http://www.news.com.au/sport/boxing-mma ... 6577507087SOUTH African heavyweight Francois Botha is negotiating for another $100,000 payday to fight in Brisbane.
The shock news comes despite Botha's claims he was a victim of "match-fixing" and was even offered a bribe to lose to Sonny Bill Williams.
Botha is negotiating with Gatton promoter Noel Thornberry to fight Logan's world No.10 Alex Leapai in a bout mooted for Brisbane City Hall in September.
Botha, 44, was paid $100,000 to fight Williams at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Friday and yesterday claimed on New Zealand radio that he rejected an offer of $150,000 from promoter Khoder Nasser to deliberately lose.
"If Frans will come to Brisbane to fight me I can promise him it will be a fair bout," Leapai said.
"I'm a world-class heavyweight not a pretend fighter like Sonny with a circus around him.
"Anyone at the Entertainment Centre on Friday knows Frans was dudded, but I can bring respect back to Queensland boxing."
botha vs leapai in brisbane.
botha vs leapai in brisbane.
if botha thought the last fight ended badly, it will pale into the concussion he will suffer from fighting leapai. how a 44yo thinks he can beat someone who will hit him as much as leapai hit johnson is unclear. he hasnt got a white rhinos chance in hell of beating leapai. more likely he will be seriously hurt.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
Surely Alex can find a better opponent than Santa Claus.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
botha has a profile now due to nassers decption.
profile sells and no doubt leapais management are looking to trade off that. ive got no problem with that. if botha wants the fight, well he is a big boy now, and can make those decisions for himself.
i just dont think he has a chance against a murderous puncher like leapai. at 44yo you just cant take punishment like a 20 or 30yo. botha also cant move much. he relies on his chin, which wont help him with alexs skull punches. i honestly fear for bothas health.
profile sells and no doubt leapais management are looking to trade off that. ive got no problem with that. if botha wants the fight, well he is a big boy now, and can make those decisions for himself.
i just dont think he has a chance against a murderous puncher like leapai. at 44yo you just cant take punishment like a 20 or 30yo. botha also cant move much. he relies on his chin, which wont help him with alexs skull punches. i honestly fear for bothas health.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
I dont mind the fight. BUT surely Frans would not go near Brisbane again.
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Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
You are on the money here and so is Leapai. It is a fight that makes no boxing sense other than dollar$.popeye1 wrote:botha has a profile now due to nassers decption.
profile sells and no doubt leapais management are looking to trade off that. ive got no problem with that. if botha wants the fight, well he is a big boy now, and can make those decisions for himself.
i just dont think he has a chance against a murderous puncher like leapai. at 44yo you just cant take punishment like a 20 or 30yo. botha also cant move much. he relies on his chin, which wont help him with alexs skull punches. i honestly fear for bothas health.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
put one or 2 league players and lauryn eagle on the card and u help attract the general public to buy tickets and/or watch it on tv.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
You'd think Leapai and team would be aiming higher than Botha. But as already been pointed out they look to be leveraging off Bothas rep in this part the world now given the Circus fiasco last week!
Botha picks up another cool 100k win/loose or draw at 44 its all about the $$ for him.
Botha picks up another cool 100k win/loose or draw at 44 its all about the $$ for him.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
and a bit of publicity o'seas for leapai too. might help with looking for future opponents.
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Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
Any heavyweight who wants to see his name appear in the newspaper or on boxing sites should be calling out Botha at the present time. Smart move by Leapai. But I hope he doesn't fight Botha.buster007 wrote:and a bit of publicity o'seas for leapai too. might help with looking for future opponents.
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Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
i actually like this fight a lot.
sbw notched up those early rounds by using his jab and movement. alex doesnt do that. this has war written all over it, probably over in 4 or 5 rounds
sbw notched up those early rounds by using his jab and movement. alex doesnt do that. this has war written all over it, probably over in 4 or 5 rounds
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
After the loss to Kevin Johnson, Leapai has to get back up the ladder. A convincing win over Botha should get him a real contender. Question is can he handle one? At just 6' maybe he needs to scale down to cruiserweight.
Cap
Cap
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
According to one news in NZ Botha is fighting Joseph Parker in either Auckland or Hamilton in May.
Parker's mean't to be fighting tonight (28-2-13) in Christchurch as well.
Parker's mean't to be fighting tonight (28-2-13) in Christchurch as well.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
In his last six fights Botha has beaten only Flo Simba. What would Leapai prove by beating him?
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
why does he need to prove anything in fighting botha?
its a payday, getting a bit of publicity and a great workout with tough rounds.
but alex should not be fighting guys with an iron chin like botha unless really needed imo. its asking for a big upset that would be damaging at this stage.
its a payday, getting a bit of publicity and a great workout with tough rounds.
but alex should not be fighting guys with an iron chin like botha unless really needed imo. its asking for a big upset that would be damaging at this stage.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
According to the SMH on line Botha has a rematch with Silly Bill in South Africa in December, with strict drug testing.
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Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
Botha was all over the news and going to fight everybody not long ago. Now no fight in sight and not a peep.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
Meanwhile, Silly Bill got run over by Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis on the weekend.
The Chooks may be regretting their expense.
The Chooks may be regretting their expense.
Re: botha vs leapai in brisbane.
Sonny Bill hasn't played rugby league for a fair while. Going to need a few games under his belt. Lets see how he's travelling in about round 5.Brute wrote:Meanwhile, Silly Bill got run over by Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis on the weekend.
The Chooks may be regretting their expense.