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Reports have emerged from the Southern Hemisphere that New Zealand All Black rugby star and occasional boxer Sonny Bill Williams is rumoured to have signed a contract to fight the veteran South African Heavyweight Francois Botha.
The 26 year old All Black star, who is currently playing rugby in Japan for the Top League rugby union team Panasonic Wild Knights, located in the city of Ota, who were All Japan Champions in 2008.
Williams, who turned professional back in 2009, describes his boxing career as good off season training for Rugby as he has an agreement with the New Zealand Rugby Union to box.
He’s had five professional bouts and clinched the New Zealand Heavyweight title in just his fifth professional bout. If this fight is confirmed, Williams will face, without doubt, his toughest opponent in the form of the 43 year “White Buffalo”, Botha.
Botha, who turned professional back in 1990 in Johannesburg, defeating fellow countryman Johan Zyl in just one round, will provide a tough test for Williams despite being losing three of his last four fights, all by knockout, and most recently against Carlos Takam for the WBO Africa title in Saint Denis France.
During that time span Botha also lost to fellow 40 something Michael Grant, whom he was beating on the scorecards quite handsomely before getting knocked out at the Monte Casino in Johannesburg back in November 2011 and also losing to American icon Evander Holyfield.
Other marquee names on Botha’s long record are current Heavyweight champion of the World, Wladimir Klitschko, to whom he suffered an eighth round knockout loss for the WBO title back in 2002 in Baden Wurrtemburg, Germany.
In 2000, Botha suffered a second round knockout loss to Lennox Lewis for the undisputed championship in Millwall. Back in 1999, he suffered a fifth round knockout to Mike Tyson at the MGM Grand and a twelfth round knockout loss in 1996 to two time World Heavyweight champion and former 175lb king, Michael Moorer.
Williams will have youth, speed and power on his side but is grossly inexperienced in comparison to the aging Botha, and should Williams get the opportunity to fight and potentially knockout Botha, it merely confirm the need that the White Buffalo needs to be put out to pasture.
