Francois Botha was fuming after a late decision to switch his Sonny Bill Williams bout from 12 rounds to 10 probably cost him victory.
THE great Don King has nothing on Sonny Bill Williams' camp, according to angry former world boxing champion Francois Botha.
The ex-IBF belt holder said he would launch a protest after hinting that Williams' crew had pulled off one of the great swindles following his controversial points loss in a WBA international title bout, sensationally cut from 12 to 10 rounds at the last minute on Friday night.
It is believed boxing novice Williams (6-0 record) will technically be awarded the win but will not be officially recognised as WBA champion due to the unprecedented move to cut short the bout in Brisbane.
WBA rules stipulate that international title fights must be held over 12 rounds.
No wonder Botha (48-9-3, 29 knockouts) was taken aback when the ring announcer counted down the bout in the 10th round.
Francois Botha tries to land a punch on Sonny Bill Williams. Picture: Jono Searle
South African bruiser Botha proudly boasts that King coined his nickname ``the White Buffalo'' in a glittering boxing career that has featured bouts against a who's who of the sport, including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.
Angry bookies refund bets on SBW fight
But Botha claimed great boxing promoter King could learn something from Williams' camp headed by manager Khoder Nasser after being ``robbed'' on Friday night.
Botha was livid that not only was their fight was short-lived but claimed the final round was cut short by 15 seconds as he began to unload on a stunned Williams.
Sonny Bill Williams punches Francois Botha during their heavyweight bout at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Picture: Jono Searle
``This is bullshit. These guys beat Don King by far,'' he told AAP.
``Don King could learn a lesson from these guys in Australia.
``I have two more years left in the sport. He (SBW) gives me an opportunity like this and then he robs me?
``I have only got a few more fights before I retire but I come out here and they cheat.
Sonny Bill Williams punches Francois Botha during their heavyweight bout at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Picture: Chris Hyde
``He (SBW) is a superstar - he's famous. But this is not what you do at the start of your boxing career.''
Nasser hinted that the fight was cut short due to Botha's unorthodox tactics - the wily South African was deducted a point for hitting Williams after the bell and was seen striking the Sydney Roosters NRL player in the back of the head during the bout.
``The last 30 seconds, that guy was doing a lot of dirty stuff,'' Nasser told reporters.
``If you keep getting punched in the back of the head and it is illegal - anything can happen.''
Francois Botha and Sonny Bill Williams after the fight. Picture: Jono Searle
But asked if the 10th round was cut short, a combative Nasser said: ``Check with the bell ringer''.
Botha's promoter Thinus Strydom confirmed they would launch a protest.
``We definitely will. The best thing is doing a rematch. In Cape Town, South Africa would be ideal,'' he said.
``All international fights are 12 rounds. Why cut it to 10? Something is wrong here.''
Sonny Bill Williams is joined by Anthony Mundine and Quade Cooper after his win. Picture: Jono Searle
This is despite the run sheet for the night stating it was 12 rounds, and the judge's scoring slips being written out for 12 rounds.
Botha deservedly lost to Williams on points after an entertaining and highly dramatic bout at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre last night.
Botha's camp will protest their client's loss to Williams on the grounds that it was scheduled for the traditional 12.
But Botha's promoter Thinus Strydom said they did agree to a ten-round bout on the day even though Botha was adamant he had no idea.
Quade Cooper gets his boxing career off to a flyer by knocking out Barry Dunnett in his first ever professional round.
The number of times the word re-match was mentioned post-fight lends credence to the belief it was all a show - a WWE style night of entertainment.
The only truth that can be found in the sordid affair is that the sport of boxing suffered.
Bookmakers this afternoon offered refunds on all bets placed on Botha to beat Williams, with sportsbet.com.au posting the news to Twitter and branding it "#Justice".
Williams pointed out that WBA International title fights can be only ten rounds, not the mandatory 12 for most titles.
"I thought it was going for ten, just like the New Zealand title I fought for," Williams said.
"Our whole preparation was for ten rounds.
"I pride myself on doing everything above board. I don't have a bad bone in my body.
"He was punching the back of my head, standing on my feet to stop me moving.
"I was winning the rounds. He only caught me with a couple of shots at the end.
"I had never gone past six rounds. I'm just proud of my self that I took on someone of his experience.
Cooper lands early blow on critics
"If we do a rematch, I would love to have one in South Africa, in Cape Town where I have more fans then he has.
"Hopefully I gave the crowd their money's worth."
Botha said the fight was fixed and a perfect example of the country's rotten sporting culture the Australian Crime Commission exposed earlier this week.
"There's this whole damn match fixing thing going on here… isn't this match fixing?" he said.
"In the tenth round I knew I had two more to go. I didn't get to finish him.
"I want a re-match in Cape Town."
REPLAY OUR COVERAGE OF THE SONNY BILL WILLIAMS-FRANCOIS BOTHA FIGHT BELOW.
Quade Cooper lands a punch on Barry Dunnet in their cruiserweight bout. Picture: Jono Searle Source: The Courier-Mail
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Botha demands SBW rematch
Dengan url
http://duniasikasik.blogspot.com/2013/02/botha-demands-sbw-rematch.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Botha demands SBW rematch
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar