Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Sonny Bill Williams successful in fourth professional fight

Monday, June 06, 2011

Sonny Bill Williams successful in fourth professional fight

This past weekend there was a whole lot of interesting stuff happening in the world of rugby, the least of which was Sonny Bill Williams' fourth professional boxing match, but here's a post about it anyway.

The All Black star in the making went up against Alipate Liava, a 43 year old who is currently on disability benefits as he's not fit to work because of an elbow problem. Williams has acknowledged that his boxing career is a slow work in progress and he's not yet where he wants to be, but many would have hoped this would have been more of a test for him.

The twenty five year old was never troubled, and despite taking a few shots to the jaw, came out unscathed, much to the relief of New Zealand and Crusaders coaches Graham Henry and Todd Blackadder, who were both watching in the crowd.

"He hardly got hit, which is the main thing," Henry said. "He kept moving. He's a good athlete. He moves well. He didn't get touched often, which is great. I think he's feeling good about himself and he's pleased it's over so he can concentrate on other things."

"If it was Richie McCaw, or Dan Carter, or whoever it might be, we would be here to support him," he added, and also mentioned that there wont be another fight before the World Cup, as his All Blacks contract stipulates that condition clearly.

Williams won the fight by a unanimous points decision, with Liava's record now standing at eight successive losses, after he won his first four fights in his 12-bout career.

The positive that came from the rather bizarre mismatch is that money was raised for Christchurch's disaster relief, of which Williams donated a significant sum from his own pocket.

Time: 02:22

Fair play, Sonny Bill would crush me in a boxing ring (or anywhere else for that matter) but this is laughable. A forty-something weeble on disability benefits? Are you having a laugh? If SBW ever makes it into the ring against a genuine middlewight, let alone heavyweight, he'll be knocked senseless.

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 3:02 pm
true anon, I'd love to see him box a decent pro.

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 3:05 pm
Haha have to agree with the two previous comments, he looks the part but put him in with an actual boxer and he would get battered! He turned his back on his opponent twice just trying to throw a big right!

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 3:13 pm
That's true, but it's World Cup year. I'm sure the All Blacks don't want one of they're rising stars being injured before the it!

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 3:13 pm
Reminds me of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmVu9z8Kwis

By Mike, at June 06, 2011 3:17 pm
I'm pretty sure this guy won't be able to claim disability after this...

His elbow seems alright. WTF is his job? How hard can flipping burgers be on the ol' joints?

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 3:18 pm
I'm really not that impressed... He is an unbelievable rugby player boxing fat men. Have you seen his previous fights? I hope that boxing doesn't ruin his rugby career anytime soon!

By Ben, at June 06, 2011 3:19 pm
Every time sonny goes for a big right his left hand is down, put him against a real boxer and he'd get his ass kicked.
Still a great rugby player though

By WelshOsprey, at June 06, 2011 3:25 pm
Him and Tua were having a little spar for the camera's during training and tua was opening him up with every second shot. Just shows the difference between him and a pro. SBW looks decent when he's shadow boxing but he's definately got a long way to go before he takes on some real fighters. They should give him a go against former league player monty beetham.

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 3:27 pm
"put him in with an actual boxer and he would get battered!"

"put him against a real boxer and he'd get his ass kicked"

u fukn idiots.

What about if David Haye or one of the Klitschkos turned to Pro Rugby?

If they started playing in a shitty club team in the 4th division and scored a try and got the same media attention SBW does would you belittle them and say they need to man up and play in the Premiership or Super Rugby comps? Hell fuk no. They'd learn their trade at a lower level just like Sonny Bill is doing.

You answer your own stupid opinions by saying he isn't much of a boxer and yet he needs to fight real pros to prove it.

What if Sonny Bill decided to juggle his Super Rugby with being a Car Salesman? He sells a couple of shitty cars after a little training and everyone bags him saying he needs to sell 100 cars a week and also sell more than the top salesman at Ford, BMW and Mercedes before they take him seriously.

Fukn idiots who knock this kid for living his life need to take a long look at their own pitiful boring lives.

By Martin Johnson, at June 06, 2011 3:43 pm
Sony against a 43 year old overweight gospel singer. Just not fair. Everybody knew he would win from the beginig

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 3:48 pm
That was cringeworthy!

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 3:49 pm
To be fair SBW will get smashed if he fights any decent fighters. He's a big fella and a great rugby player but his boxing technique and style is very inexperienced.

By Dave J, at June 06, 2011 4:09 pm
Martin Johnson you need to take your tongue out of SBWs ass and see hes clearly a shit boxer.

