Jonah Lomu to fight SBW (boxing I mean)

[theonlychubbychild]

Found this article earlier today,


Jonah is ready to become the next rugby star to turn to boxing â€" and for his debut bout, he wants to fight Sonny Bill Williams.

The Star-Times has reported the All Blacks living legend is likely to be named as the headline act in a resuscitated Fight for Life. The charity boxing night hasn't been staged for five years, but it is understood it will return in early December at a venue in Auckland.

And Lomu, a longstanding boxing fan, was keen to pull on the gloves. He has been playing lower-division rugby in France, but is already in boxing training and desperate to take on Williams, who has already had three fights in his fledgling boxing career and ready for a fourth.

While it's understood Lomu doesn't figure on Williams' radar, it hasn't dissuaded the 63-cap All Black nominating him as his preferred opponent.

But if Williams won't front then Lomu is likely to fight one of the toughest league players of recent times, former Kangaroos backrower Gorden Tallis.

Former Kiwis league international Dean Lonergan ran the Fight for Life promotion for seven years until 2007, raising a reported $4 million for charity, and one show, featuring Buck Shelford against Mark Graham rating among top-10 New Zealand television audiences of all time.

Sources in the rugby league community said Lonergan and David Higgins, who promoted the David Tua-Shane Cameron fight, would be co-promoting the night under their new Mammoth Events banner. Both men refused to comment.

But the Star-Times has learned the night will be promoted as a rugby versus league battle, appealing to the parochialism of the two codes' followers. Lonergan has been pursuing a list of recently-retired greats from both codes with reputations for toughness.

As well as Lomu and Tallis, among those lined up to fight are former Kiwis Joe Vagana, Awen Guttenbeil and Monty Betham, dual-code Australian international Wendell Sailor and even French rugby star Sebastien Chabal. Top amateur boxing prospect Joseph Parker, who led the New Zealand Commonwealth Games boxing team, could also feature.

But Lomu would be the big scalp and a deal with him could be signed off as early as this week.

What do we think?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Welcome to the forum.

1. When you post an article, please provide the link to it, don't want to get the forum into trouble.
2. The article has been mentioned in the SBW Thread, Found HERE

 

[nickdnz]

Also SBW has shot down the idea:

Cape Town - All Blacks and Crusaders sensation, Sonny Bill Williams, is not interested in taking on Jonah Lomu in the boxing ring.

Video: SBW in the boxing ring

Lomu, an All Black legend and star of the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, is planning on participating in a boxing tournament for charity in New Zealand in December this year. He indicated last week he wanted Williams to be his first opponent.

"No, I didn't accept his challenge," Williams said on Thursday at the Crusaders' hotel in Cape Town, where they are preparing to take on the Stormers in a Vodacom Super Rugby match.

Williams was reluctant to give a reason for declining Lomu's offer.

Williams is unbeaten in three matches as a professional boxer - and he's also not lost in four Tests for the All Blacks.

"I've only been boxing for a couple of years and developed an unquenchable love for it. It keeps me fit and I really like it."

Williams's next fight is scheduled for June 5 in New Zealand against Tongan Alipate Liava'a, who's lost his last seven bouts.

"I can't just jump into the ring with heavyweight David Tua straight away," he explained his reason for fighting the lesser-known Liava'a.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/SBW-gives-Lomu-cold-shoulder-20110506