Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sonny Bill Williams pushed all the way in third pro fight
It was clear early on that Lewis meant business as he came out the blocks firing away at the multi-talented Williams, who managed to raise a few thousand dollars from the event.
The fight went six rounds and while both showed fatigue, Williams superb conditioning meant he was able to get stronger as the fight went on, whereas Lewis, while giving it his all, was gaping for breath at times, and failed to successfully land one of his dangerous lefts. The Williams jab kept him at bay, while a few uppercuts did most of the damage.
"Obviously I would like to extend my boundaries and do well in another sport, but there's a lot of things I need to sharpen up," he said. "It's a work in progress."
The former NRL star finished ahead on all three scorecards, 60-55, 60-55 and 60-54.
''I can have another fight if I wish during the season - it is in my contract - but if I feel that it is going to jeopardise my playing ability in any way I won't do it because rugby is first right now,'' Williams said.
''But if it doesn't, if it feels like it would give me that kick which I feel right now - I feel mentally strong and I could play 80 minutes easy of footy after that - then I will do it for sure.
''It is back to rugby now. I'll have to train hard and change focus but that is all right. I don't like to be idle, I just like to work hard and I can't wait to get stuck into it.''
Williams will now return to training with the Crusaders, hoping to add another two kilograms to him impressive frame ahead of his first ever Super Rugby season.
The following is a short clip highlighting some of the more entertaining moments in the fight.
Sonny Bill Williams boxing again, before heading to Canterbury (July 2010)
Sonny Bill Williams makes his boxing debut in Brisbane (June 2009)
Note: Thanks to stuff.co.nz for the video report
Posted at 3:04 pm | 62 comments
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Viewing 62 comments
Jonno January 30, 2011 6:20 pm

Nothing against him, it's just he seems a bit cocky that's all.....
Hendrick January 30, 2011 6:27 pm

no rain in spain January 30, 2011 7:00 pm

Anyways, here come the onslaught of posts about how he's over-hyped/a pussy for boxing people other than David Haye or something. Good grief.
Laz January 30, 2011 7:06 pm

Von January 30, 2011 7:31 pm

TB January 30, 2011 7:44 pm

Anonymous January 30, 2011 7:48 pm

Sander January 30, 2011 7:51 pm

Tight-end. Don't see any other position for him really...
Tall enough for a receiver, but not quick enough, I'd think.
Considering he'd have to do a fair amount of blocking as TE, he'd probably have to bulk up.
But that's all hypothetical: why would the NFL want someone like SBW, even though he seems like great athlete? In all respects, American Football is completely different ballgame.
orange January 30, 2011 8:25 pm

NFL has as much to do with SBW as does Hockey. Maybe he'd be good at that, too, but who cares? It's a different game and while he may have switched from League to Union rather well, it wouldn't be the same going to a totally different sport.
Just a thought - TE would still be a bit of a stretch. SBW is amazing at offloads, which is something that occurs hardly ever in the NFL. He's big and he's tall and his hands are massive, yeah, but that'd be about all he's got going for him...and to make it to the NFL these days just about starts in middle school.
orange January 30, 2011 8:28 pm

I think boxing is just something Sonny Bill does for fun. Of course he's not going to go toe to toe with big name or incredibly tough opponents. I've you were playing for the #1 rugby team in the world, would you risk losing it all just to prove how tough you are?
Sander January 30, 2011 8:29 pm

Agree with the offloads being the strongest part of SBW's game. That's near impossible with the kind of hits they dish out in the NFL and the speed of the game.
Completely different game, completely different skills sets (and different style of hitting people).
Let's hope SBW stays in the Union game for a couple more seasons. I'm very interested to see how SBW expands his game, very exciting prospect.
f'edupworld January 30, 2011 9:59 pm

To play in the NFL he'd have to cut out his endurance runs and focus on his 40 yard time (not to mention learn the game). Not that I want him to go there though.
I heard Russel Crowes trying to lure him back to League...lol.
Anonymous January 30, 2011 10:02 pm

WelshOsprey January 30, 2011 10:33 pm

Anonymous January 30, 2011 10:36 pm

Anonymous January 30, 2011 11:04 pm

--------------
The average career of a Rugby League player in the NRL is 8 games! Neither has anything to do with injury, and everything to do with competition.
Sonny is 6'3, which is 2 inches taller than the average NFL player. And he's 240 lbs, despite being amazingly aerobically fit. He could quite easily put on an additional 20-30lbs and lose nothing in the way of speed in the NFL.
Now, if you think a 6'3, 270lb athlete like SBW isn't big or fast enough for the NFL I'd say you know next to nothing about the NFL, other than what you've seen on commercials.
SBW would never be good enough for the NFL. Because he can't play Football. Nothing to do with his lack of size of speed.
You know nothing about Football. You're lying or you're misinformed.
Anonymous January 31, 2011 12:23 am

