Sonny Bill v Frans Botha?

Not sure if anyone heard these rumours but supposedly the All Black Sonny Bill Williams is lining up a fight with Frans Botha for some time in November. Seems strange. I would not fancy Sonny Bills chances in this unless its some kind of 3 round exhibition.

Botha is 43 now and has been in with most of the top heavyweights of the past 20 years. Interestingly though, less than a year ago he was handing Michael Grant a bit of a beating until he was caught and stopped in the final round. Grant is being mentioned as a possibly Tyson Fury opponent in the near future. So if Williams did actually fight Botha it would seem his level of opposition is not all that far off Furys! Perhaps Fury v Williams could be on the cards next year.....

Joking aside, Im not sure if this fight will come off. Its not listed on boxrec despite what Williams promoter claims and could just be a bit of a publicity stunt.

Whenever I think of Botha I think of him being smashed through the ropes against Lewis...

Sonny Bill Williams is no Lewis mind you!! (Jeez, I sound like somebody else...)

This is a massive test for Williams even going up against a 43 year old Botha to be fair to him, just in terms of the experience and ring craft that Botha will bring to the table against a relative novice. Bit of a 50/50 fight with us seeing what Botha has left (Not that many people care what he has left in honesty) but also at how good Williams is. It's possible at this stage for him to outwork him or tag him with the slowing reflexes, but at the same time, it is very possible for Williams to get out-old-manned. Maybe not quite in the Hopkins fashion, but in a more.... Botha-fashionesque type of way!

People need to be careful of their expectations for Williams. He is a great athlete but only a part time boxer and trying to balance a rugny and boxing career would not be adviseable in my opinion. I would prefer to see him choose one over the other. I think he has massive potential to be a top heavyweight when you think of how bad the division is but he is not going to reach the top unless he commits fully to it. Quite often top athletes will excel in many sports but sooner or later they need to commit to one over another. At this stage I think Williams is closer to rugby than boxing and he will be moving to Japan to play soon so I dont see him committing to boxing full time.

I have seen a couple of his fights.

Really nothing to shout about. Sort of like Duran, looks the part but never had the cajons.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:I have seen a couple of his fights.

Really nothing to shout about. Sort of like Duran, looks the part but never had the cajons.

What?? Duran was one of the great boxers! I dont think anyone could accuse him of lacking cajones! He was as mean as they come!

Gordy wrote:

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:I have seen a couple of his fights.

Really nothing to shout about. Sort of like Duran, looks the part but never had the cajons.

What?? Duran was one of the great boxers! I dont think anyone could accuse him of lacking cajones! He was as mean as they come!

No Mas!

The case that I own is now at rest.

i think i heard a rumor botha was fighting in a mma fight against toney, been mentioned as a fury opponent, seems likely to be just a pr stunt

This is being reported on the BBC website. A bit of a freak show, but at least a step up for Bill.

What Sonny Bill versus Botha? Or the MMA nonsense?

Sonny Bill vs Botha. Sorry for the confusion

Can't see S.B.W. doing much good against Botha, I know it's a few years ago but he was doing quite well against Tyson despite Tyson trying to break his arms in the clinches,but then he walked into a peach of a right and it was goodnight nurse. I think Sonny Bill would be better sticking to Rugby.