Sonny Bill Williams could be a victim of David Tua's bout with Russian giant Alexander Ustinov and his push for a world title fight.

Francois Botha downed tequila shots during a boozey night out just five days before getting pummelled by rising boxing star Joseph Parker.

Joseph Parker is a heavyweight boxer of such promise that he needs to be taken to the US - that's the word from the man Parker pitched into retirement after his second-round stoppage in their fight on Thursday night: Francois Botha.

Business is about to pick up in the world of Joseph Parker, following his second-round knock out of South African veteran Francois Botha in Auckland last night.

New Zealand's Joseph Parker announced his arrival in the ranks of respected heavyweights tonight with a second round knockout of durable South African heavyweight Francois Botha.

Our live blog tonight brings you all the action from the heavyweight boxing bout between Joseph Parker and Francois Botha from Trusts Arena in Auckland.

Soon after he fights Joseph Parker at Auckland's Trusts Arena tonight, Francois Botha's thoughts will start turning towards Evander Holyfield.

Joseph Parker's trainer Kevin Barry is angry Francois Botha has the incentive of a potentially lucrative fight against David Tua if he can get past his man on Thursday night.

Mark Hunt hasn't lost any confidence following his knockout loss to Junior dos Santos at UFC 160 in Las Vegas last month.

No one can say New Zealand heavyweight boxing prospect Joseph Parker is unprepared for his much-anticipated fight with South Africa's Francois Botha on Thursday.

Ardie Hickey has been battling a brain tumour, and boxer Bubba Tuigamala is getting in the ring to support that fight.

Dean Lonergan, the promoter of a boxing match between two dwarves, insists it's a serious fight and can't see why anyone would object.

Promoters are expecting anger after scheduling a bout between two dwarfs as the warm up to a heavyweight boxing match between Joseph Parker and Francois "White Buffalo" Botha next month.

"Kevin Barry has been telling me to fight like a big man and that's what I did."

The thing about Vegas is the untrue story seems so much more probable than the true and sport is still a mainstay of this engagingly strange city, captured in the iconic Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

It was Los Angeles, almost 30 years ago. The chairs were flying through the air. So too the drinks containers. And the cussing. The air was blue. And angry red.

On the wall of Kevin Barry's gym in Rich Moriarty's house is a copy of a cheque made out by Don King to Mike Tyson.

A boxer lined up to take on rising Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker is wanted by police in New Zealand - but the fight's promoter says the bout will go on.