Sunday Star★Times October 11, 2009 B8 SPORT

CYCLING BACK TO THE GRIND

Carl Williams’ Carl Williams has carved body art signifies nearly 20kg off his beefy adherence to the Straight frame and is making the Edge movement’s commitment unlikely sporting transition to clean living. Photo: from America’s Cup grinder Peter Meecham to cyclist. Greg Ford reports.

Y HIS own admission, Carl Zealand’s most prestigious and gruel- races and give more renowned riders a America’s Cup broadcasts over the do tend to get overshadowed. He will showcase his designs during Williams is a bit different. ling road race, The Tour of Southland, fright. years. ‘‘What I want to do is tap into the the tour but he said they would look B That much becomes obvious, he’s created his very own team. Williams has the physiology to be a Williams followed in her footsteps, interest that’s there and help expose vastly different to the brightly as soon as you clap eyes on him. It’s a massive endeavour. But he’s success – a tried and tested cardio- but his size meant he wasn’t suited to and teach young up-and-comers in coloured apparel which dominates the Distinguishing characteristics already notched up some successes. vascular system. sailing dinghies. sports like cycling, what it takes to be cycling scene. abound. Big as a barn door, he’s tall Williams has secured a key sponsor, A one-time swimmer who trained But he managed to get noticed sail- a true professional, the business side, Williams is an adherent of punk and broad, and only a few months ago well-regarded -based coffee under Kiwi coaching legend Jan ing keelboats, and at 17 embarked on how to relate to sponsors and the subculture Straight Edge. He has the weighed 117kg. company Allpress, and a high-calibre an international media, how that partnership works, movement’s insignia tattooed on his Most of his upper torso and right team including tour veteran Scott sailing career, first because it’s really important.’’ shoulders. Its followers abstain from arm is a living canvas. But it’s not just Wilder and a trio of young guns from ‘Sport is an ideal outlet for someone like me in Europe sailing Williams practises what he alcohol and recreational drugs. his size and body art that set this both sides of the Tasman in Tom Find- maxis. preaches. ‘‘Sport is an ideal outlet for someone 196cm giant apart. lay, Taylor Gunman and Alex Ray. with a creative bent and interest in business. Sailing is one of Sailing still butters his bread (he is like me with a creative bent and inter- Williams, 28, is already well-known The slimmed-down Williams has the best-resourced currently on the payroll of a Swedish est in business. It’s less formal and you in Kiwi sporting circles as an accom- been in training for several months, It’s less formal and you don’t have to wear sports on the pla- sailing syndicate and was recently in don’t have to wear a suit and tie and plished sailor. He has two America’s striking up a friendship with five times net; billionaire soft- helping an Artemis client can still get a deal done.’’ Cups under his belt, the first with New Zealand road champion Gordon a suit and tie and can still get a deal done.’ ware magnate bed in a new TP52). Williams’ ultimate goal is to com- Team New Zealand in 2003, the second McCauley. Larry Ellison spares But he’s also started his own sport- pete at the Olympics again, as a cyclist. with BMW Oracle in 2007, and he also The pair are regular training Cameron, he developed a competitive no expense buying the best for Oracle ing business venture, the Bicivida There’s a lot of water to flow under has an campaign (2008) partners and McCauley waxes lyrical streak in the pool that proved useful and Williams wants to weave some of brand, a Spanish term he picked up that bridge yet. But the non-conformist on his resume. about Williams to anyone who cares to during his 10-year international sailing the knowledge he has acquired into while living with his partner and two has already added another layer of But now the big grinder wants to listen, including on Twitter. career. cycling. children in Valencia. colour to the New Zealand sporting become an elite cyclist. And in typical Neither is certain just how good he His mother, Penny Whiting, is a ‘‘Rugby has the best sporting infra- Loosely translated, Bicivida means scene. Williams’ style – this boy doesn’t do will be when it comes to the tour. But one-woman sailing institution, best structure,’’ he said. Bike Life, and he hopes to cash in on One suspects the Tour of Southland things by halves – the rookie rider he’s been good enough to finish with known for her motherly presence ‘‘It’s the same in countries where the sport’s growing popularity in New won’t be the last we see of this hasn’t just decided to compete in New the pack in several quality lead-up dispensing sailing tips during football dominates. But smaller sports Zealand by launching a clothing line. intriguing chap.

BOXING FIGHT OF THE CENTURY: THE AFTERMATH Tua’s team scrambles to Cameron backer’spledge: secure worthy opponent I’ll fund another title bid

