SONNY Bill Williams has been given Toronto Wolfpack’s blessing to face boxing icon Mike Tyson in a fight.
In fact, the Canadian club is leading the way to find out if an agent’s claims he can make it happen are real.
New Zealand legend Williams could be Tyson’s next opponent
Tyson is thought to be back on the comeback trailCredit: Instagram
Promoter Brian Amatruda claims he has offered 53-year-old Tyson $1million to come out of retirement in Melbourne, with dual-code superstar Williams one of three potential opponents.
And far from pour cold water on the prospect, Toronto are positively encouraging it and want to see if Amatruda is serious.
Wolfpack coach Brian McDermott is himself a former Royal Marine boxing champion and Williams would not have any obstacles placed in his way – he has a clause in his deal allowing him to box in the off-season.
The 34-year-old is a former WBA International Heavyweight champion and has won all seven of his pro bouts, the last being five years ago.
SunSport understands he has not yet told Toronto if he would be interested in facing Tyson.
But a source told SunSport: “Sonny can fight with the club’s permission during the off-season.
“He hasn’t asked yet but we are following up with his agent to see if it is for real.
“It could be a hell of a fight.”
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Williams has insisted he would be up for facing either of the two other Tyson options, former rugby league star Paul Gallen and Barry Hall.
Williams said: “Time will tell. I’m pretty interested in that fight. There has been a lot of talk from both camps. I am not sure who’ll win.”
Amatruda insists his plans are real, saying: “I’d hold it at Melbourne Arena where we’d get over 10,000 or even Princes Park where they got 30,000 for Jeff Fenech versus Azumah Nelson.
“He might be 53 years old but he’s still a huge name and any of those blokes Hall, Gallen or Sonny Bill would jump at the chance to get into the ring with him. It would be enormous.
“We’d have to wait until the coronavirus shutdowns are over of course so the fight probably wouldn’t be until early next year – as long as we can get the visa.”
Meanwhile, Toronto are looking into ways of getting help from the Canadian government after being told by UK authorities they cannot access the £16million loan to rugby league.
Insiders admitted cash flow is getting tight there – even though the signing of former England man Kallum Watkins is set to be ratified by the Rugby Football League.
That has been made possible by players agreeing wage adjustments and, with a low salary for the remainder of 2020 before it goes up for the following three years, the 29-year-old fits under the salary cap.
And even though they have been left out by the UK, despite players living here and them training at a Greater Manchester school, they are looking at the options on the other side of the Atlantic.
The source added: “I don’t think the government, either at a Federal or Provincial level, will stand up to support sports teams.
“We may be able to apply for some business loans through other government programmes and we are looking into that.
“It’s getting tight on the cash flow but we will survive.”
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
