Sonny Bill Williams of New Zealand (R) punches Alipate Liava'a. Photo / Getty Images
All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry got what he wanted tonight as Sonny Bill Williams avoided injury in winning his latest boxing bout in Auckland.
Williams, 25, beat Tongan Alipate Liava'a, 43, by a unanimous points decision in a six-round fight at Trusts Stadium.
Henry was ringside with assistants Steve
Hansen and Wayne Smith to watch Williams score a comfortable win.
"He hardly got hit, which is the main thing," Henry said afterwards. "He kept moving. He's a good athlete. He moves well. He didn't get touched often, which is great.
"I think he's feeling good about himself and he's pleased it's over so he can concentrate on other things."
While Henry wouldn't describe himself as a boxing fan, he said that he, Hansen and Smith were at the venue to support Williams.
"If it was Richie McCaw, or Dan Carter, or whoever it might be, we would be here to support him," he said.
"It's good to see him come out unscathed and continue the battle to try to get into the All Blacks."
Williams' present contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union allows him to have three fights, of which this was the third.
Henry said "there won't be a fourth" before the World Cup.
In a fight in aid of earthquake-hit Canterbury, Williams - who had fellow All Blacks and Crusaders Ben and Owen Franks in his corner - took his boxing record to 4-0.
The midfield back's focus now returns to rugby and the Crusaders' Super 15 match against the Blues in Timaru next Saturday night.
For his Tongan opponent, it was his eighth successive loss after starting his 12-bout career with four wins.
Liava'a began promisingly and he connected with one right hand to Williams' face.
But from the middle of round one, it was a case of Liava'a getting close enough to Williams, who had a significant height and reach advantage.
While much of the bout was one-sided, Liava'a showed plenty of persistence in trying to land a big shot.
However, in the final seconds of a frantic finish, Williams staggered Liava'a, although he couldn't put him down on the canvas.
- NZPA
