By Bongani Magasela

SONNY Bill Williams will get home ground advantage in his fight against Francois ''White Buffalo" Botha if the tournament promoter cannot get local TV coverage.

Thinus Strydom, who has clinched the deal for the star All Blacks centre to meet 43-year-old Botha, said he hopes to stage the fight in Durban on November 17. If he cannot get a sponsor to back the tournament, or local television to broadcast it, he will stage it in New Zealand.

The 27-year-old Williams holds the New Zealand Boxing Association heavyweight title and is undefeated after five fights.

"[Williams] signed a deal with me to fight in South Africa once a year. It's a good deal for all of us," said Strydom.

Williams played for the All Blacks against Australia on Saturday in the opening match of the new Four Nations.

He said: "Rugby commentators mentioned the fight against Botha and since then my phone has been ringing endlessly. It will be very good for boxing in South Africa to bring a superstar like Williams, but let's wait and see what happens."

It is understood that Williams, who this month helped the Chiefs win the Super 15 title for the first time, is quitting New Zealand to play rugby union in Japan and later rugby league in Australia.

Botha, the former IBF and WBF heavyweight champion, is in Germany to fight Franceso Pianeta.

The veteran made a comeback in June last year when he stopped Flo Simba in six rounds, but five months later was defeated by Michael Grant for the WBF belt before being stopped in 11 rounds by Carlso Takam for the WBO Africa title in March. Botha has 48 wins (29 KOs), three draws and seven defeats. His defeats include losses to Michael Moorer, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko.