By Spiro Zavos
May 19th 2009 @ 6:08am
Related coverage
Sonny Bill Williams boxing [Video]
Sonny Bill Williams in training for his boxing debut, May 27 in Brisbane
This video of Sonny Bill Williams raises the question: Is he the real deal as a boxer? The video clip, which has not previously been published, has some beautifully photographed vision of Sonny Bill Williams going through some training routines for his May 27 bout at Brisbane.
[View the video of Sonny Bill Williams's first boxing match.]
Here is Sonny Bill doing a bit of shadow boxing with the emphasis on clipped left and right hand crosses.
Now Sonny Bill pushes but does not belt the heavy training bag. Then Sonny Bill stoically endures the heavy leather ball being dropped on his hard, flat stomach.
And throughout the clip there are shots of his sculptured, heavily tattooed body.
There is no doubt that Sonny Bill has an athlete’s body. It is beautiful, hard and rippling with muscle.
Questions must be asked about Sonny’s commitment to rugby union. He is in the Barbarian’s team to play the Wallabies on June 6, which is a week and a half after his professional boxing debut.
Based on this, can we assume his priorities lie with boxing ahead of rugby?
It is difficult to tell from the video what sort of presence Sonny Bill will have in the ring.
The brief glimpses of his shadow boxing suggest that he carries his hands low, in the Ali manner. But does he have Ali’s ring craft and the speed of hands and reflexes?
From the limited evidence provided by this video, Sonny Bill should really stick to the contact sport that has made him famous, rugby league and now rugby union.
Why would he want to put his good looks on the line?
He just doesn’t look like the real deal as a boxer to me.
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(15)
Knives Out said | May 19th 2009 @ 7:16am | Report comment
I don’t think that Williams needs to be the ‘real deal’. In fact, I can only offer a handful of ‘real deal’ boxers from the past decade. One doesn’t have to be a great to have a successful career. Perhaps he is merely fulfilling an ambition, and if that’s the case then good luck to him. If Williams were going to take boxing seriously then I can’t imagine that Umaga or Saint-Andre would be impressed, not to mention the outspoken Toulon owner. That there has been no public response from any of the aforementioned parties suggests that there isn’t much to talk about. Frankly, I think it’s a shame that more athletes don’t cross-train.
Kento said | May 19th 2009 @ 7:44am | Report comment
Great video. But was on earth is going on here? Is Sonny genuine about his switch to union from league? Why boxing? (money?)
If he’s here to box, then all fine. But I’m not sure about him playing for the Bahbahs as well on the same trip.
znotty said | May 19th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
But where would he find 75 kilo centres willing to fight him.
Tigerface said | May 19th 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Everybody looks good shadow boxing. My Mum can throw a tasty looking combination at air. When you have someone in front of you it’s a completely different reality.
Most people carry low hands shadow boxing, again, because you can and it looks sexy. He’ll be OK, he’s a fit, strong boy and he’ll fight people of similar limited skill level.
Against a real boxer with a strategic mind he would last under a minute. He’s a rugby player and generally speaking they they make appalling boxers as anyone who went to university and watched rugby boys try boxing can confirm. It’s a rude awakening. The heart is willing but the lumbering power-driven body isn’t.
Steve Kaless said | May 19th 2009 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
Spiro,
The love affair that rugby union had with SBW after he became their prize scalp looks destined for a fall. As is with most league to union converts there is the standard mantra of a “commitment to rugby union” which is all meant to cover up the hunger for a bigger pay cheque.
Does SBW have a commitment to union? Unlikely. If he did he probably would have gone to NZ rather than France in the first place. His manager also stated at the time that Sonny wanted to transcend sport, so rugby was probably seen as just a stepping stop. To what exactly? For mine he looks to becoming something of a circus act.
I note with interest that Jonny Wilkinson has just been signed on a big deal with Toulon, none of the reports I have read make mention of Williams playing there or Wilkinson expressing his excitement of playing with him, maybe Danny Wielder hasn’t got hold of him yet. Tana Umaga has also been given the heave ho.
I wonder what the new coach thinks of all this and whether Toulon have a similar commitment to Sonny.
