Boxing: Tillman a big challenge for Sonny Bill's title fight

Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Getty Images

Sonny Bill Williams says he likes big challenges. His new opponent for his next boxing venture in Hamilton on February 8 - 125kg American-born Aucklander Clarence Tillman III - is certainly that.

Tillman will take on Williams in the contest for the vacant New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) belt after original opponent Richard Tutaki was axed from the bout following Herald revelations he was in police custody facing charges including possession of methamphetamine and receiving stolen property.

Tutaki is due to appear in court today.

The 34-year-old Tillman, from New Orleans, has a moderate professional record of 11 wins, eight losses and two draws. That record includes a win over Tutaki in April last year.

Although hardly a household name, Tillman represents a significant step up in quality of opponent for Williams, who last fought 43-year-old gospel-singing sickness beneficiary Alipate Liava'a last June.

Tillman is a busy fighter in the sense that he entered the ring 11 times last year, but the same adjective couldn't be used to describe his fighting style. Footage of his 12-round defeat to Australian Lucas Browne last August showed he had feet of stone.

Browne, incidentally, knocked out Liava'a in 69 seconds in December in Perth.

Given that Liava'a's significant chin was untroubled during six rounds with the power-shy Williams - and Tillman survived 12 rounds with Browne - the chance of Williams producing a stunning knockout appears slim.

While the super-fit Williams will certainly have an edge in aerobic fitness and mobility, Tillman is at least a proper fighter.

He has reportedly been sparring with Moyoyo Mensha, who is to fight Chauncy Welliver for a trio of belts including the NZ Boxing Federation heavyweight title on January 28.

According to Boxrec.com, Tillman is scheduled to fight for the vacant WBU International heavyweight title in March.

"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," Williams said in a statement. "The fight is going to be a huge challenge."

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS
* 1.91cm, 108kg
* 26yo
* 4 wins (2 by KO)
* 0 losses
* Auckland NZ

CLARENCE TILLMAN III
* 1.96cm,125kg
* 34yo
* 11 wins (6 by KO)
* 8 losses, 2 draws
* New Orleans, US, resides in Auckland.