Boxing: Too hurt to work but not to box SBW

Alipate Liava'a. Photo / NZPA

All Black star Sonny Bill Williams' boxing opponent this weekend is under investigation after revelations he has been receiving a taxpayer benefit for an injured elbow.

Alipate Liava'a, 43, has been claiming a sickness benefit for an injured elbow, 3 News reported.

Work and Income began investigating Liava'a last week and has stopped his payments.

The South Aucklander said a case of tennis elbow meant he could not find work, but the injury wasn't bad enough to stop him getting in the boxing ring with Williams at Trusts Stadium in West Auckland on Sunday.

"It's very bad but it's good enough to hit somebody, but honestly it's not a hundred per cent, but don't tell Sonny Bill," he told 3 News.

Liava'a is expected to earn $6000 for the fight, while Williams will make enough to donate $100,000 to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

Liava'a, who is also working on an album of gospel music, first went on the sickness benefit because of a problem with his voice.

But then his doctor told Work and Income he could not work because of his elbow injury.

"I'll go and talk to [Work and Income], so that they're aware, because I thought it would be all right. Plus I was too busy with training and music. But that's a good idea, I should go talk to them and tell them," Liava'a said.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said she found it remarkable that someone could have an injury so bad that he could not even look for work but be well enough to compete in a professional boxing match.

It is understood Liava'a's benefit was due to be cancelled anyway on June 17, 12 days after the fight.

Work and Income said it suspended Liava'a's sickness benefit after he did not return the department's phone calls.

"We determined his eligibility for the benefit based on a medical assessment and we will be reviewing this with the doctor next week."

Williams' manager, Khoder Nasser, said he did not know that Liava'a was a sickness beneficiary but that status did not matter.

"People have seen him [Liava'a] in the gym, training hard and doing 60 spars a week. So he looks fit and ready," Mr Nasser told the Herald last night.

"He could be bluffing, or anything, we just don't know. But Sonny's got his cut left hand, so he's injured too.

"We're just training like usual ... In boxing, you're always one punch away from disaster."

Sky TV's corporate communications manager, Kirsty Way, said the situation would not disrupt the fight - it was definitely still going ahead.