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Clarence Tillman - Source: Fairfax -
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Sonny Bill Williams' latest boxing opponent is so confident he will win on Wednesday night that he's placed a $1000 bet on himself with the TAB.
Clarence Tillman, 34, has been largely written off by Williams' camp.
The All Black midfielder's trainer, Tony Mundine, described the American this week as "a punching bag".
But Tillman - who hails from the mean streets of New Orleans and saw five murders before he left school - has paid no attention to the verbal jabs from Williams and co, and says he will happily put his money where his mouth is.
In fact, Tillman is so confident he will overcome his "novice" opponent in Hamilton he's taken up the TAB's odds of $5.50 for a knockout.
If he can floor Williams and claim victory, the veteran stands to pocket more than $5000.
"Trust me on this one," Tillman said.
"I'm going to be putting a thousand dollars on myself to win this fight. I'm serious and I'll be putting the bet on to finish the fight by knockout."
A spokesman from the TAB last night said there was nothing within the organisation's rules to stop Tillman from betting on himself to win by a knockout.
However, a bet to win by a points decision might be deemed more suspicious, the spokesman said.
For Williams, the fight against Tillman is a significant step up from his last opponent - sickness beneficiary and gospel singer Alipate Liava'a.
Wednesday night's bout in Hamilton is only the fifth of his fledgling career and, given Tillman is preparing for his 23rd fight and has sparred with the likes of Evander Holyfield and Chris Byrd, experience is on the side of the American.
Tillman, who claims to know very little about Williams, also said yesterday he'd been surprised at the number of New Zealanders privately telling him they wanted to see his opponent knocked out.
"I've had people - a lot of people actually - say things like that," he said.
"They call him a show pony or something like that."
In preparation for his fight, Tillman has sparred with top Kiwi cruiserweight Shane Cameron, who yesterday warned Williams to take his rival lightly at his peril.
"Clarence and I have sparred a couple of rounds," Cameron said.
"He's a big boy and he's very tough, very durable.
"He's also got a bit of experience too and that makes for a pretty interesting fight."
It would be a big step up for Sonny Bill.
"Clarence hasn't got the best record but he will certainly hold his own and I can't see Sonny stopping him. If Sonny doesn't come prepared, he will walk away from this fight second-best."
