Francois Botha
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| Francois Botha | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Francois Botha |
| Nickname | White Buffalo |
| Weight | Heavyweight |
| Nationality |  South African |
| Birth date | 9 September 1968 |
| Birth place | |
| Style | |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 100 |
| Wins | 96 |
| Wins by KO | 70 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Francois Botha, also known as Frans Botha is a South African boxer, nicknamed the "White Buffalo," Francois Botha has had a relatively distinguished career as a heavyweight boxer.
Botha suffered a fifth round knock out to Mike Tyson, who he had been beating handily up until that point. Botha was even showboating in the ring against Tyson, and Iron Mike was so frustrated that he admitted to attempting to break Both's arm during a clinch. Tyson won the fight with a one-punch KO.
One of his most notable fights was against Shannon Briggs, the latter having dominated the first half of the fight, knocking Botha down, Botha rose off the canvas and delivered a one, one, two punch successfully again and again, bloodying Briggs's face and earning a draw, although most people thought Botha was aggressive enough to win the fight. Botha had a victory in 1995 against Germany's Axel Schulz to win the International Boxing Federation World Heavyweight Championship, but later tested positive for steroids he and his camp claimed to be prescribed by a doctor for an arm injury.
"The White Buffalo" bounced back with a courageous effort with Michael Moorer for the IBF crown on the undercard of Mike Tyson's first contest with Evander Holyfield. Botha battled fatigue, and a more skilled fighter than himself and showed much heart, courage, and determination, earning him bigger fights down the road. This eventually led to the aforementioned fights with Mike Tyson, and Shannon Briggs, and World Title showdowns with Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. Botha came up on the short end via knockout in both of those encounters, but it cannot go unsaid to his credit he was fighting against hometown crowds on both occasions.
Frans Botha fought distinguished contender Clifford Etienne, and knocked him down twice, but was again denied a victory and received a majority draw. Once again, this was in Etienne's hometown.
He currently resides in Newport Beach, California with his wife and two children.
Francois Botha has lately been participating in the kickboxing combat sport, K-1. His current K-1 record is two wins and six losses.
Botha has had one mixed martial arts fight. On December 31st 2004 he lost to Yoshihiro Akiyama via an armbar submission in the first round.
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