Sonny Bill Williams will face the biggest test of his boxing career when he faces South African Francois Botha in Brisbane tonight, while Quade Cooper makes his boxing debut on the undercard. We’ll have live updates from 8.30pm AEDT.
Tyson. Lewis. Klitschko.
Three of the greatest heavyweight champions in boxing history and 44-year-old Francois Botha, tonight the opponent of league-turned-rugby-turned-boxing star Sonny Bill Williams, has stood toe-to-toe with all three of them.
Nevermind that Botha lost all three, that over a decade has passed since the three fights took place, or the fact that Williams was five years old when Botha made his professional debut in 1990.
But there are plenty questioning why Sonny Bill, whose boxing record stands at 5-0 (3 KO), comes into the fight as favourite against a fighter who won his first 35 professional bouts, and still holds a 48-8-3 record.
Sonny Bill has spoken pre-fight about the “huge risk” that comes with fighting the South African and it seems he is aware that he could be walking into a hornet’s nest.
Despite reportedly possessing considerable boxing ability, Williams’ five-bout career has been a series of stunts and sideshows.
Tonight will get the chance to change that perception and earn himself a reputation as a genuine boxer.
Prior to the main event interest will be focussed on the professional boxing debut of Quade Cooper, who will fight 32-year-old journeyman Barry Dunnett.
These two bouts highlight the six-fight card, which begins on Main Event at 7.00pm AEDT. We’ll have live coverage of Williams vs Botha from 9.30pm AEDT.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
There maybe a rematch in South Africa as Botha protests & SBW named "Provisional" winner ~ It is believed boxing novice Williams (6-0 record) will technically be awarded the win but will not be officially recognised as WBA champion due to the unprecedented move to cut short the bout in Brisbane. http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8607754
hein
Guest
Botha is a boxer of 44 and overweight...look at how he knoced out a super athlete of 27 on his feet..what a shame for sbw and nz...springboks the best for ever in rugby and boxing! i would have love to see corrie saunders in the ring.....
hein
Guest
all i can say is...botha won fair and square. look at ex south african heavyweights, gerrie coetzee, corrie saunders,botha...all fought the best in the world. south africa has in rugby 2 world cups in 5 world cups..beat that.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
I haven't seen such a pathetic "fight" since Rocky & Lucky Gattellari's big comeback fights. I put this SBW "fight" in the same category.
Chris
Guest
The TAB in New Zealand ain't too happy. Check out the NZ Herald.
Whites
Guest
Boxing is hilarious.
Cantab
Guest
Kiwi tabs and international one like bet 365 are all refunding.
Tembavj
Guest
At least he bled a bit for a change... If it bleeds, you can kill it. :)
Tembavj
Guest
Botha was preserving himself, he did not unload signature attack at the start. Normal tactics for a man of his age. Sbw looked good but when Botha opened the gates, SBW defence was lacking. He wasn't even caught clean and he stumbled, holding for dear life. Desperate stuff when the fight took off. Yea his good at sports, is he great at any of them? Has he been tested over time in anything? His marketing value is great more so then anything he has done in sport. Young people fall for it, the way some think WWE is real. Great athlete, better marketing tool. This fight was BS no amount of spin from the spin masters will turn this over.
James
Guest
I think it is almost guaranteed that he will lose his belt. WBA rules state that all matches have to be 12 rounds. Actually, they state that "All sanctioned bouts shall be scheduled for twelve (12) rounds." So given it was scheduled for 12 rounds perhaps that is fine that it only went for 10 rounds.
Tembavj
Guest
Josh you show me one peace of pre fight evidence that is was a 10 round fight and ill but it. If not the norm must be paid.
Tembavj
Guest
Yes Josh and some people can't see him do anything wrong... Man crush stuff. If the bookies have it at 12, the judges and the everyone else in the world why should only sbw and Nasser have this info. Beside the title he won can only be contested over 12.
Josh
Guest
As if , Botha 's camp new it was 10 rounds and so did Sbw so you can't say they would have fought the same if it was 12 rounds not 10. Sbw was smart in the last round he ran down the clock, he new he was in front and he was facing a guy with much more experience then him in boxing and as such new it was a risk at the end of the fight. he beat a guy with real power and real class record in only hid fifth fight it was a fantastic effort . All it involves is people for some reason hate Sbw. He has reached a top level in 3 sports which is a great effort and ok he broke a contract with the dogs but they got thier money in return and got to play off it and will play off it this year so don't feel sorry for the dogs.
Joe Mundine
Guest
That's not being cynical it's factual. Round 9 SBW gets seriously hurt and is shaky. Someone from his corner goes to the referee at the bell who announces "final round" - everyone is stunned including judges (said they expected a 12 rounder when interviewed afterwards). During 10th round SBW is KO'd on his feet, and the referee announces "90s to go" knocking almost half a minute off the final round!!!
Joe Mundine
Guest
You are wilfully deceiving yourself. NZ's only official gambling agency the TAB has just complained saying they investigated and confirmed the 12 rounds prior to the fight as "this has happened before in SBW bouts". http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10864345 Nasser and Mundine are fixing, no surprises there. I hear they are investigating match fixing in Australian sport, well here's an easy starting point
eagleJack
Guest
Actually Jacques I am Australian. But nice comment. The main point I was making is that SBW did very well last night, in spite of the controversial finish. Even if he is stripped of the belt, the SBW camp would be very happy with what they saw in the first 8 Rounds. He looked far more experienced than a bloke stepping in the ring for the 6th time. And for the first time in 12 months with a disrupted preparation.
eagleJack
Guest
Why would I be singing the praise of Quade when we are simply talking about SBW? There are plenty of players I failed to praise as well. Should I list every single one for you? Perhaps if SBW played for the Reds you would change your tune. It's ok to be narrow minded.
Red Kev
Guest
poor quality but here Last Round: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTG1MwQMhYU "Highlights" shows SBW in early rounds as a good contrast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2YJXVSDQpM
Red Kev
Guest
According to World Boxing News Botha will be lodging an official protest and an investigation is likely to happen. I wouldn't be surprised to see SBW stripped of that belt.
Tembavj
Guest
Red Kev can you post a link?