10 Feb 2013

TAB upset about SBW bout

12:08 pm on 10 February 2013

The TAB is upset over a boxing match between Sonny Bill Williams and Francois Botha of South Africa in Brisbane on Friday night.

The agency says there is even a possibility it might not accept any bets on future bouts invoving Williams.

Williams won the WBA International Heavyweight Title fight on points after it was cut to 10 rounds from an advertised 12.

Botha says it would have been different if it had gone the full 12 rounds. His team will protest against the decision.

The TAB said it will seek answers as to how this happened. Spokesman John Mitchell said agency managers will meet on Monday morning.

While it is too soon to say, he expects they will consider not having bets on matches involving Williams again. In the meantime, some round by round bets have been refunded.

Boxing New Zealand acting chair John McKay said his organisation has no power to do anything about the fight.

But speaking personally, he has little regard for Williams compared with other boxers who have been nurtured from the start.

''It's just a joke, an absolute joke,'' he said.