New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams will face Clarence Tillman III in a heavyweight title bout after his original opponent Richard Tutaki was arrested.
Williams was left disappointed when plans to fight Tutaki in Hamilton on February 8 were called off after his opponent was arrested on 10 charges including the possession of drugs and stolen property.
"It's pretty disappointing the cops got to Richard before I could," he said.
However the 26-year-old, who has won all four of his professional bouts so far, will now face Tillman for the vacant New Zealand heavyweight belt with the date and venue remaining unchanged.
"The fight is going to be a huge challenge," said Williams, who helped New Zealand to the World Cup title.
"Tillman is a quality fighter, so I will have to put in the extra yards over the next three and a half weeks and change my fight plan accordingly."
Tillman poses the biggest threat yet to Williams with the American beating Tutaki on a split decision last year.
And Williams' manager Koder Nasser is expecting a tough fight as the All Black attempts to take the heavyweight crown.
"It is great that the Tillman camp have agreed to take the fight," he said.
"It is definitely going to be a great spectacle and a big night for Sonny Bill."
