leaves the men behind this next venture with a lot of PR work to do to justify any hype around the likes of Hopoate. SOURCE: stuff.co.nz [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Other Stuff
All Other Sports
Sonny Bill Williams to fight for New Zealand Heavyweight ***le
Top