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Sonny Bill Williams has been warned to expect to some heavy shots when he switches again from rugby player to boxer on Sunday.
The four-Test All Black is using the Crusaders’ second bye in Super Rugby to square up with Tongan heavyweight Alipate Liava’a in Auckland in support of the Red Cross’s Christchurch earthquake appeal.
While Williams, 25, will go in as favourite at Trusts Stadium to extend his 3-0 record, Liava’a is talking up his chances of an upset.
“I’m skilful and I can fight inside and outside, but I’m not going there to box — I’m ready to pull out those bombs,” he said.
“I’m going to go in and throw bombs on him. If I connect with those punches, he’ll be gone.”
A gospel singer, Liava’a is using his purse to help in the release of his new album, One Man Choir.
He has a modest record in the ring, winning the first four of his 11 bouts, but losing the last seven.
However, he said he was in the best shape of his career, and he credited that to the quality of his sparring partners.
“I want to prove to everyone what I’ve got, even though I’m 43,” he said.
“I’m still very fast and I’ve still got a lot of power there.
“I outpunch those kids I’m sparring against, those big guys. I outpunch them and they say, `Man, I’m really sore, it’s amazing how you’ve got a lot of energy there’.”
He expected to weigh in at 110kg to 112kg, which would be the trimmest he had been for a fight.
William’s rugby playing weight is listed at 108kg.
At 172cm tall, Liava’a wasn’t fazed as the disparity in height with the 191cm Williams, saying he had sparred with taller fighters.
“I’ve never had any problems with height and reach,” he said.
“Trust me, you’ll see me jabbing on his face, his mouth, his stomach, because I’m going to be super fit when I get into the ring.”
The bout will be over six three-minute rounds.
After two weeks off with a knee injury, Williams returned to the Crusaders’ midfield for their 17-16 defeat to the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Sunday.
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