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After last night fight fans are rightly outraged at the controversial manner in which the fight was shortened. Unfortunately this is what can happen when fights are staged in a state that has no boxing commission.
For the Sonny Bill Williams camp, staging a fight in Queensland is cheaper and easier than say NSW where there actually is a boxing commission. There’s less red tape and fees.
While that may, in theory, make things easier to stage fights it leaves plenty of things ‘open’ to interpretation, like for instance shortening a fight. But in also leaves other things open. Since there was no boxing commission in QLD there isn’t any drug testing.
Along with the fight getting shortened, the other thing I found interesting was how fit Frans Botha was. He didn’t sit down between any of the rounds and got stronger as the fight wore on.
Concentrating on the actual fight itself I thought it was an enjoyable fight. I noticed that SBW almost looked embarrassed after the fight which is understandable but I thought he showed some real ticker which bodes well for him if he decides to further his boxing.
Most people – including myself – thought that Botha only had to land one overhand right to end the fight. SBW took at least five of them including a clean hook as the ref was separating the fighters.
During the fight SBW also took several other shots which surprised me. However the name of the game is to land punches not take them so SBW still needs to work on his technique, which to be fair is getting better.
His punching speed was good. Had a very quick jab but on a hard head like Botha’s he needed a stronger punch to halt Botha coming forward all the time.
Botha’s experience came through in the later rounds when SBW started to fade noticeably. Botha started to land his punches alot better and finished clearly the stronger.
For all the disruptions in SBW’s preparations, lack of time in the ring – his last fight was a year ago – and his inexperience I thought he did well. He has the potential to excel.
Unfortunately for rugby fans of both codes if he wants to progress further he really needs to leave rugby so that he can get more fights under his belt.
Fighting only once a year is not going to get him in the type of shape he needs to be to threaten for a World title. He may get away with two fights a year as well as rugby but I don’t think thats going to cut it either.
As for further fights down the road, a rematch with Botha is the only fight worth having and it should be in a place that has a proper boxing commission so that all the rules in and out of the ring are followed.
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