Sonny Bill Williams insists the pre-fight scrap between himself and opponent Clarence Tillman wasn't a set up.
Fans have questioned the authenticity of the stoush at today's weigh in, suggesting the scuffle was a marketing ploy aimed at building interest in the fight, and increasing pay-per-view sales.
Williams rejected the notion, saying it would be a mistake to to become embroiled in marketing shenanigans on the eve of the fight.
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"You can't really go into a contest thinking about [staging a stoush]," Williams said. "You've got to go in there and do what you need to do and the right game plan, and just stick to it."
But feedback on ONE News' Facebook page and Twitter had indicated not everyone believed the fight was genuine.
The scrap is said to be worth about 5000 pey-per-view sales, meaning Williams' camp could be getting upto $100,000 more as a result of the dust-up.
Kerry Emerson commented on facebook, "Planned 'scrap' to get people talking about an otherwise non-event."
"Embarrassing stage don't ya think?" said Kathy Huff.
On Twitter, #sbw and #Sonny Bill Williams are now trending in New Zealand in response to the news.
Scott Feehan tweeted, "Alternative headline? 'The #sbw boxing circus goes for ratings boost'."
Hadleigh Sinclair said, "and then we staged a fight at the weigh in and the itnernet went craaaaaaaazzzzyyy.(sic)"
The fight happened when Tillman pushed his opponent before giving him a fully-fledged shove during the staredown.
The aggressive move by Tillman sparked an all in melee with numerous members of both parties joining in.
Williams said to media after the scrap he had just planned to come to the press conference and fight it out in the ring tomorrow.
"Obviously, there are other things on his mind and he wants to bring the fight right now."
Boxer Shane Cameron commented on today's event, saying that's "one way to boost excitement up for the [fight]".
'Didn't see it coming'
Even Tillman's trainer Chris Martin says the scrap surprised him.
"I didn't see that coming," Martin said. "I wasn't expecting it to come and I don't think they did either."
Williams' friend and boxing mentor, two-time super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine decried Tillman's actions as unsporting.
"Just disrespectful to the fullest degree. He dog shotted Sonny," Mundine said.
"I'm still fired up, that's really uncalled for man."
Tillman confident
Tillman, 34, has been largely written off by Williams' camp in the lead-up to the fight, with the All Black midfielder's trainer, Tony Mundine, describing 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 - paid no attention to the verbal jabs from Williams and co, and said last week that 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.