By STEVE KILGALLON Scene website. Both Kushner and By STEVE KILGALLON interesting question: do I have to Higgins say contracts had been rebuild the brand? I think we have to THE DATE, venue and opponent for signed with Rahman, but the Maori ’S millionaire backer get him back in the ring and winning ’s next fight remain com- TV deal made it uneconomic to Mark Hotchin says he will keep funding again as soon as we can. I don’t think pletely undecided, his promoter bring him here for a likely purse of Cameron’s career for at least another 12 it damages his brand: Shane got KO’d Cedric Kushner has admitted, $US250,000 ($338,000). ‘‘You could months and believes that despite his by a guy who KO’d four world although a bid to bring Evander say it was a done deal...[but] they second-round by David Tua, champions, there’s no disgrace in that. Holyfield to New Zealand is not have clearly moved on to other he can still fight for a world title. The way you rebuild is by victories, and impossible. opportunities,’’ said Higgins. ‘‘For it Hotchin’s backing will come as a once you get a few more victories under But an ongoing broadcast rights to happen, Rahman needs to be re- huge boost for Cameron’s manager, Ken his belt, then he’s back in the mix.’’ dispute with Maori TV could force engaged, and a compromise is still Reinsfield, who admits admits he has to Reinsfield said Cameron’s reputation the local promoter of the Tua- needed around broadcasts. For rebuild his boxer’s brand image again was ‘‘not destroyed’’ but he concedes Cameron fight, David Higgins, out those reasons, it might be hard to and prove to the public that he is the he has to re-convince the public. of the picture – despite Higgins put together in December. Will I be ‘‘real deal’’ as a boxer. ‘‘That he’s the real deal? You could be making a profit from the ‘‘Fight of disappointed if it doesn’t happen? Hotchin told the Star-Times last right. I think it is [our challenge].’’ the Century’’ and having an Yes, I will.’’ night that ‘‘nothing has changed’’ and But he wouldn’t admit that meant a increased appetite for staging Kushner said: ‘‘A month ago, we he and business partner Eric Watson’s decline in the quality of opposition, another big-name boxing bill. could have solidified it, we had Cullen Sports company would keep although Cameron did bolster his recent Kushner has formal backing Cameron. record by fighting opponents ranked in given up on commitments.’’ ‘‘Shane’s aware that we are the hundreds by the Boxrec website: bringing Hasim ‘We have to make a While he committed for the long term. Obviously ‘‘It’s no good him fighting bums, he still Rahman here would speak to things didn’t go to plan, but we will carry needs to be fighting guys who will help for a December decision very quickly... Nelson again, on. Clearly, it [the result] wasn’t what put him back in the rankings.’’ 13 bout at he was pessi- we had in mind but he is a good boy and Cameron said his approach would be Auckland’s the key thing is to take mistic after we’ll continue supporting him.’’ to ‘‘win, and keep winning’’ and said he’d Vector Arena being told by a Hotchin says the pursuit of a world be open to fighting on a Tua undercard. after Rahman advantage of the terrific senior Top title had been ‘‘certainly the case’’ but ‘‘I didn’t get to display my boxing ability became dis- Rank executive added: ‘‘I don’t know that Saturday and that’s why I need to come back and mayed over momentum and positive that the Mercer night necessarily changes that. It’s more display it on someone else.’’ delays in fight was a matter of timing than anything. We But Reinsfield admitted there were finalising the press.’ locked in. small local promotion. Kushner, to make up the pay-per-view short- Next please: David Tua demolished will stay involved and see how we go in no instant answers although there was deal due to the – Promoter Cedric Kushner That’s however, is more pragmatic, and fall. Mather did offer one significant Shane Cameron last Saturday. the next 12 months.’’ one certainty - while Cameron has dispute with where Kushner just wants Tua fighting again. So he olive branch, however, saying if Photo: Iain McGregor That gives Reinsfield a buffer to changed coaches regularly in the past, Maori TV. and Higgins could split. Higgins would, if forced, fulfil the Maori TV Tua fought in New Zealand, he relaunch Cameron’s career. Having made both he and Reinsfield said current The station’s chief executive, wants another tilt at changing Rah- deal by pitching in Tua with a would not expect any share of over- boxing promotion profitable in New trainer Lolo Heimuli would stay on. Jim Mather, confirmed he wouldn’t man’s mind, and if he fails, would journeyman or finding him a lead seas broadcast rights’ sales. Zealand by touring him through well- Reinsfield, who has been involved budge on Tua’s three-fight, $50,000 chase another big name, with Holy- undercard spot on a US promotion. And the signs are Tua will fight attended , , with Cameron since 2001, copped per-bout broadcast deal. field, aged 46, an immediate con- ‘‘When all is said and done, again here, Kushner declaring that Gisborne and Auckland venues, and plenty of criticism last week, but was Higgins’ confidence last week tender given Higgins has talked there are other fighters,’’ he said. a world title fight promoted by convincing punters his man was building able to laugh when he said: ‘‘It’s a prick that the Rahman deal could be before with his management over ‘‘We have to make a decision very Duco would be profitable. ‘‘Abso- to a world title challenge, Reinsfield of a game. All you do is get hammered resuscitated has crumbled after potential speaking tours. Higgins quickly... thekey thing is to take lutely no doubt about that,’’ he said. concedes he has to start again. and you don’t make that much money learning of Mather’s intransigence has the capacity to again offer big advantage of the terrific momen- ‘‘And that’s not BS. There is no His first tactic, he says, will be outofit.ButI’mabigboy...youhave and the news that a frustrated Rah- fight purses to anyone willing to tum and positive press.’’ doubt that with a big rugby getting Cameron into the ring regularly to be hard in this game [or] you get man now plans to fight 48-year-old fight Tua. Mather said he and Kushner, stadium, we could make the and winning in 2010 – and it’s possible walked over. former WBO and Olympic cham- But while he says he’d be after being at loggerheads, are now economics work.’’ Reinsfield could pursue a high-profile, ‘‘I don’t think I’ve done a bad job pion Ray Mercer on November 19 in interested in staging a Tua fight of ‘‘exploring ways we can work Duco have not done their final but not top-class opponent, such as managing Shane. I brought him from a Rochester, New York, the home any size, a smaller event might together’’ and said a Tua fight sums on last week’s fight but league converts and defeat to a world ranking in a short town of Rahman’s manager Steve price his company Duco out, for it could work on his channel if Higgins said: ‘‘We didn’t lose Solomon Haumono, as a kick-start. time, so there is no reason I can’t get Nelson, who slammed Higgins in a would be hard to see its big-dollar, promoters cut back on corporate money, but we’re not buying a Asked if he had to rebuild the brand, him back into the world rankings. It’s recent interview with the Boxing black-tie approach working on a tables, and used bigger gate takings Pacific island.’’ Reinsfield said: ‘‘Possibly. It’s an not like he lost to a nobody.’’