Pussy patrol January 31, 2011 1:39 am

3rd fight (1st propper) and he won.
SBW would dice your little keyboard hero arse up.
And whos the muppet saying he has an Ego for NFL? Don't hide behind anon mate, grow a pair and don't be a hater.
Too many muppets and pussys on this site these days.
Nicko January 31, 2011 1:45 am

And iv never seen any sign of an ego for SBW, for someone who is such a star and constantly in the spotlight, he conducts himself very well.
Lets just hope he sticks to Union and leaves the boxing for the later years.
tb January 31, 2011 5:45 am

I thought SBW was new to Union and he's pretty much walked on to the AB's. Why couldn't he walk on to the Detroit Lions or somebody?
Orange: playing in the All Blacks starts BEFORE middle school and this dude did it in what, a year?
I don't think playing tight end demands more skill than playing both ways in the centers in Union.
Fun to think about, that's all!
Anonymous January 31, 2011 8:50 am

Lanky maori, Spies is a far better athlete.
Anonymous January 31, 2011 8:52 am

Anonymous January 31, 2011 8:57 am

katman January 31, 2011 9:49 am

Anonymous January 31, 2011 9:58 am

Von January 31, 2011 10:13 am

I love sbw
Well actually, no "Von" didn't say that. some other silly bar steward using my name said this.
Having said that I am a big fan...
Anonymous January 31, 2011 10:48 am

SBW is not a natural boxer, anyone can goto the gym and lift weights.
alf January 31, 2011 12:02 pm

The site has never been a highlights central. In fact, in the past, there was typically much more isolated clips - of just a single crazy try being scored, or some odd incident. Lately there has been much more in terms of highlights.
So, in summation, don't be such a cunt.
alf January 31, 2011 12:03 pm

A Wise Man Once January 31, 2011 12:30 pm

Nick January 31, 2011 12:49 pm

simont January 31, 2011 12:58 pm

Typical Irishman. Demanding, can't spell, and thinking that other people want to see his team in action.
Get a grip
Alexander January 31, 2011 1:54 pm

Dutchrugbyplayer January 31, 2011 4:45 pm

that was Classic!!!!!
Looks like he could work on his defense. For the rest, nothing but respect.
Anonymous January 31, 2011 5:41 pm

Gear (1.88cm, 100kg), Nonu (1.82m, 104kg) and Williams (1.91m, 108kg), for example, are similar in speed to an NFL running back.
Take Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, at 1.78m and 96kg. Dallas's Felix Jones is 1.78m, 99kg, Rashard Mendenhall of the Pittsburgh Steelers, 1.78m, 102kg.
The wide receivers are smaller still. Danny Amendola of St Louis is 1.80m, 84kg, similar in size to Jane (1.83m, 91kg), while Santonio Holmes of the New York Jets is 1.80m and 87kg.
Tightends are bigger John Carlson of Seattle, 1.96m, 113kg, similar to Anthony Boric (2m, 113kg) or Jerome Kaino (1.96m, 109kg) while Jermaine Gresham of the Cincinnati Bengals is 1.96m and 118kg.
Sprint times have closed too.
The NFL record for the 40m dash stands at 4.24sec, a mark shared by Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Rondel Melendez in 1999 and running back Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans in 2008.
Rugby is not great at providing such stats, but Sosene Anesi is said to have posted the fastest 40m recorded in New Zealand rugby with 4.53sec, while Joe Rokocoko once clocked 4.66sec.
Legends abound about Lomu's pace, but he did clock 10.8sec over 100m when he was at school, not quite as quick as Rokocoko at 10.66sec, or Bryan Habana's 10.4sec.
Polynesians provide a unique genetic set for contact sport, but is unsure if rugby will ever match the African American gene pool for pure speed.
"With the genetics you get probably a greater number of fast twitch fibres, longer Achilles, smaller calves, bigger gluts, so you are a born runner.
"If you watch the game, where they are quick is in changing direction and accelerating. The running backs are very quick off the mark, and have very good stepping ability."
for full article go to...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/4531008/All-Blacks-measure-up-for-American-football/
"
orange January 31, 2011 6:04 pm

