no christmas for SBWs opponent...

No Christmas for Sonny Bill's opponent

South African veteran heavyweight boxer Francois Botha has turned his back on Christmas and the holidays, saying that he will continue to refine his condition so he can defeat former All Black Sonny Bill Williams.

Williams, who won a Rugby World Cup and Investec Super Rugby title before heading to Panasonic in Japan, has been out of action recently with a chest injury.

This forced Williams to postpone his next professional fight, and first as New Zealand Heavyweight champion.

With Williams an official titleholder, and Botha a ranked fighter, the world’s boxing associations will take notice and the South African known as the ‘White Buffalo’ feels this could be his second big chance.

Williams and Botha will fight in Brisbane in February, the same time Reds and Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper will make his boxing debut.

"I want to win this fight and then we'll see what the WBA will line up for me," Botha said.

"This will be a WBA International title bout so there's plenty at stake and it could propel my career back into the big time.

"I've cancelled all plans for vacationing over the festive period so that I will arrive in Aussie in great shape. I've already lost eight kilos and that gives one an idea of how hard I've been training."

Williams meanwhile is making better than expected progress and could again line up for the Wild Knights as they look to the Japanese Top League Finals.

this is a match of high risk for SBW, one that serevs him well in terms of experience only, but very little reward regardless of the outcome.

if SBW loses which is what im half expecting (and by KO too), then he hits a roadblock of sorts with the boxing career he wants as a serious option in the future.
if SBW wins, then botha will be labelled and over the hill old timer and like brother mike says about the older athletes, should have been put to pasture long ago.
its for these reasons that the only thing SBW will get out of the botha fight is experience to hold him in good steed for future boxing endevours.

good luck anywways SBW, ur goona need it against that OX llike botha, keep both the feet and head moving cos bothas got that one hit power KO punch to put u to sleep, but u have the athelticisim and speed advantage and the well wishes of all NZ, :o)
 

 I want to watch this match. Would be good if SBW gets knocked out. No one hand offloads here but he is sure going to have to rely on his sidesteps. Maybe a few Campezi Goosteps. Sunny Bill is going to have the speed but will he be able to take the punches. Botha may be past his best, but he is no Teletubby Christian singer which is a registered cripple claiming the dole!

 Could be  a late Christmas present for Sonny Bill. KO

I did not know tthat SBW is the New Zealnd heavt weight champion and knows next to nothing about the New Zealand boxing situation at all.   Is it as weak as their cricket team - or on a higher level of performances? 

Why should a top rugby player take up boxing as well?   I know years ago they drafted a boxer into the All Black team as a prop and his sole mandate was to hit the players out of the team - thoise days there were no injury replacements and when a player had to leave the field of play - he was not replaced.   I can remember an old movie clip - where in a line-out this guys arms were swinging wildly at everybody and everything.   Those were in the Jan Pickard (the grandfather of Francois Louw) days as captain and I believe Pickard floored him after that incident and he was carried off the field of play.

Boxing can be a negative for rugby players and at least Quade Cooper has at minimum some unsavoury disciplinary problems - is boxing not going to make it worse??? 

Fransie is a bit over the hill. I'ts been a while since he went 5 rounds with Tyson. Maybe a dive against sonny will earn him a bit of a pension, but I doubt that. Go FRANSIE!!!

Yes Draad its go Fransie!!!  Help ou sbw make the right career choices. He thinks beating up on old men is a career. Teach the oak a good lesson.