Boxing: Williams beats Botha in title fight
William wins the BA International heavyweight title.
BRISBANE:
World Cup-winning ex-All Black Sonny Bill Williams added another crown to his career yesterday after beating veteran boxer Frans Botha to win their WBA International heavyweight title bout.
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.
World Cup-winning ex-All Black Sonny Bill Williams added another crown to his career yesterday after beating veteran boxer Frans Botha to win their WBA International heavyweight title bout.
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.