I’ve all the time appreciated South Africa’s heavyweight star of the Nineties and the primary decade or so of the 2000s. I met Francois Botha in Las Vegas in 1995, when he fought journeyman Willie Jake on the Holmes-McCall undercard
The sheer modesty of the person was what struck me first. Whenever you meet Francois, his inherent “goodness of soul” is instantly obvious. He had simply crushed Willie to go to 35-0 and was being touted for a battle with Mike Tyson. Regardless of all of the hoopla surrounding him, Francois, in his unassuming means, got here and sat within the ringside seats with the remainder of us. It wasn’t darkish but, and the gang was nonetheless pretty skinny, so he was seen. But, regardless of the fuss from a number of the followers, Botha behaved like something however a celeb. He was affable, well mannered and approachable.
Francois carried the nickname “The White Buffalo” with ease. It suited him. He wasn’t muscular in the best way we often consider heavyweight boxers, however he had this presence. He was overwhelmingly large. He stands solely 6’2″, three inches shorter than I’m. He weighed quite a bit lower than I did as effectively, possibly 230 kilos. On the time, I weighed 285. But, weirdly, he appeared larger than me.
One of the best ways I can describe him is that this. He seemed like a farmhand, possibly a cowboy. It was arduous to image him lifting weights in a health club, but I may simply envision him pitchforking a bale of hay twenty ft into the air. Robust boy.
The street to the heavyweight title
The Jake battle wasn’t an incredible introduction to Francois the boxer. I’m positive even he would admit it wasn’t his finest efficiency. To be truthful, it was a ridiculously scorching day. Additionally, if reminiscence serves, Willie was a last-second substitute and never the boxer Francois had ready for. Willie was extra a cruiserweight than a heavyweight, and in that warmth, being lighter helped.
Regardless of the cause, Francois wasn’t at his finest, and I believe the promoters noticed a future large payday vanishing, as a result of one thing occurred that, to this present day, I’ve by no means seen once more. In the course of the battle, the ring announcer declared, “As a consequence of time constraints, this battle has been shortened from 10 rounds to eight!”
I used to be sitting ringside. I couldn’t consider what I’d simply heard. Apparently, the time constraints had solely change into obvious as soon as Francois began operating out of steam. Don King was concerned. Want I say extra?
I’m unsure shortening the battle was obligatory. Sure, Francois was blowing fairly arduous, however he was effectively forward and Jake’s punches weren’t troubling him. Botha went on to win a unanimous resolution. However, the bout was shortened, and that wasn’t an incredible look.
On the time, I assumed, “I’d wish to battle this man.” Then got here his subsequent bout, and my enthusiasm waned. My God, Francois was robust. And he may actually field!
That subsequent battle was towards Germany’s Axel Schulz, later that very same yr, for the IBF heavyweight crown. The battle happened in Germany. Regardless of Schulz’s hometown benefit, Botha was awarded a split-decision win. Personally, I had him profitable simply. You possibly can think about how the battle went whenever you do not forget that he managed to get the nod on Schulz’s residence turf.
Sadly, the choice was overturned and the battle declared a no-contest as a result of Botha failed a drug take a look at. He later admitted to utilizing an anabolic steroid.
Now, I have to be clear right here. I on no account endorse using PEDs. That being mentioned, throughout the period in query, I’d wager a really giant sum that Francois was extra responsible of being the one who received caught than the rest. I’ll go away this matter proper right here.
Tyson, Lewis and Klitschko
Botha would ultimately get his shot at Tyson 4 years later, getting stopped within the fifth by as excellent a proper hand as Iron Mike ever threw.
I noticed one thing in each males that night time that has stayed with me through the years. Within the opening rounds, Tyson was Tyson, and the Marquess of Queensberry wouldn’t have been thrilled by Mike’s scant regard for the principles. At one level, he tried to interrupt Botha’s arm in a clinch. That was the primary time I ever noticed Francois lose his mood within the ring. It was bizarre seeing his entire manner change.
The opposite factor was that Tyson confirmed me a distinct aspect of himself as effectively. I believe he revered Botha’s braveness and skill. When he knocked Francois out within the fifth, Botha tried to face and commenced falling backwards. Mike rushed to assist him, attempting to forestall him from hurting himself. I’ve by no means forgotten these photos. To me, that was one boxer telling one other, “I’m sorry. I respect you very a lot.”
That was most likely Botha’s peak. He’d battle for a lot of extra years, shedding in spectacular trend to Lennox Lewis in two rounds, then struggling an eighth-round stoppage towards Wladimir Klitschko in 2002. However he was on the decline by then.
Eight years later, Francois took an ill-advised bout towards Evander Holyfield, leading to one other eighth-round stoppage. He was far, far previous his “finest earlier than” date for that battle, and the consequence was predictable.
Francois fought on till 2014, having his final battle at about 46 years of age. In addition to Lewis, Tyson and Holyfield, his resume consists of the likes of Michael Moorer, Shannon Briggs, Clifford Etienne and Michael Grant.
His remaining report was 48 wins, 11 losses, three attracts and one no-contest, with 29 knockouts, in 63 fights. Personally, I take a look at it a bit in another way. He had just one win in his final 9 fights as a result of, like so many boxers, he simply held on too lengthy. I consider him as a 47-4-2 fighter.
The White Buffalo’s Legacy
Francois occupied that tough house for a boxer. He was very, superb, however “simply this quick” of being on the very high rung. He may battle with the most effective heavyweights of his era, and on a great night time, he may give any of them hassle. However the championship that may have established him among the many elite by no means turned his to maintain.
He’s gone on to a profitable profession within the personal safety enterprise in his native South Africa. I’m glad for him. He was a great fighter, and from the little time I spent with him, a great man.
Secure to say, I miss him.
