Former league star-turned-boxer Solomon Haumono has labelled Sonny Bill Williams as soft and rubbished his boxing credentials.
The Auckland-born Haumono, who played for New South Wales and Australia during the league split of the 1990s, is trying to provoke former world champion Danny Green into a contest.
News.com quotes the110kg, 40-year-old Haumono - who is highly ranked by the WBA - as slamming the former world champion Green for picking "soft targets" like Sonny Bill Williams. The 42-year-old Green had spoken to Williams' manager Khoder Nasser about fighting the All Black in 2016.
Haumono said: "Why pick Sonny when he is only a part-time boxer who hasn't fought in nearly a year? Danny is world class...Green against SBW is a ridiculous mismatch. Danny is a former world champion who has boxed over 200 rounds as a professional. Sonny's only had seven bouts and 34 rounds.
"Danny has a history of picking soft targets...then he targets Choc (Anthony Mundine) who is coming off a bad loss and has been fighting four weight divisions below him at junior middleweight.
"My message to Danny Green is loud and clear - if you want to move up with the big boys at heavyweight - then look no further." Haumono started his league career with Manly and moved around a few clubs. His father was an Australian heavyweight champion, and he donned the gloves midway through his first grade league career.
Haumono is ranked No.14 by the WBA, just below rising Brit Anthony Joshua and New Zealand's outstanding prospect Joseph Parker. Green retired in 2012 after defeating Kiwi Shane Cameron.
