WINZ investigating Sonny Bill opponent

Work and Income is investigating a sickness beneficiary who is to fight All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams in a charity boxing match.

Alipate Liava'a, 43, who was expected to earn $6000 for the fight, has been claiming a sickness benefit for an injured elbow, 3 News reported.

Work and Income has stopped payments to Liava'a.

Liava'a says a case of tennis elbow means he can't work, but the injury isn't bad enough to stop him getting in the boxing ring with Williams this Sunday.

Williams will make enough to donate $100,000 to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

Work and Income said it began investigating Liava'a last week when it found out he was taking part in the fight.

Liava'a, who's also working on an album of gospel music, first went on the sickness benefit because of a problem with his voice, then his doctor told Work and Income he couldn't work because of his elbow injury.

- NZPA