All Blacks management and the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) are comfortable with Sonny Bill Williams' return to the boxing ring after details of the fight were announced today.
All Blacks midfield back Williams will fight Australian forklift driver Scott Lewis in Newcastle on January 29, the headline act as
the the former international rugby league star steps up his dalliance with boxing.
The fight was agreed to when Williams signed his contract with the NZRU earlier this year and has the seal of approval of All Blacks manager Darren Shand.
"It's something we've always known about so it's no surprise," Shand told Radio Sport.
"The good thing is, it's a conditioning model as well, to some degree. Sonny's going to be keeping fit by doing that and there are other positive aspects that will come out of being involved with something like that.
"He's in good hands, there are good people looking after him. We're in the loop, everyone's communicating and it's something he wants to do so we're just going to support it."
NZRU general manager professional rugby Neil Sorensen was satisfied with the timing of the fight - the third of Williams' career - and the fact that a professional boxing team will oversee preparation.
"We are comfortable that his boxing training regime and the bout itself won't impact on his preparations for the Super Rugby season with the Crusaders and he will re-join the Crusaders squad for pre-season training again after the fight."
The fight falls on the same day as the Crusaders' first pre-season match, against the Queensland Reds in Cairns, three weeks before the Super 15 begins, but has also been given the blessing of Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder and chief executive Hamish Riach.
Williams, 25, made an impressive debut for the All Blacks' just-completed Grand Slam tour of Europe, being named man of the match following a dynamic performance against Scotland.
He will be trained for the fight against former Queensland Golden Gloves champion Lewis by another former rugby league star -- Australian boxer Anthony Mundine.
Lewis has three win-four loss record and is best known for knocking out former Australian rugby league test front-rower Carl Webb on Webb's professional debut earlier this year.
Williams made his ring debut with a win over Auckland bouncer Garry Gurr last year and hammered another New Zealander, Ryan Hogan, in June, not long before making his provincial rugby debut for Canterbury.
Williams announced the fight details at a press conference in Sydney today, saying the fight was a good way for him to stay fit and focused during the off-season and that his pride at being an All Black isn't affected by taking part in a boxing match.
"Whether I stayed in Toulon or went back to New Zealand I was always going to put it to my club, to the people that I signed with, that I wanted to have a bout because it got me ready," he said.
"I feel that off the field it's doing wonders for me.
"For those knockers out there that are saying I'm disrespecting the black jersey, to me I've already stated that it's the proudest of my sporting memories and it's every kid's dream to play for the All Blacks.
"Once you play for the All Blacks ... because there's such fierce competition for those positions, there's no guarantee you're going to be playing the next game.
"I feel that I have to put myself in different situations to get that edge, to keep myself in contention for that All Blacks jersey."
- NZPA
Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Getty Images
All Blacks management and the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) are comfortable with Sonny Bill Williams' return to the boxing ring after details of the fight were announced today.
All Blacks midfield back Williams will fight Australian forklift driver Scott Lewis in Newcastle on January 29, the headline act as
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