By ElTigre, at June 06, 2011 4:11 pm
I love the SBW fan boys jump up when someone says this is laughable.... At the end of the day it's been pointed out... You have a guy with perfect physical body against a disabled fat guy.... But yeh, we need to look at our own 'boring lives' maybe I should go pick a fight with the guy in a wheelchair down the road to get your approval....

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 4:50 pm
@ElTigre

Steady on colonial. I never said he was a decent boxer - but bagging him for pursuing an interest as if an oik like you or the other knockers are any better or more knowledgable is laughable.

I couldnt give a monkeys what he does, but seeing all you keyboard warriors talk it up is comical.

By Martin Johnson, at June 06, 2011 4:57 pm
"But yeh, we need to look at our own 'boring lives' maybe I should go pick a fight with the guy in a wheelchair down the road to get your approval."

Please enlighten us on whether YOU could you have beaten SBW's opponent oh mighty keyboard warrior?

By FML, at June 06, 2011 5:03 pm
jesus FML & MJ you guys are lame! Nobody was knocking SBW for doing something he has an interest in, most people were just saying he's a fairly shit boxer!
I'm certain he would batter me, I'm also certain he's a great athlete. He's a shit boxer though.

By tny, at June 06, 2011 5:17 pm
awesome rugby player but this boxing thing is a circus

By jason, at June 06, 2011 5:19 pm
yeah he defs has a long way to go, and he probably should have tried a slightly harder opponent BUT hes only been boxing for a year, most start when theyre real young, 12,13,14. Of course hes gonna look shit compared to those pro boxers but given the amount of time hes been doing it he may get somewhere.

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 5:22 pm
Not gonna lie, that's a little bit shit.

By Anonymous, at June 06, 2011 5:24 pm
Fair play to him having a hobby outside of rugby, but he has a long way to go. Doubt we'll see him against a "real" boxer any time soon. He'd get too beat up, which would be detrimental to AB and crusaders.

I find it strange that its actually part of his contract.

By medicaluke, at June 06, 2011 5:29 pm
He reportedly donated something like 100k dollars, so thats not too bad of him really?

Lets hope by the time he gets to his tenth opponent, the quality will have gone up a fair bit, on both sides.

By Laz, at June 06, 2011 5:37 pm
Concerning his boxing skills, SBW is a great rugby player

By Andrés, at June 06, 2011 6:09 pm
Ridicolous match. Sonny is a good guy but it will never survive a real match with a real pro.

By Lucius, at June 06, 2011 7:09 pm
@ Medicaluke

I think it was one of his stipulations to sign for the All Blacks/NZRU. I can imagine these kinds of "hobbies" are prohobited. I can remember a skiing incident with a french prop ... supposedly he wasn't even allowed to go skiing.

Too many people bitching and moaning again; I'd reckon SBW had a good time, the fat bloke maybe not so much (but he got a lot of attention out of it) and SBW donated 100K for the Christchurch relief.

What's there to moan about?

By Sander, at June 06, 2011 7:18 pm
The problem then is clearly one of SBW getting media coverage for his boxing when it clearly isn't merited, it being given because of his celebrity status as a rugby player.

The media are the culprits here, who will do anything for ratings.

Forgive me for saying so (braces self for abuse) but I see shades of Gavin Henson here.

By Stephen, at June 06, 2011 8:41 pm
Guys it's a charity bout. If he can use his status to do good and create some entertainment, fair-play.

As for him being a crap boxer...well maybe he is, I'm not an expert, but given his Rugby career I'm sure he gets to dedicate about a 3rd of the time (if that) to boxing compared to the average pro-boxer, so all in all not bad.

The fat guy would probably batter most of us, let alone Sonny! ;)

By I hate ppl who write "First!", at June 06, 2011 8:42 pm
It's not all shit though. He seems to have cured the dumpy singer's tennis elbow. That's a positive.

By katman, at June 06, 2011 8:48 pm
i'd definitely want to see SBW against a decent boxer
also his hair was kinda fucked up ugly

By Luxi, at June 06, 2011 8:50 pm
Stephen, that's one of the dumbest things in the long list of dumb things being said here.

Despite all of the press surrounding him, SBW seems to be quite the humble character. I know that because I wanted to hate on him at first, too. Now all I see is a guy who earns all he accomplishes, despite everyone and their brother having an opinion about it.

By orange, at June 06, 2011 10:03 pm
He is a massive fella but I have a suspicious feeling that it is nothing but beach muscle. He seems very weak for someone of his size and many rugby players that are his size like Fruean, Kaino, Read, Gear and Nonu do a much better job in terms of direct running.

Good on him for giving it a go. But for someone of his size which is absolutely huge! He should be knocking the shit out of these guys. I bet David Tua could play some pretty decent rugby granted his fitness was up to stratch as he is very powerful unlike SBW.

