I knew it, I just knew it...
Sonny Bill Williams is on the radar of boxing's most recognisable promoter, with a US-based scout for the legendary Don King confirming he wants the All Blacks superstar on his books.
Despite having just five professional fights to his name, it seems Williams' recent New Zealand heavyweight title-winning effort has captured the attention of international boxing's who's who.
King, who has promoted the likes of Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Larry Holmes and was the mastermind behind both the Rumble in the Jungle and Thrilla in Manila, heads the list. It's also understood leading British promoter and former manager of Lennonx Lewis, Frank Maloney, has inquired about promoting a Williams fight.
The Sunday Star-Times has obtained an email from Adrian Salazar, a scout for Don King Productions, which was recently sent to New Zealand boxing officials, declaring "we see potential and would like to contact him to offer a promotional contract with Don King Productions where
he can have a great boxing career and become heavyweight champion of the world".
Last night, Salazar confirmed from the United States his interest in the 26-year-old Williams was legitimate.
"The best contact in the heavyweight industry is Don King and we can offer him a contract to see if he wants to fight," he said.
"We could get him fights all over the world.
"Right now, from my point of view, this guy has the huge potential to be the champion of the world just because there's nobody else with his condition."
Salazar was unaware of the existence of Williams' manager Khoder Nasser but said he would attempt to contact him this week to discuss boxing opportunities in the US.
While Williams is far from the finished product, the scout said that
he had the potential to shake up the entire heavyweight division and challenge the seemingly undefeatable Klitschko brothers (Vitali and Wladimir) for their respective world titles, earning "millions" in the process.
"The top heavyweights at the moment are the Klitschko brothers but they are older," Salazar said.
"Nobody else has any potential to fight against those guys. There's nobody who is in shape like Sonny Bill Williams you hear me?
"Everybody else is either out of shape, too short or they are doing the wrong things with their life.
"I see Sonny Bill Williams is just starting his career. I mean, five fights is almost nothing yet but he's doing good.
He's just started his career but if he wants to pursue it further, Don King would be the best choice going forward."
Promoter King is still in the dark about Williams but Salazar said he was the exact type of fighter the electric-haired promoter would want on his books.
"I am trying to get in touch with Sonny Bill Williams first before I present him to Don King," he said.
"I already know that he is going to like him. I know the type of fighter he likes and just by being a heavyweight, he will like Sonny Bill Williams.
"Then when I tell him what he does and how he's in shape and how
he's already a champion in New Zealand, he will love him.
"I have no doubt he will say to me `bring him over here'."
Nasser last night said he was yet to hear from Salazar but admitted the interest from the United States was hardly a suprise given Williams' recent knockout of Clarence Tillman.
"It's the oldest term in boxing but Sonny is a rough diamond," Nasser said.
"The consensus is growing amongst boxing circles that he definitely has the potential to go all the way.
"This is nothing new; people said that from his very first fight.
"People are critical of Sonny because they look at him as the boxer he is right now. But people in the business look at him and think about what he could be like in four years.
"These people have a God-given gift which is a bit of foresight."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/6480971/Boxing-legend-Don-King-after-Sonny-Bill-Williams
