Sonny Bill Williams

[conan_the_cribber]

Hi Guys,

Anyone seen Sonny Bill Williams fight? As far as his frame and athletic ability goes, he's right for the game. But can he jab. Can he move? Does he have fast or slow hands? I realise he is a rough diamond. But is there any promise at all?

conan

[Brute]

If he can keep fighting short, fat blokes on sickness benefits he can make a living.

[dberry]

The next Muhamad Ali.

[Brute]

More like Comical Ali.

[crusader]

Hi Guys,

Anyone seen Sonny Bill Williams fight? As far as his frame and athletic ability goes, he's right for the game. But can he jab. Can he move? Does he have fast or slow hands? I realise he is a rough diamond. But is there any promise at all?

conan

None

[Beltane]

Dunny Bill's heart was in the right place this time as $70k from him on the night went to Christchurch earthquake appeal.

As a boxer, he should stick to rugby for his future and exit his connection asap from Khodar Nassar's ship of fools.

[conan_the_cribber]

Thanks for the replies. A lot of negativity here. I mean, if you were starting out and had practically no amateur experience, what sort of opponents would you choose. Of course soft targets. But this is not about the opponents, it's about Sonny Bill.

Is he really that bad? Is he slow/wild/clueless/jabless/topples over his own feet/looks chinny.

What is precisely wrong with the guy and his boxing style?

conan

[buster007]

he's not a boxer.

[crusader]

He finds it very difficult to throw a right hand without spinning around in a circle.

[Brute]

He has never lost a fight, but his opponents either had not boxed before or had more losses than wins.

[buster007]

rough diamond?

i think u seen him before.

[Brute]

Rough diamond or over polished rhinestone?

[hearns]

Thanks for the replies. A lot of negativity here. I mean, if you were starting out and had practically no amateur experience, what sort of opponents would you choose. Of course soft targets. But this is not about the opponents, it's about Sonny Bill.

Is he really that bad? Is he slow/wild/clueless/jabless/topples over his own feet/looks chinny.

What is precisely wrong with the guy and his boxing style?

conan

SBW has had 4 fights against mediocre opponents. He has a casual interest only in boxing manageing to donate approx 170,000 dollars to different charities in 3 of those bouts. You probably know he is a dual international and will be a millionaire out of football if not already. His ability as a boxer is pretty limited at the moment, and he cops a bit of flack for not fighting opponents with better records. George Foreman's 33rd opponent had a record of 1 win and 14 losses, his 34th opponent was 3 wins and 21 losses, even though George was an Olympic Gold Medalist.

[Brute]

Clarence Boone, who went on to be a very successful trainer.

[patron]

Thanks for the replies. A lot of negativity here. I mean, if you were starting out and had practically no amateur experience, what sort of opponents would you choose. Of course soft targets. But this is not about the opponents, it's about Sonny Bill.

Is he really that bad? Is he slow/wild/clueless/jabless/topples over his own feet/looks chinny.

What is precisely wrong with the guy and his boxing style?

conan

SBW has had 4 fights against mediocre opponents. He has a casual interest only in boxing manageing to donate approx 170,000 dollars to different charities in 3 of those bouts. You probably know he is a dual international and will be a millionaire out of football if not already. His ability as a boxer is pretty limited at the moment, and he cops a bit of flack for not fighting opponents with better records. George Foreman's 33rd opponent had a record of 1 win and 14 losses, his 34th opponent was 3 wins and 21 losses, even though George was an Olympic Gold Medalist.

george had to fight someone, they were game enough to aim up,i still can,t see the comparison with sonny and george. all the best

[Beltane]

can't see the comparison with sonny and george.

Totally agree and if Sonny Bill one day develops and markets his own cooker, that will be the only means of comparison!

[Hounddawg]

can't see the comparison with sonny and george.

Totally agree and if Sonny Bill one day develops and markets his own cooker, that will be the only means of comparison!

and george would still win that by a landslide, who owns a George Foreman grill? I do.

[Brute]

Me too, at least my wife owns the one I bought for her.

[conan_the_cribber]

He finds it very difficult to throw a right hand without spinning around in a circle.

I'm beginning to doubt the boxing knowledge of this forum. I find it pretty hard to believe that an elite athlete like Williams is so unco that he can't throw a right hand without losing balance. Is it really that bad? The rest of the answers had nothing to do with boxing. nice of him to risk his skin and give so much to charity.

conan

[conan_the_cribber]

Ok, I don't understand the hate.

I went and watched three youtube videos. For someone without any amateur career, I think he's definitely better than average.
a) good movement, bouncing on his feet
b) sound shell defence when needed.
c) terrific right uppercut.
d) contrary to the person before, a good right hand
e) decent ring skills, I've seen avoid opponents rushing in, turning people in the corner, clinching when needed.
f) decent speed.

What I see as needing development
a) needs a better jab.
b) needs to be able to stand his ground. Seems to back away a bit.

But overall, the negative sentiment on this thread is way exaggerated. Anyone who doesn't understand that these are the kind of opponents that someone like Sonny Bill needs to learn with, doesn't understand boxing at all.

conan

[Craig14]

You don't need to understand the hate, this is the Australia and Pacific site! 90% aussies - they will have a pop at anything kiwi, but still lord up the non existent aussie heavyweight boxing scene! Lets face it even at 4-0 and fighting nobodies he'd still be upthere with the current aussie heavyweight boxers. Who would beat him???? Leapai (saomoan) Meehan (kiwi)Cronjei(s.a)Wilson(kiwi)Mirovic(Croation)??? - and Lucas Browne, maybe you have 1???

[Brute]

Iron Rhino, come on down!

[crusader]

He finds it very difficult to throw a right hand without spinning around in a circle.

I'm beginning to doubt the boxing knowledge of this forum. I find it pretty hard to believe that an elite athlete like Williams is so unco that he can't throw a right hand without losing balance. Is it really that bad? The rest of the answers had nothing to do with boxing. nice of him to risk his skin and give so much to charity.

conan

Check out 4:30 to see what I mean. He probably did this over 10 times during the fight. You asked if he has any promise, and if we are talking about if he can continue to beat these types of opponents, then yes, he has a lot of promise. However, I just can't see him doing anything meaningful in the HW division (i.e. beating a top 50 opponent). SBW deserves to be lauded for giving so much to charity, but that has nothing to do with his potential as a boxer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2PYvAyN ... re=related

[conan_the_cribber]

He finds it very difficult to throw a right hand without spinning around in a circle.

I'm beginning to doubt the boxing knowledge of this forum. I find it pretty hard to believe that an elite athlete like Williams is so unco that he can't throw a right hand without losing balance. Is it really that bad? The rest of the answers had nothing to do with boxing. nice of him to risk his skin and give so much to charity.

conan

Check out 4:30 to see what I mean. He probably did this over 10 times during the fight. You asked if he has any promise, and if we are talking about if he can continue to beat these types of opponents, then yes, he has a lot of promise. However, I just can't see him doing anything meaningful in the HW division (i.e. beating a top 50 opponent). SBW deserves to be lauded for giving so much to charity, but that has nothing to do with his potential as a boxer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2PYvAyN ... re=related

Thanks for the link. I think I still see more positives than negatives. That was pertty weird with the spinning around trick. That wasn't present in the other videos that I saw. Easily corrected, but weird.

conan

[crusader]

It's easy to see more positives than negatives when he is fighting such poor oppoition. I agree that he needs to take some of these fights in order to gain experience, but a boxer must earn a label like "promising", and I can't give it to SBW until he shows that "terrific right uppercut" against someone decent.