Tyson Fury vs Francois Botha Wembley Arena February 19.

[crusader]

http://www.BS.com/kevin-johnso ... ury--35149

Kevin Johnson wants to fight.

[Lenny]

http://www.BS.com/kevin-johnso ... ury--35149

Kevin Johnson wants to fight.

Johnson is calling out novices now is he? Shame he didn't want to fight when he was in the ring with Vitali

[Glyn Leach]

How are all these Latvians and Africans approved then?

Good point. Their anonymity works in their favour, I think. The likes of Botha, a former world champion, might argue he is discriminated against because he has a higher profile than the fighters you mention.

[DavidPayne]

Imagine if Fury v Botha was made WITHOUT the BBBofC sanction.......cripes, the whole pack of cards could fall.

[THEBUTCH]

The Board shouldn't be knocking back Botha for Price or Fury.

Vidoz is a fair replacement though at this stage of Fury's career.

[danfoster]

Shit decision imo. How are all these Latvians and Africans approved then?

i think that this is an excellent question.

i was amazed to read that the BBBoC consider Botha too poor to license him to box in England.

Would he have beaten Fury - probably not. Was it a mismatch? No way.

The conclusion that i have reached is that this signifies a new era of drastically higher quality control for foreign import across the board. I'm sure that this new policy will be implemented consistently for all match ups and this can only be good news for fight fans.

So i think that this is positive news for boxing - no more dodgy foreign imports, no more mismatches, a fair deal for fighters, fans and promotors. Great stuff!

[dondada]

The conclusion that i have reached is that this signifies a new era of drastically higher quality control for foreign import across the board. I'm sure that this new policy will be implemented consistently for all match ups and this can only be good news for fight fans.

So i think that this is positive news for boxing - no more dodgy foreign imports, no more mismatches, a fair deal for fighters, fans and promotors. Great stuff!

Look, if you think the Commonwealth title should be scrapped, just come out and say it

[LeedsLad]

If you look at Basovs and Polakevic, two of Price's opponents..... Botha would have made roadkill out of those two.

That said, they could have easily passed for antenatal patients looking at the state of their guts, all three of them!

The Commonwealth has got to go, I agree. When the best Aussies and Canadians etc seldom bother with it and we're left with lousy Africans it's time to put it to rest.

Even the European.... half the best Euros don't bother with it anymore, shame really.

[Captain Hook]

Good post can't argue with any of that...

When people are picking up Commonwealth belts before they've had 10 fights then it's not worth having anymore, it's a shame.

[Lenny]

They're just so disposable. Fighters will pick up vacant belts, make a defence or two if you're lucky against guys far from the top of the tree in Europe/Commonwealth, then drop them for the next guy.

It is a shame

[LeedsLad]

When we've got area titles and now English ones and these masters ones too..... it just dilutes the quality and the meaning of having a title.

The only decent African I can remember coming over in recent years is Munyai, but he ended up being shut out because he was too dangerous and nobody wanted to fight him.

Was decent to watch, thrashed Power in the 2nd fight and Haskins too.

[Captain Hook]

Ali Nuumbembe was another, he settled in the Manchester area and wore his Commonwealth belt with pride. Lovely man...good fighter too.

[funso banjo baby]

Botha is a crap and cowardly fight. Reminds me of when audley tried to get the frank bruno fight.

[lefty]

Good decision by the board in my opinion!I agree with the points about how the latvians,etc get approved though so it is double standards!Botha is completely shot now,how about fury vs a-farce?

[DavidPayne]

Audley will need 9 months out to enable people to forget the size of the snot that hung from hisnose when he was stopped.

And besides "the establishment, the forces that are out there stopped me fighting 2010, but believe, 2011 will be my time".

I wouldn't back against him doing Prizefighter again in 2010.

[Captain Hook]

Can you imagine A Force v Fury? That would be a joke, a coward vs a slob.

I can see that being 12 rounds of leaning on each other...

Fury has lost serious momentum, can't believe he's not even got himself into decent shape.

Hope he seriously steps up in 2011.

Botha and Harrison aren't the answer, he should be gunning for Sexton, Chisora and Sprott to start showing what he can do

[oliverfennell]

Botha is a crap and cowardly fight. Reminds me of when audley tried to get the frank bruno fight.

Botha's not coming of a seven-year layoff and suffering suspected mental health issues.