Former cross-code footy star and heavyweight boxer Sonny Bill Williams has launched an attack on undefeated boxing great Floyd Mayweather for his support of Israel in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Mayweather, a former five-weight world champion, was one of the first big-name celebrities to publicly support Israel after Hamas attacked the country on October 7.
He arranged for a private plane filled with supplies to be flown to Israel in order to help those in need of aid, and has since continued to advocate against antisemitism.
Earlier this week, Mayweather visited Israel and was presented with two honours – the Champion for Israel award and the Lifesaving Award – for his ongoing support of the nation.
The boxer has been photographed with various organisations while in Israel, and been denounced by some who are critical of Israel’s role in the conflict.
Sonny Bill Williams has criticised boxing great Floyd Mayweather for supporting Israel
Mayweather was one of the first international celebrities to show public support for Israel after the Hamas attack on October 7, sending a plane with supplies to the country
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Williams, a devout Muslim who has been vocal in his support of Palestine, shared a video on social media of Mayweather posing with what look to be IDF troops and unleashed a withering takedown of the American.
‘On tour once we stayed at the same hotel as Floyd and his team,’ wrote Williams on X on Thursday.
‘The footy boys wanted a photo with him in the foyer. He rolled past us with his 10man entourage and had 5 ladies with him.
‘The women who seemed more excited with the attention from the boys than his company. I kept my eyes on Floyd as he seemed so upset, not about the boys asking for a photo but his lady friends paying the boys attention, not him.
‘I remember thinking ‘how can a man so revered seem so insecure?’ – after seeing this footage it becomes clear, a man without a backbone isn’t a man he’s a coward, keep dancing while the kids are dying.’
In January, the NRL condemned Williams’ comments on the war in Gaza in a letter to a leading Jewish organisation after the former Roosters and Bulldogs star was accused of inciting hatred.
The allegation was levelled at Williams when he described supporters of Israel as ‘Zionist cowards’ in a social media post last November, and he was also slammed for claiming Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in the October 7 attack were treated well.
Williams, who converted to Islam in 2009, was also criticised by radio host Ray Hadley after he ‘liked’ a comment on social media calling Hamas terrorists ‘freedom fighters’.
Mayweather has recently visited Israel and has been awarded for his advocacy (pictured)
The former All Black had shared a post from American law professor, author and controversial columnist Khaled Beydoun that said: ‘So, Ukrainian civilians defending their families are ‘freedom fighters’… But Palestinians in Gaza doing the EXACT same thing are ‘terrorists’?’
Williams reposted the comment with the 100 emoji to emphasise his approval, and the palms-up emoji to represent prayer.
Hadley called the comments a ‘disgrace’.
Mayweather has also been outspoken on social media about his opinions on the conflict.
He posted: ‘I stand with Israel against the Hamas terrorists. Hamas do not represent the people of Palestine but are a terrorist group that are attacking innocent lives!
‘I stand for all humans and wish for the safe return of all Americans and Israelis and any human that were kidnapped as hostages during these horrific war crimes.
‘This is not a time for politics. This is a time for safety first and foremost.
‘God Bless America. God Bless Israel. God Bless Human Kind!’
Along with the post, he included a picture of himself from a previous visit to Jerusalem.
