Too easy for Sonny Bill
02/08/2012 10:08:54 AM
Rugby star Sonny Bill Williams won the New Zealand heavyweight boxing title on Wednesday with a first-round TKO of American-born Clarence Tillman in Hamilton.
After a fracas at Tuesday's weigh in - when Tillman had landed a right-hand to Williams' jaw - the sparks were expected to fly early on Wednesday night, but it was all one-way traffic as Williams took apart his overmatched opponent.
The Chiefs player, in just his fifth professional fight, stunned his 34-year-old opponent with a stiff left hook before following up with a barrage of blows that forced referee Lance Revill to stop the bout with one second remaining in the first round.
The victory improved Williams' record to 5-0 with three knockouts, and saw him claim the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association heavyweight title.
It was a star-studded evening at the Claudelands Arena in Hamilton, with former All Blacks Frank Bunce, Matthew Cooper, Wayne Smith and Tana Umaga watching on, as well as Williams' 18-year-old girlfriend Jaime Ridge, the daughter of former Kiwi rugby league star Matthew Ridge.
Many of Williams' Chiefs team-mates were also in attendance at the fight.