Welliver: Sonny Bill Williams Can Be Legit Contender

Cape Town - American heavyweight boxer Chauncy Welliver has heaped praise on All Black rugby star Sonny Bill Williams who outclassed him in the ring in Sydney this past Saturday. The New Zealander dominated an out of shape Welliver for most of the fight. He now boasts a 7-0 career win/loss record in the boxing ring.

Welliver, who has sparred with the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Mike Tyson and David Tua in a 14-year professional career, was no match for Williams in the All Black's return to the ring for the first time since surviving a 10 round bout with South Africa's Francois Botha in Brisbane two years ago.

Afterwards, Welliver said Williams could be the real deal in boxing.

"This guy is going to be the greatest thing coming out of Australia, he is a great rugby player and he is a great boxer," Welliver told the Sydney Morning Herald. "This kid can be a contender. He isn't even a full-time boxer and he beat my a**e (on Saturday)."