Rugby World Cup winner pulls on boxing gloves to secure vacant Kiwi heavyweight belt

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS (above left), a member of New Zealand's World Cup-winning rugby team, has taken another step forward in his second sports career – boxing – by trouncing the journeyman Clarence Tillman earlier today to take the vacant New Zealand heavyweight title.

Williams has it written into his contract with New Zealand rugby Super League team Waikato Chiefs that he is able to pursue his boxing career part-time.

As the video shows, he appears to be serious about keeping the boxing part-time - the fight barely lasted three minutes and was stopped with one second of the first round left.

The American Tillman was clearly out of shape and spent much of the round stumbling and swinging wildly at the rafters after being caught with a decent left hook early on.

Williams, who now has five professional wins, three by knockout, had originally been slated to fight countryman Richard Tutaki, but Tillman was named as a late replacement after Tutaki was arrested on drug charges.

It was clear from the start that Tillman would be offering pretty low-grade opposition: his cornermen were wearing T-shirts sponsored by an Auckland strip club called Calendar Girls - motto: "The best girls in town or your money back!"

Source:  www.theweek.co.uk/boxing/45144/rugbys-sonny-bill-williams-takes-nz-heavyweight-title

Sonny Bill Williams wins the New Zealand heavy weight title in his title boxing match against Clarence Tillman in Hamilton

Sonny Bill Williams says his remarkable sporting career has reached a new high after claiming the New Zealand heavyweight boxing belt with a stunning knockout in Hamilton last night.

Williams has won an NRL title with the Bulldogs and a World Cup with the All Blacks but neither gave him the buzz that came with stopping giant American Clarence Tillman 2m 59s into the first round of their scheduled 10-rounder at the Claudelands Arena.

"The emotions I felt after stopping him... nothing has felt like that in my sporting arena," Williams said.

"It's just different; winning a boxing title is all individual. You feel all the pressure on you. Your trainer tells you what to do, but when you step into the ring it's just you.

"In a team, you're nervous but you know you will always have your mates to help you. But in saying that, it's not every day you win a World Cup or an NRL title either."

Williams said keeping his composure was crucial to finishing the job so quickly.

He caught Tillman with a big left hook and then his instincts took over with a furious flurry to finish the job.

"After I caught him, I was shocked that he was rattled. When he stumbled, I think my Samoan instincts took over," Williams added.

"My camp was based on technique and staying calm but I was surprised I didn't throw in a kick.

"It was choice... the best buzz."

Williams said he had no idea that time was running out in the first round because the sound of the crowd was deafening.

"I lost my head; I was just trying to drop some bombs on him," he said.

Williams said the victory was particularly sweet because of Tillman's pre-fight bravado which had included him throwing a punch at the All Black star during Tuesday's weigh-in.

Williams felt that the American heavyweight had tried to bully and intimidate him in the lead-up to the fight.

He was thrilled to showcase what appears to be some new power in his punches - something which has quickly developed under the guidance of Australian legend Tony Mundine.

"The only downfall to the fight going so short was that I didn't get to show more of what Rattlesnake (Mundine) has taught me," Williams said.

Like his stable mate Anthony Mundine, Williams has claimed a national belt in just his fifth fight.

But Williams believes his may be even more special.

"Like I said, for me, this was my world title. I haven't come from a natural fighting background like Choc (Mundine jnr)," he said.

"I have had to work hard but this isn't about silencing anyone. It's about improving and I think I have shown that."

Williams has to defend the belt within six months. He said he was keen to do that but would have to work through things with his rugby coaches given the incredibly congested season with Super Rugby and All Black commitments.

Mundine jnr, who oversaw Williams' victory from the corner, said he was proud of his friend and admitted to being surprised at how much he had improved since his fight last year against sickness beneficiary Alipate Liava'a.

Source:  www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/6387338/Stopping-Tillman-biggest-buzz-of-SBW-s-career