Sonny Bill Williams has revealed a pivotal financial hardship forced his entry into professional boxing, a career shift he describes as vastly different from his celebrated rugby league and union journey. The decision, made during a financially strained period in 2009 while playing for the Toulon rugby club in France, was driven by a need to secure his family’s future following a poor investment.
Williams’ foray into boxing, culminating in an undefeated 7-0 record with three knockouts, wasn’t a passion project initially, but a pragmatic response to unforeseen circumstances. This revelation underscores the financial vulnerabilities even high-profile athletes can face and highlights a lesser-known chapter in Williams’ multifaceted career. His story provides insight into the pressures athletes endure beyond the field and the tough choices they sometimes must make. He has since retired from boxing to focus on rugby and other ventures.
“I had a bit of a financial setback, a bad investment, and I needed to make some money,” Williams explained in a recent interview. “Boxing presented an opportunity to do that quickly. It wasn’t about proving anything to anyone; it was about providing for my family.”
The transition from the team-oriented world of rugby to the individual arena of boxing presented stark contrasts. “In rugby, you’ve got 15 mates around you, you’re relying on each other,” Williams said. “In boxing, it’s just you and the guy in front of you. There’s no one to pick you up if you fall. It’s a very lonely sport, mentally.”
He further elaborated on the physical demands, noting the focused, repetitive nature of boxing training differed significantly from the varied conditioning required for rugby. “rugby is about endurance, power, speed, agility – a bit of everything. Boxing is about honing in on specific skills,perfecting your technique,and being able to take a punch.”
Williams’ boxing career included a controversial win over Francois botha in 2011 and a subsequent period of inactivity before returning for a final bout in 2015. He ultimately chose to return to rugby, where he continued to achieve success, including winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks.
