Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Sonny Bill would be drawcard

By Reon Suddaby
Whanganui Chronicle·
13 Feb, 2012 12:24 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Rugby league star-turned-All Black-turned boxer Sonny Bill Williams polarises people.

Some see him as a sporting superstar who excels at whatever he turns his hand to, while others view him as a mercenary for hire, motivated only by self-promotion and a desire to cash in on his physical prowess, and the fame that comes with it, while he can.

As usual, the truth of the matter is probably somewhere in the middle.

But regardless of each individual's view on the man they call SBW, news that local boxing promoter Bob Gibson is trying to lure Williams to Wanganui can only be viewed positively.

As revealed in Saturday's Chronicle, Mr Gibson is keen to get Williams to Wanganui to fight in his second charity fight night.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mr Gibson's plans follow the enormous success of his first charity fight night late last year, which pitted former mayor Michael Laws against Maori activist Ken Mair.

That fight ended in a draw, and while Mr Gibson says those two pugilists will put the gloves on again for a rematch, he's hoping the charity night's marquee event will involve Williams.

Make no mistake, a Williams fight would be a big deal for this city.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Wanganui has already shown it has a taste for big occasions - while the VCC Rally targeted an entirely different demographic to boxing, it was indicative of this city's enthusiasm for large-scale events.

When visiting television shows come to town, they're embraced enthusiastically - last week's filming of politics show Back Benches attracted a large crowd, and when the comedians from TV3's 7 Days put on a show late last year, the opera house was bursting to capacity.

Plenty of people will stay away from the Sonny Bill bout, if it happens, but enough should still turn up to any fight to help make it a memorable night. The thought of a Williams fight, plus a sequel to Laws v Mair will equate to a good night's entertainment for many

Of course, it all hangs on Williams, or more likely his handlers, saying yes to Mr Gibson's proposal.

The success of Mr Gibson's first charity fight night should help.

The other factor in Mr Gibson's favour is the event's charity status - Williams is not short of a bob or two, and has given generously before. Depending on which charity or charities are set to benefit from the fight night, the thought of being associated with a good cause might also appeal to Williams and his team.

However, one cautionary note - let's just hope that if Williams does agree to fight in the River City, he goes glove-to-glove with a decent opponent this time.

Feedback: editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Premium
Whanganui Chronicle

Tradie's remarkable revival of long-lost NZ clothing brand from his backyard shed

03 Jul 10:43 PM
live
Whanganui Chronicle

Flood-ravaged Nelson, Marlborough in the firing line again, Auckland to see storms

03 Jul 10:16 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

'Just incredible': Pupils save choking child on school bus

03 Jul 06:13 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Premium
Tradie's remarkable revival of long-lost NZ clothing brand from his backyard shed

Tradie's remarkable revival of long-lost NZ clothing brand from his backyard shed

03 Jul 10:43 PM

Nikolai Solakof had never sewn before reviving Oscar Eide from his shed.

Flood-ravaged Nelson, Marlborough in the firing line again, Auckland to see storms
live

Flood-ravaged Nelson, Marlborough in the firing line again, Auckland to see storms

03 Jul 10:16 PM
'Just incredible': Pupils save choking child on school bus

'Just incredible': Pupils save choking child on school bus

03 Jul 06:13 PM
'Time to lead': Airline founder hands over to son after 40 years

'Time to lead': Airline founder hands over to son after 40 years

03 Jul 06:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP