Ring girls for tonight’s boxing charity event involving All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams, will "be a bit more covered up" after the cross-code star refused to pose with them at a press conference on Thursday promoting the bout.
Williams, 33, who is a devout Muslim and his management team, expressed their disappointment at the presence of scantily clad ring girls at Thursday's press conference, where they were promoting their fight with Aussie reality TV star Stu Laundy.
The boxing bout is a fundraiser for The Bill Crews Charitable Trust, Auckland City Mission and the Exodus Foundation.
The Daily Mail reports that the promoters apologised to Williams and his team. And have arranged two ring girls to attend tonight's bout dressed more moderately.
Nine News reported yesterday that Williams and his team asked the women to be removed from the press conference.
"It is what it is, that's the industry that we're in. But for myself I don't think it was necessary," Williams told Nine News.
"We didn't think it was appropriate in that atmosphere (to have the models there)," said Williams' agent Khoder Nasser.
"Sonny Bill's stance towards women is very respectful."
Nasser said other members of The Bill Crews Charitable Trust were also unhappy with the appearance of the models in bikinis.
"There were (upset). We were very much in line," said Nasser.
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