By Les Bleus, at June 06, 2011 10:53 pm
LOL there are a lot of idiots on RugbyDump.

Why would someone with no experience jump in the ring with a top 200 boxer? Ofcourse SBW would loose (currently) to a top-class professional.

Everyone needs to start somewhere in all sports, the fact that he donated 100k to ChCh seems to mean nothing to some of you.

Well done SBW, now please get back on the rugby field :-)

By Anonymous, at June 07, 2011 1:06 am
THIS IS AN EMBARASSMENT! Thankfully there was a good cause

By Anonymous, at June 07, 2011 1:13 am
Hes going down the same route as Gaven Henson and hes weak for his size.....seriously they are the two most ridiculous comments I have ever read. Maybe the boxing does need some work but sure its for a good cause and keeps him happy and at least hes in the gym and working hard instead of out drinking an getting in trouble in his spare time. Sonny Bill = Bloody good bloke.

By ulsterchris, at June 07, 2011 1:48 am
Well said, Chris.

By elliott, at June 07, 2011 2:08 am
I'd like to see SBW fight Barry Hall.

By Anonymous, at June 07, 2011 2:20 am
reading the comments, yeh its good that he gave money 2 charity no one has a problem with that(only a greedy person would not), the problem is he is not very good (my first thoughts was very messy)... and I dont get why he chose 2 fight a fat guy on disability, does that show bad he really is?

was the whole match shown on tv? and the previous 3 on a sports chan? if so feel sorry for the real boxers out there who have 2 work at boxing 2 get recognized, not using fame 2 get on tv....

My point with this is that it seems like the media is taking it as a serious event which makes it look mediocre and embarrassing for all.

and something for "Martin Johnson" 2 think about.....

If David Haye did play in a rugby game for a shit team... would u expect a whole TV chan 2 cover the match... NO! maybe just a quick shot on the news.... so tbh your comments dont have nothing 2 do with this topic. also why do you have 2 come on here and piss everyone off with your bad manners and start a slaging match.

By Anonymous, at June 07, 2011 3:46 am
^Yes, we all take your astute opinion very seriously, what with using "2" instead of "to" and all.

Thank you so very much for your input.

By gobias industries, at June 07, 2011 5:57 am
Aha! I suspected some misinterpretation of what I posted. I wasn't comparing the character of SBW to GH's. What I was doing was comparing the treatment of SBW to that of GH, in that he seems to be becoming a celebrity outside the domain of rugby. I have no idea how that might pan out in the end.

Personally I have little opinion on the character of either. What's it to do with me?

By Stephen, at June 07, 2011 8:07 am
when SBW first came to rugby i thought he was massively overhyped and believed his toloun deal was absurd considering he had never played union on a professional level. i thought he would prove to be a dud in france but i was wrong. when there was massive media coverage about him and the nzru i thought it was undeserved and that there were far better centers. while there are high quality players like nonu who hold a better claim to an all black jersey i was still wrong.

SBW came to union with a massive amount of hype and for the most part met all the challenges. but these were actual challenges. if SBW wants to be a boxer either now or in the future than he should be training more and quietly. No one expects him to bout with a top ranked opponent but at least fight men that are comparable in size and weight instead of these ridicoulsly mismatched fights.

nobody would fault an athelete who switches codes for competing in lower ranked divisions. thats fine to gain experience but these matches that SBW has been doing for the most part would be similar if beckham or ronolado started playing rugby in an u15 divison.
i understand no one wants SBW to fight a top ranked boxer or should expect him to win, but theres got to be plenty of lower ranked journeymen who could use the publicity and actually make a contest.

By miguel, at June 07, 2011 9:06 am
What a poor combat, it´s a shame seeing this "fight".

By Anonymous, at June 07, 2011 12:53 pm
LMAO. Sonny can't string punches together to save his life. Seriously, without his physical superiority he'd get his arse kicked by people you could pull in off the street.

Maybe post Rugby(say 30) if he gives it a proper go he could make a name for himself in Australasia as a boxer. But he looks arse, tbh.

By Anonymous, at June 07, 2011 2:14 pm
If they started playing in a shitty club team in the 4th division and scored a try and got the same media attention SBW does would you belittle them and say they need to man up and play in the Premiership or Super Rugby comps? Hell fuk no. They'd learn their trade at a lower level just like Sonny Bill is doing.

You answer your own stupid opinions by saying he isn't much of a boxer and yet he needs to fight real pros to prove it.

----------

Don't talk on subjects you don't grasp. There's plenty of quality boxers who are no-names. SBW is handpicking bums.

