DEON POTGIETER, Johannesburg | Thursday 1.00pm.
SOUTH Africa’s former International Boxing Federation Heavyweight world champion, Francois Botha, will be facing one of the highest rated heavyweights in the world, Shannon Briggs, on August 7 in Las Vegas.
The White Buffalo, as Botha is known, almost caused a major upset six months ago when he was leading on points in his clash with Mike Tyson. Eleven seconds before the end of round five, Tyson caught Botha with a short right hand that would have dropped an ox.
“I walked into it,” says Botha making light of the defeat. “I’ll be back.” And back he will be if he can pull off a win against Briggs. Briggs has lost only twice in 33 fights. Once against Darroll Wilson and earlier this year in a world title fight with Lennox Lewis. Briggs gave Lewis a tough fight and in fact made him look very ordinary. Briggs also scored a points victory over Big George Foreman in November of 1997.
“I think Briggs will either win on points or by a knockout in the late rounds.” Says fight analyst Terry Pettifer. “I can’t see Botha beating Briggs. He’s just too good.”
Botha, who’s only lost 2 fights in 43 bouts (against Michael Moorer and Mike Tyson) knows what’s at stake however. “I like being the underdog,” says Botha “It makes the victory sweeter.” A win over Briggs would put Botha in line to challenge the winner of the Evander Holyfield – Lennox Lewis world title unification match set for September.
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