The New Zealand Heavyweight title fight is coming up next week between league turned rugby player Sonny Bill Williams, and New Zealand based American boxer Clarence Tillman.
I thought I would hypothetically look at where he would fit if fighting in Australia.
This is a distinct possibility next year should the man they call SBW get through Tillman.
The current top ten in Australia are ranked like this:
(Legend Ranking, Boxer, Points, record, last six fights, year turned pro, stance, gym)
1 Alex Leapai
217 25(20)-3(1)-3
2004 2012 orthodox Logan City, Queensland
2 Kali Meehan
107 38(31)-4(2)-0
1997 2012 orthodox Wyongah, New South Wales
3 Lucas Browne
46 10(9)-0-0
2009 2012 orthodox Perth, Western Australia
4 Mark de Mori
44 17(15)-1(1)-2
2004 2012 orthodox Perth, Western Australia
5 Solomon Haumono
39 18(16)-1-1
2000 2012 orthodox Sydney, New South Wales
6 Colin Wilson
33 35(21)-28(15)-1
1992 2012 southpaw Emerald, Queensland
7 Ben Edwards
16 3(3)-0-1
2007 2012 orthodox Queanbeyan, New South Wales
8 Shane Tilyard
16 5(5)-6(5)-0
2009 2012 Brisbane, Queensland
9 Ben Wrotniak
11 4(1)-0-0
2009 2012 orthodox Penrith, New South Wales
10 George Poulivaati
10 6(3)-1-0
2010 2012 orthodox Sydney, New South Wales
Coincidently, Colin Wilson (himself a NZer) fights Lucas Browne Feb 17th for the Australian title.
The top six would beat Williams without too much fanfare. The top two, particularly Meehan, would likely do him some real damage.
No 7 Ben Edwards has only had four fights including a last start draw against previous Australian Champion Michael Kirby, and a KO1 against John Hopate. Edwards is more known in kickboxing circles, however he gets a tick as being likely victorious over Williams.
No 8 Shane Tilyard doesn’t have the greatest record, and at only 180cm gives away height and reach. He does however possess a punch, and has three 1st round KO’s, and two second rounders to his credit. He beats Williams.
No 9 Ben Wrotniak has a similar record to Williams, and in fact has fought one of his opponents, that being the ‘well credentialed’ former Tongan Gospel singerAlipate Liava’a. Like Williams, Wrotniak also beat Liava’a on points, but over four rounds.
No 10 George Poulivaati hasn’t fought any names of note yet, but with six victories from seven fights, three of those by knockout, he is beating what is put in front of him.
The dream fight for a promoter would be Williams if he wins the New Zealand title, and Haumono should he win the Australian title. It would be a no contest in my opinion with Haumono winning inside thre rounds.
With heavyweights you can always look at them having a ‘punchers chance’ however Williams is an ‘arm puncher’ rather than a shoulder puncher who starts from the feet, rotates through the hips and upper body into the arm.
His record of two TKO’s against two ‘boxers’ that were pub fighters at best supports this.
At best Williams could work his way into No 9 in Australia based on present form, at worst he could be in the next 11-15 rated heavyweights with either up and comers with similar records to his, or journeymen such as No 13 ranked Michael O’Donnell 21-6-15.
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