Former rugby star and boxer Sonny Bill Williams will be the featured guest at the South Pacific Boxing Promotions (SPBP) event on October 26 at Prince Charles Park in Nadi. This news was confirmed by SPBP director Mohammed Shameem and promoter Fred Chand.
Shameem emphasized their goal of elevating the sport of boxing in the country, noting that SPBP has previously hosted promotions in Ba, Lautoka, and Labasa, despite facing financial losses in those regions. Chand mentioned that Williams and his manager, Khoder Nasser, are set to arrive in the country on October 25. Williams will participate in the official weigh-in that day, and those who purchase $100 ringside tickets will have a chance to meet him.
Additionally, the SPBP is organizing dinners featuring Williams as the guest speaker and will be conducting sporting clinics. Williams is also scheduled to speak to students at three local schools about the dangers of drug use and the importance of abstaining from drugs.
Williams has an impressive sports background, having played 123 NRL games with the Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters, winning two NRL Grand Finals in 2004 and 2012. He later switched to rugby union, participating in 58 Test matches for the All Blacks and being part of the teams that won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015. Transitioning to boxing, he has a professional record of nine wins and one loss. Nasser, his manager, is a prominent Australian sports agent and boxing promoter.
Chand stated that SPBP is seeking sponsorship from businesses interested in supporting events featuring Williams, highlighting the costs associated with bringing internationally recognized athletes to Fiji and the focus on grassroots involvement.
The main event will feature IBO Asia Pacific super welterweight champion Winston Hill facing Lachlan O’Shea from Australia in a 10-round title fight. The undercard will include a clash for the vacancy of the IBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title between Sebastian Singh and Australia’s unbeaten knockout contender Tonga Tongotongo, as well as the IBO Oceania-Orient featherweight title fight between Umbayd Haider and China’s Runqi Zhou. Additionally, Nadi’s Siliveni Nawai will defend the Fiji super middleweight title against Jonathan Hill from Suva.
Chand expressed optimism about the response to the fights while hoping for good weather on event day.