SONNY BILL WILLIAMS has quit rugby to become a full-time boxer as his body can no longer ‘meet the demands’ of the sport.
Williams, already 7-0 in the ring, won two rugby union World Cups with New Zealand in 2011 and 2015.
He last played in rugby league for Sydney Roosters, but will hang up his boots in the sport altogether now.
Williams told Nine Network: “I was humble enough to understand my knee couldn’t meet the demands, although the mind wanted to, of the week in and week out footy, especially in the NRL.”
The second-row forward played his last game of rugby league in October in a semi-final loss to the Canberra Raiders in the 2020 NRL playoffs.
He was then in line to play in the 2021 season with Toronto Wolfpack.
But the deal fell through after the Canadian team was denied readmission to the mainly England-based Super League.
Williams will now focus his efforts on boxing once again, having campaigned as a heavyweight from 2009-2015.
His last fight was a points win against American Chauncy Welliver, but the Kiwi was last year open to facing the returning Mike Tyson, 54.
Williams has the backing of his wife Alana, and will now have more time to prepare for bouts, opposed to the six weeks he used to squeeze into his rugby schedule.
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He said: “I spoke to my manager, I said: ‘I’m keen to get back into the ring, I’ve got a couple of years, I’m 35’.
“I spoke to the wife first and she had blank eyes, but like usual she supported me.
“I want to know how I will go in six months instead of six weeks.”
