Reports have been circulating this morning that Rugby Union / Rugby League / Boxer Sonny Bill Williams has been stripped of his professional boxing titles after failing to defend a title within the last six months.
Williams has had ample opportunity to meet his obligations. He refused an offer to face Joseph Parker in October, much to the annoyance of former rugby league great turned boxing promoter Dean Lonergan. Back in October Lonergan said to New Zealand’s Stuff Magazine “There’s no doubt about Sonny Bill’s drawing power, He’s a star on both sides of the Tasman in the two most popular codes.”
“He’s a supreme athlete when it comes to rugby union and rugby league.”
“However, he lacks credibility as a boxer. I don’t care what anyone says, he can’t fight.”
I have commented many times about how I perceive Williams as a sports person and a person. I can’t help but feel a small amount of grim satisfaction therefore that someone has finally stepped up to hold Williams accountable for his actions. Too often Williams has been left to make up the rules as he goes along, and have people made adjustments to accommodate. The New Zealand Kiwi’s league team. The NZRFU. The list goes on. Someone needs to bring this ego to heel and remind him that sport is more than just one person.
Granted a lot of the recent shenanigans of Williams can be atributed back to his management team. It doesn’t help that his ongoing association with Khodder Nasser seems to be growing increasingly toxic, and one can only wonder how much more damage Williams can absorb before he wakes up to himself.
Of course it can’t be discounted that Williams CAN box, and he CAN play Rugby. He’s just rapidly becoming a victim of his own infamy. I’m trying to be objective here, or as objective as I can be where Sonny Bill is concerned. The fact is he DOES turn up to play when he’s on the field.
It does need to be pointed out however that Williams did win his last bout under highly controversial circumstances, with his opponent Francois Botha looking for all the money to be on for victory before the fight was stopped in the 10th round. Botha’s camp protested, and again Nasser trotted out his spin doctorish best. It seems that Williams is less player these days and more celebrity breakdown. He’s a sex tape away from disaster.
No doubt we will hear from Nasser in due course refuting all of the claims made against Williams. Despite repeated attempts from the various boxing associations to get in contact with Williams and his management being roundly ignored. Williams will be back on the field for the NRL Sydney City Roosters in 2014 before apparently returning to the Super Rugby Waikato Chiefs franchise in 2015.
Coincidental isn’t it that 2015 is the next Rugby World Cup year?
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Main Photo Credit: Paul Barnard via Flickr