The final question must be how Jon O’Neil who claimed Williams was one of the best players in the world prior to his unveiling, feels about his big ticket item leaping about the ring prior to their own money making exercise.
Hoy said | May 19th 2009 @ 6:43pm | Report comment
I would say Sonny Bill has been a little to closely influenced by his good mate and possible brain washer, “The Man” Mundine.
I hate that some athletes think they are fantastic at all sports, or want to give other sports a go. Just stick to what you are good at, and be happy. I wish I was a professional footballer, and I damn sure wouldn’t be buggering up my chances with a possible shit foray into boxing.
Knives Out said | May 19th 2009 @ 8:10pm | Report comment
Tana Umaga has not been given the heave ho, Mr. Kaless. He will be coaching alongside Saint-Andre and combining his coaching duties with playing.
Andystath said | May 19th 2009 @ 8:25pm | Report comment
Knoder Nasser and Mundine are having a massive impact on poor old Sonny,he apparently will only be eating halal meat when touring Australia and NZ.
mcxd said | May 19th 2009 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
steve, good point about being committed to union then playing in france instead of NZ. thats where a kiwi would want to play if committed to union.
excuse my ignorance but who is he fighting and in what weight division ? im no johnny lewis but as sure as hell cant see him lasting the rounds against a professional.
Steve Kaless said | May 20th 2009 @ 2:52am | Report comment
Knives Out,
Thank you, I stand corrected. Simply figured one new coach meant the old one out. Silly me.
Knives Out said | May 20th 2009 @ 3:53am | Report comment
The forwards coach and former France prop, Jean Jacques-Crenca, was sacked during the season, and both John Connolly and Jake White were brought in to assess the situation. Apparently Jerry Collins left due to differences with the current forwards coach, so all is definitely not well in the Toulon camp.
Ian Noble said | May 20th 2009 @ 6:57am | Report comment
Steve and KO
Saint-Andre has taken over as head coach at Toulon and is revamping the entire squad. The new players include a mix of seasoned English, Argentine and French players mainly from the GP. Collins has joined the Ospreys on a two year deal and as his ex-girlfriend and daughter live not far away in N Devon there may some rationale behind his move.
Saint -Andre with his track record at Sale will knock a few heads together and certainly Wilko would not have gone there if there was some unrest. As for the Baa-baas when you see their squad you wonder whether SBW will get game time.
Iain Balshaw (Gloucester Rugby and England)
Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues & New Zealand)
Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster and Ireland)*
Peter Grant (Stormers and South Africa)
Doug Howlett (Munster & New Zealand)*
Josh Lewsey (London Wasps and England)*
Seilala Mapusua (London Irish & Samoa)
Justin Marshall (Saracens and New Zealand)
Luke McAllister (Sale Sharks and New Zealand)*
Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers & Ireland)
Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon)*
Dimitri Yachvilli (Biarritz Olympique & France)*
Serge Betsen (London Wasps & France)*
B J Botha (Ulster & South Africa)*
Schalk Brits (Stormers and South Africa)
Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks & France)
Jerry Collins (Toulon & New Zealand)
Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers & England)
Rocky Elsom (Leinster & Australia)
Justin Harrison (Bath Rugby & Australia)
Chris Jack (Saracens & New Zealand)
Greg Somerville (Gloucester Rugby & New Zealand)*
Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets & Wales)*
Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues)*
6one9 said | May 20th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Sonny-Bill has to pay Mundine back some how, and the hype around SBWs 1st ever boxing fight should pull in a bit of money, I don’t think SBW is seriously considering a switch, was more than likely part of the deal with Mundine to pay out the Bulldogs. With Mundines ridiculous 60cents per dollar taking in pay perview moneys has seen his popularity dwindle considerably.
lachlan said | May 20th 2009 @ 9:50am | Report comment
znotty* i doubt there are many, if any centres at all in world rugby that would b under 85kgs let alone 75kgs!
As for SBW boxing its obviously just a publicity stunt by mundine to promote his fight! Genius really, considering there are people that would love to see SBW get bashed around and those who just want to see him. Whether he fights or not the training will do him good and ultimately make mundine or the fight promoters more money.
znotty said | May 20th 2009 @ 11:30am | Report comment
lachlan
gee mate thanks for making my point for me again, i mean i only did it once for myself already