any one watch the SBW fight?

by kingraf Fri 08 Feb 2013, 7:35 pm

Despite the critics, it was actually a decent 10 rounds of boxing. Of course the ending soured everything. But that is not what I want to talk about.

I want to talk about the fact that a 28 year-old man, built like brick house, and playing 80 minutes of rugby week in week out, prime of his life, basically, was out on his feet after 9 rounds. Thats barely a half of a half, im rugby terms.
Why do I mention this, well simples, Because today in its own minor way proved why boxing is the ultimate test of the human physique. It ask so much of its competitors and normally gives little back. It says much of how emasculated society is that boxing, along with MMA are now only fringe sports. That though is beside the point, the point is no matter how many times the sport gets knocked down, it will remain the ultimate test of any man.

by rapidringsroad Fri 08 Feb 2013, 8:12 pm

Yes even the Australian fans were booing at the sudden decision to shorten the fight to ten rounds when it looked like SBW was going to be stopped. He was even deducted a point for consistantly holding but he had done enough in the early rounds to secure a win.It does show though how fit you've got to be to go the full distance even against a fighter whose best days are behind him.

by TheMackemMawler Sat 09 Feb 2013, 12:00 am

kingraf wrote: Thats barely a half of a half, im rugby terms.

You mean a quarter?

....talk about verbose Very Happy

by TheMackemMawler Sat 09 Feb 2013, 12:04 am

I've boxed a bit in my time, I could do the rounds, put me on a pitch and I'm foooched!

specific sports = specific fitness

by Champagne_Socialist Sat 09 Feb 2013, 1:38 am

Boxing of course is tiring because it is 1 on 1 and there is constant moving. But boxing does give each fighter a 1 minute break every 3 minutes. 36 minutes of fighting max and 11 minutes of rest between.

by Taylorman Sat 09 Feb 2013, 2:31 am

victorgarco wrote:Boxing of course is tiring because it is 1 on 1 and there is constant moving. But boxing does give each fighter a 1 minute break every 3 minutes. 36 minutes of fighting max and 11 minutes of rest between.

Yes agree. At centre hes not constantly being barraged by an individual and there are other factors that come into play, and yes he doesnt get to go and sit on a chair every 3 minutes. Ultimate test of any man? I think not.

And I wish theyd let them complete 'the ultimate test'

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/8283003/TAB-refunds-round-bets-for-Sonny-Bill-bout

"Williams' manager Khoder Nasser hinted that they cut it short after the big South African delivered several blows to the back of his client's head."

So his manager is saying stop now, hes getting hurt but hes still the winner...some test...

by Champagne_Socialist Sat 09 Feb 2013, 3:06 am

I am disgusted at the fight being cut short to 10 rounds. I just watched round 10 and Williams was all over the place. he would have been KO'd if there was another 2 rounds.

Credit has to be given to Botha he is 46 and is really fat but he stuck in there and destroyed williams in rounds 9 and 10 and woud have knocked him out.

Makes me angry that there is so much open corruption and cheating in boing that a fighters team can just cut a fight short because they feel their man will lose and still be awarded the win.

by eddyfightfan Sat 09 Feb 2013, 3:41 pm

it does prove that rugby is a better base than cricket for wanna be boxers

by Imperial Ghosty Sat 09 Feb 2013, 4:02 pm

Fitness doesn't always translate from one sport or another, the training is often vastly different especially when your main focus is on something else.

by erictheblueuk Tue 12 Feb 2013, 2:54 am

I never saw the fight but many internet boxing fans were predicting a Botha win. So I bet on Botha as the odds were quite good, for what to my mind was a close 2 horse race. I thought I'd lost my money when I heard SBW had won however:-

I bet on a Botha win with bet365(dot)com and they have refunded my money and sent me the following message:-

"Hi,

We are contacting you in regard to your bet placed on Frans Botha (To Win Fight Sonny Bill Williams vs Frans Botha). As a gesture of goodwill and contrary to our rules we have settled this selection as a void.

Kind regards, The bet365 Team"

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Tue 12 Feb 2013, 2:48 pm

Ha that was lucky, he has since failed a drugs test

by **seanmichaels** Tue 12 Feb 2013, 3:14 pm

Could just show that the out of competition testing regime in Rugby (Union or League) is that little bit more thorough?

by davidemore Tue 12 Feb 2013, 3:22 pm

That figtt was a farce. scheduled for 12 ended in 10. Failed drug tests, corrupt officials, everything wrong with boxing.

by Boxtthis Tue 12 Feb 2013, 3:30 pm

TheMackemMawler wrote:I've boxed a bit in my time, I could do the rounds, put me on a pitch and I'm foooched!

specific sports = specific fitness

Could not agree more. I think there's a lot to be said about being completely comfortable and confident in a particular sport and how that helps maintain your gas tank. Whereas if you are less accomplished you are more likely to waste energy through inefficient actions and/or dump adrenaline.

That said, i'd definitely put boxing up there with the physically toughest sports. Having competed judo since childhood I always think the combination of grappling and striking/movement for 5 minute rounds that you get in mma must be absolutely hellish (not to mention the extra adrenaline and pain factors that come with getting hit in the face - something that must always be considered as an extra burden on the gas tank for boxers and mma practitioners).

by Adam D Thu 14 Feb 2013, 8:13 pm

FRANCOIS BOTHA claims he was offered a substantial cash sum to throw his fight with Sonny Bill Williams.
Botha, 44, lost the 10-round clash with former All Blacks rugby star Williams via unanimous decision in Australia last Friday.

But the South African veteran has now revealed his opponent’s manager Khoder Nasser was allegedly prepared to pay him around £100,000 to take a dive.

He said: “As we stopped at a park, my phone was confiscated and was given to a guy in the car.

“Then I was being walked by Nasser and I was offered $150,000 to throw the fight.

“I just said, ‘No, I can’t do it’.

”Nasser insists Botha concocted the story due to the embarrassment of losing to unbeaten novice Williams, who had boxed just five times before the showdown Down Under.

He said: “I think he is still in a daze.

“He has got to come to terms with the reality that he got whipped by a guy who had only had five fights.

“It is all well and good to come out with all these allegations after, but where’s his manhood? It’s absolute madness.

“If it happened like he said, why didn’t he come out and report it then — or does it suit him now?”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/boxing/4793054/Francois-Botha-claims-he-was-offered-bribe-to-throw-fight.html

True or not?

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Botha offered a bribe?

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