And yes, actually, I would say that. If someone was highlighting dominance over the level of competition he was currently facing I would suggest he sign to a better club and play against better players(which happens, in case you didn't realise). And if a boxer was fighting well below his level I'd suggest(along with most boxing fans) that he fights an opponent worthy.

People like SBW, whether pros from another sport or out and out boxers are frowned upon in boxing. He's no boxer. He's a coward who's afraid to test himself and jeapordise Brand SBW.

He's had 4 pro fights and not one of them has been against a real boxer.

I will tell you now as fact that the majority of boxers fought better opponents in their first pro fight.

If SBW wants to fight to his level amongst amateurs he should go do that. If he wants to be a pro he should fight decent opposition and be willing to cop flak for fighting numpties. And let me tell you, all boxers catch flak if they try to make a career on the back of fighting bums.

By Anonymous, at June 07, 2011 2:26 pm
Steady on colonial. I never said he was a decent boxer - but bagging him for pursuing an interest as if an oik like you or the other knockers are any better or more knowledgable is laughable.

-------

I am. My good friend will be ranked a top 30 Welterweight British boxer if he wins his next fight. UFC fighter Mark Bisping also used to DJ at my friends pub, oddly enough, prior to making it big.

The level of SBW is so low that many people here not only will know more about boxing than SBW, but some of us are probably more competent boxers. If I was 6'3 and 110kg I would beat SBW senseless inside or outside a ring. I'd give him a run for his money inside the ring and I'm 5'10 and 11 stone.

And this is why people are slamming the man. Because he's got people who know nothing about boxing - Like you, for example - thinking that he's actually got some skill and that his position as a professional has been justified.

If we use Rugby as comparison SBW boxing ability isn't even semi-pro. He's park football standard at best. He just happens to be very athletic and fixes fights against non-boxers.

By MeAGain, at June 07, 2011 2:34 pm
Regardless of his technique which can only improve SBW is in fantastic shape and I wouldn`t like a clip of his right hand. The other guy needn`t worry about losing his benefit because of his left elbow because he didn`t use it in this fight either from what I say

By Anonymous, at June 07, 2011 4:40 pm
God, his footwork and general technique are bloody awful. I know he's a learner and all that, but he'd get destroyed by probably any decent pro middleweight.

By Daaave, at June 07, 2011 5:31 pm
Fight a proper fighter, pussy.

By Anonymous, at June 07, 2011 7:01 pm
The internet warrior 2:26am and 2:34am is hilarious. To sum up his points:

"If I were as big and in shape as SBW, I'd kick his ass!"

"I know awesome boxers, so I'm cool by association"

"Yeah, I'd still talk trash if some awesome boxer decided to have some recreational fun and play lower level rugby - I'd tell him he's a loser who can't play pro"

"I don't do any of the above things, and I sit at my computer and rail on other people because I'm bored with my life"

By thanks for the laugh, at June 07, 2011 7:57 pm
*make that 2:26pm and 2:34pm, not "am".

By thanks for the laugh, at June 07, 2011 7:57 pm
Gavin Henson would hammer the shit out of SBW!

By Anonymous, at June 08, 2011 12:32 am
thanks for the laugh said...

---------

Because I know about Boxing I'm an internet warrior? Does the same apply if I discussed my understanding of Rugby, my ability and experience? What If I gave you my opinion on the Socio-Economic nature of Somalia; Would I be a keyboard Karl Marx?

It's a sign of insecurity when you attack people, especially their character, because they know more than you do on a subject.

There's tens of thousands of people in Britain who would beat SBW in a square-dance. That number goes into the hundreds of thousands if you take away Williams superior height and life of physical training(in the gym).

When I tell you these things I'm not showing off or trying to portray myself as some sort of tough guy, because I'm NOT! And neither is SBW, which is the point! If you weren't an insecure juvenile with the understanding of a gold fish, you'd have clocked on.

But hey, if you want to believe that thinking you're tough is a prerequisite to knowing about and having an interest in boxing, go right ahead - Your fallacious reasoning only reflects poorly on you, I assure you.

By Anonymous, at June 08, 2011 1:00 am
my mommy said she likse 2 look at big men's tackle.

By Anonymous, at June 08, 2011 4:08 am
less of a competition than a WWE bout

By Anonymous, at June 08, 2011 11:33 am
How much of a fat shit is SBW fighting? awful fight...Biggest waste of time looking at that shite...Id rather watch Dan Carter take a dump

By Anonymous, at June 08, 2011 3:12 pm
lol is this real life?

By Anonymous, at June 09, 2011 2:57 am
I think the first comment pretty much says it all.

By Luke, at June 11, 2011 3:43 am
i think i could beat up an over weight midget to.

By Ryan, at June 12, 2011 5:58 pm