Williams, who won the Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks in 2011, survived a whirlwind finish from South African Botha to land the vacant title with a unanimous points decision over 10 rounds in Brisbane.
The ringside judges gave him the fight 97-91, 98-94, 97-91 over the 10 rounds to boos from the crowd.
Williams came through the bout almost unscathed for his NRL premiership return on March 7. Botha’s record now stands at 48-10-3.
The South African has fought the likes of Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko and Evander Holyfield in a 23-year fight career.
“He caught me with a couple of good shots but thank God I stuck in there,” said Williams.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2013.
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