SBW's next opponent may be his toughest yet

Sonny Bill Williams' manager has announced details of the fighter's next opponent, only days after the star controversially defeated Francois Botha in the ring.

He will fight Titewhai Harawira in April.

Key To Box In 2011

The decision by John Key to fight a boxing match just weeks before the likely election date is causing consternation among some past and present National Party politicians.

National Party president Peter Goodfellow has confirmed that a provision had been agreed under Mr Key’s arrangements with National, allowing him to fight up to two boxing matches a year.

While Mr Key has not yet taken the opportunity to step into the boxing ring, it is understood that he has arranged two fights in 2011.

The first fight, scheduled in January, will be against Wladimir Klitschko, the Russian giant who currently holds the IBF, IBO and WBO boxing titles.

The second bout is expected to take place in September, in Las Vegas. Key’s opponent for that fight has not been announced, though it is believed negotiations are underway between Key’s advisers and the camps of David Tua and US fighter Ray Austin.

John Key confirmed that he was training hard for the two bouts.

“I’ll be spending the summer in Hawaii relaxing. It’s critical to be fresh when you step into the ring. My officials will get me up to speed on what I need to know on the flight back to Auckland.”

Former National Party leader Jim Bolger said he was appalled at the news.

“How can this man run the country and fight a boxing match? What if he’s hurt? Do we really want the fate of our country being decided by a man with a brain injury? This is 1996 all over again.”

Key’s deputy, Bill English, who has also boxed, said he supported Key’s decision.

“I’m behind John all the way. The election next year will be a hard and tough campaign, and this will help to toughen up our leader.

“And if some terrible injury should befall him, I’m sure one of us will be ready to pick up the reins.”

Experts are divided on whether Key will make an impact in the sport. His first opponent, Wladimir Klitschko, is 1.98 metres tall, 34 years old and in the fighting form of his life. Key is 49, struggles to find time to exercise, and has never put on boxing gloves before.

Political commentator Simon Spingarten said Key’s poll ratings would stand him in good stead during the bout.

“The opposition have a huge amount of work to do if they’re going to make any sort of impact. It’s hard to imagine Key losing in 2011.

“All Key needs to do is play it safe and steady. But the way the polls are looking this could be a complete walkover.”

Labour leader Phil Goff was unavailable to comment on the issue. However, a robot that looked like Goff but still sounded like a robot said something, and nobody listened.

Same Old Same Old

Fight of the Century? If that's as good as it's going to get then professional boxing should shut down until 2100.

In fact why not pull the plug on the entire farce?

******

 This story troubles me.

Thousands of people will miss out on free live cover of the Rugby World Cup if Maori Television's taxpayer-funded bid for the right to screen games succeeds.

Maori TV has used $3 million or more of public money from Te Puni Kokiri to boost its bid for the free-to-air rights well above those of TVNZ and TV3.

But unlike the commercial channels, Maori TV broadcasts to only 85 per cent of the country.

So people in towns such as Russell, Paihia, Kaikohe, Wellsford, Warkworth, Coromandel, Whitianga and Queenstown would miss out.

I assume the people in those towns who have Sky TV will still get coverage though their Sky subscriptions. So it may not be as dire as it sounds.

But why is this government subsidising a minority broadcaster to secure the rights? Why not give the money to state-owned TVNZ? No disrespect to Maori TV, but do they have the capability or personnel to do this properly? We already have a state-funded broadcaster. We could, um, give them the money.

The political ramifications of this are truly intriguing. Subsidising a Maori TV channel would seem an anathema to core National supporters. So expect the airwaves and bandwidth to be filled with cries of "Neville Key".

******

Come on, now, be honest.

What was your secret wish when you heard that the gunman on the loose in Southern Hawkes Bay was from Wanganui, and that a body was found in his car?

Shame on you.

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Sound familiar?

Prime Minister John Key was driven at more than twice the legal speed limit across battered Samoan roads so he could have a shower before seeing tsunami damage.

Journalists travelling with the speeding motorcade report fearing for their lives as they careered at more than 100kmh to deliver the prime minister from the airport to the high commission.

The legal speed limit is 40kmh.

Wow! John really is a clean freak. He busted into the Aussie PM's place in New York so he could get clean, when the water in his hotel failed, and now this.

But that's not why this story has a familiar ring, is it?

I love it when the new guy starts doing all the stuff his supporters hated the last lot for.