It's just too much of a different game.
Now, as an NFL fan, what I would like to see is more rugby-type play in American Football...but that's another topic for another day.
Anonymous January 31, 2011 6:27 pm

P.S. good article about the rugby/NFL
f'edupworld January 31, 2011 9:55 pm

Yes he is a VERY average boxer, and that's being polite. I realise he doesn't do it full time though (it obviously shows).
'3rd fight (1st propper) and he won.'
Does that make him a 'good' boxer? lol
$BW January 31, 2011 10:09 pm

Tom January 31, 2011 11:25 pm

This guy is a proffesional rugby player, who has forced his way into the best team in the world after half an NPC season.
He was also one the best rugby league players in the game before he crossed over.
In his SPARE FUCKING TIME he fights proffesionally.
The guy he beat is a chump, but he is a trained boxer, he has fought and won proffesionally before.
Sure this does not make SBW anything more than a below average pro boxer, but he does it IN HIS SPARE TIME.
Most of the retards commenting on this could devote their entire goddamn lives to boxing and still never be as good at it as SBW.
And in regards to his ego, he's ezxtremely humble. He never talks it up, he's always respectful.
Some people are just dicks and can't give credit to him.
Jono January 31, 2011 11:33 pm

is record is 3 wins - 5 losses, so he's pretty bloody average, but he would knock out anyone who didn't have any idea.
Considering SBW beat him relativley easily and without getting hurt, it's not a bad effort for a guy who trains part time and is only in his third pro fight.
Rowan DeBues February 01, 2011 2:42 am

Again, the bloke is going out and raising thousands of dollars for charity with these fights. The fact that he can be on the best team in the world in rugby (and don't say he isn't good enough) and also box professionally (even if it's against sub par competition) it is still an amazing achievement.
Go out and raise several grand for charity in one night before you start slagging a guy off
Jeremy February 01, 2011 2:43 am

Anonymous February 01, 2011 8:15 pm

Anonymous February 01, 2011 10:25 pm

SBW is an AllBlack who boxes for a bit of fun on the side and he still dusted lewis.
SBW = Humble legend
Spies (not sure why he was brought into this debate) = overated drug cheat.
I'd love to see 1 person on here play opposite SBW or step into the ring with him.
KEYBOARD WARRIORS = PUSSYS
Scotsdale February 01, 2011 10:36 pm

Smart
Nicko February 02, 2011 3:04 am

I don't believe it though.
Anonymous February 02, 2011 6:32 am

He is not boxing in his spare time. The reason he is boxing is because the NZRU could not afford the top up required for him to stay in NZ. Get your facts straight you conga line of suck-holes.
Thanks.
Anonymous February 02, 2011 8:03 am

---------
Samoans are 50 x more likely on a per person basis to make the NFL than a black guy. In 20 years the game will look insanely different race wise.
NFL is only just catching up in terms of raiding the Pacific.
And we have plenty of Africans in Rugby, especially in Europe. Only Jason Robinson, who was mixed, had other worldly ability.
rt February 02, 2011 8:06 am

--------
He's boxing because he's friends with Anthony Mundine, who paid the Bulldogs a few hundred thousand when SBW dissapeared.
HAs nothing to do with himself being broke lmao
Anonymous February 02, 2011 11:42 am

I wasn't saying he was broke, I was saying that the NZRU could not affort to contract him to Canterbury without a top up package because France offered him more. Only way he agreed to play in NZ was via concessions from the NZRU. One which was, boxing.
Now fackoff
Anonymous February 02, 2011 4:18 pm

Average Tight End in NFL gets $2million. Surely Sonny Bill would get 1-1.5m over in France. Not much of a difference may as well stick with a sport he is proven at.
Toby February 02, 2011 10:00 pm

Rugby has a respectful culture so leave the bitching and hating to soccer fans.
Get a fucken' life!!!
Tom February 02, 2011 10:18 pm

And he does it part time, you knobend, he trains full time at rugby, then he does a bit of boxing training in the offseason, has a quick pro fight, then back to rugby.
The point i was making is that he is not a full time pro boxer and he still fights pretty well.
Anonymous February 03, 2011 12:12 am

He's boxing (as said before) becasue he's mates with AM and he obviously enjoys it.
Do yourself a favour and stop tossing strangers salads mate, its messing with your tiny brain.
Agree February 03, 2011 12:14 am

RD February 03, 2011 6:24 am

Lets all just try have a decent discussion please, rather than making the comments an unpleasant place for everyone.
Thanks
Anonymous February 05, 2011 1:43 pm
















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