Boxing: All Black Williams wins NZ heavyweight title

Published on Thursday 9 February 2012 00:34

All Blacks rugby star Sonny Bill Williams has won the vacant New Zealand heavyweight boxing title, beating New Zealand-based American fighter Clarence Tillman III by technical knockout in the first round.

Williams took only two minutes and 54 seconds to stop the 34-year-old Tillman and remain unbeaten in five pro fights. There had been some ill-feeling between the two after Tillman punched Williams at a news conference to promote the fight.

Tillman was the first serious test of Williams’ boxing ability, as his previous opponents had included a nightclub bouncer, a digger driver and a 43-year-old gospel singer.

Williams has a clause in his All Blacks contract that allows him to fight and he said he is eager for another bout this year.

His celebrations took a bizarre twist, however, when Richard Tutaki – who had originally been due to fight him – forced his way into the ring to remonstrate with the new champion.

Tutaki had been scratched from the fight by New Zealand boxing authorities for failing to appear in court to answer charges, and stole Williams’ thunder to make a protest.

The exchange momentarily got heated when Williams’ fellow All Black Liam Messam squared up to Tutaki, but the situation was eventually calmed.

“Tutaki jumped in and called out Sonny – he was dead serious,” said Messam. “It was Sonny’s moment. That was not right. It’s disrespectful. You wait for the right time to call him out.”

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