The punches flew early this morning between Sonny Bill Williams and his boxing opponent Clarence Tillman III, as the face-off at weigh-in erupted into short, heated melee.
As the pair exchanged trash talk, with Williams telling Tillman “don’t call me your homie”, Tillman shoved Williams in the chest forcing him backwards.
Williams moved back and swung while Tillman appeared to connect with a shot on Williams’ chin, causing him to stumble, before Williams’ training partners and entourage swarmed the pair to break it up.
Former NRL player and boxer, Anthony Mundine, pulled Tillman to the ground before Williams’ brother, John, tackled him into the boxing ring as both camps intervened to stop the escalating confrontation.
As Tillman left Hamilton’s Ringside Gym, Williams could be heard yelling: ”I’m going to f*** you up.”
Williams said he was now even more fired up for their NZPBA heavyweight title clash tomorrow night.
”If he wanted to I could fight right now,” he said.
”It’s on.”
Mundine said Tillman was under a lot of pressure but it was no excuse for taking a cheap shot.
”I think he’s flustered,” he said.
”That was a very disrespectful thing to do. To dog shot someone like that, he’s lost all respect and honour as a warrior and I sure do hope that Sonny makes him pay for that tomorrow night.”
This will be Williams’s fifth professional fight, after which he will resume his rugby commitments with the Chiefs in this year’s Super Rugby tournament.
Tillman weighed in at 128.4kg and Williams at 107.9kg.
TembaVJ
Guest
Jaw = Glass such a slight glance and $BW knee buckles, before that weigh-in Tilly to KO sonny was $7, one hour after it dropped to $3.5
Merino
Guest
SBW is in a no win situation.If he wins then Tillman is a bum or Tillman took a dive.If SBW loses then he deserves it.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Haha an incident clearly manufactured for publicity promotion and public consumption, no one would have known there was a fight on if that story didn't somehow make it to the public arena :-)
Damien
Roar Guru
The punch that Tillman threw hit the mark and it definitely rocked SBW. It was also pretty quick too which suprised me. It was a pretty good shot even though it was a cheapy. People are saying that SBW has a glass jaw but I actually thought he took it quite well. A well timed straight right that connects the jaw from someone that big would drop most people. The fact that Tillman was bare knuckled as well makes the fact that SBW didn't drop even more impressive IMO..
p.Tah
Guest
It may not be but everything Khoder and co. do is staged for media coverage and the dollar that's why we're all very skeptical with what they do. Their script is become predictable. If they keep it up the stars may begin to dim.
Merino
Guest
Ever seen a boxer get knocked out cold after the bell has already rung to end the round?Ever seen a boxer go hard for 12 Rounds,Get awarded the victory,Goes across to the opponents Corner and get knocked out cold by the sore losing fighter?What?Not tough enough?
Ashley atkinson
Guest
Errr as if that was staged. Can you hate someone so much that you can make up a scenario like a scripted melee? Same as mma, they're cranky because they've just cut weight. Hate footy players come boxers if that's what floats your boat but at least make sense. Scripted lol
sledgeross
Guest
Yawn. Maybe another 5 people will give a damn and pay the 40 bucks to watch these two bums!
Foreman
Guest
Ok, I know it's boxing but where is the sprtsmanship from Tillman. I think Tillman is scared. No wonder the odds have come down so much. I hope Sonny Bill beats the snot out of Tillman. As a side note, this ugly and potentially dangerous situation that erupted should be investigated by the boxing authorities.Fortunately, order was restored and the room was cleared before anyone was seriously hurt.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Questionable comments of late KOTG. We're not a soap box for code wars etc. Keep it in check and you'll be off moderation. Thanks, Roar Mods
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Yeah. The way SBW folded down after the punch is a very, very bad sign for him in how the fight will go, as Tillman now knows SBW can be hurt.
kovana
Guest
Lol.. Whats all this from Mundine? ”That was a very disrespectful thing to do. To dog shot someone like that, he’s lost all respect and honour as a warrior and I sure do hope that Sonny makes him pay for that tomorrow night.” But Williams threw the first Punch... Tillman got SBW good.. LOL.
Chris
Guest
Does anyone take $BW seriously anymore?
bozo
Guest
Great theatre. When is WWE back in town?
BennO
Guest
I'd reckon he stayed completely to the script.
Nath
Guest
most emotion I've seen from SBW ever. let's see him back it up
Big Steve
Guest
Typically they have quotes from Mundine but not from tillman. "He has lost all respect and honour as a warrior". Funny hearing Mundines comments about respect!
WoobliesFan
Guest
Undoubtedly choreographed.....but somehow Tillman didn't stay 100% to the script.
Atawhai Drive
Guest
The SBW Weigh-In Scuffle, choreographed by Anthony Mundine, produced by Khoder Nasser. Souvenir DVD available for a price. Ho hum.
WoobliesFan
Guest
What a mess. Very unprofessional by Tillman. That punch connected btw.