Francois Botha

Francois "Frans" Botha is a well-known South African former professional boxer and kickboxer, who competed in boxing from 1990 to 2014. He is regarded as one of the best heavyweights of his time, having fought against some of the greatest boxers like Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis, Michael Moorer, and Evander Holyfield, late in their respective careers. Francois Botha's professional boxing career spanned more than 24 years, from 1990 to 2014. During this time, he fought a total of 63 fights, winning 48 of them, losing 11, and drawing 3. He also had one no-contest.

Botha began his professional boxing debut in 1990 against Johan Van Zyl, and he won via first-round knockout. He went on to win 34 consecutive fights, including 20 knockout wins. In November 1996, Botha had his first world title fight at the age of 28 against Michael Moorer for the IBF title. Unfortunately, he lost to Moorer via 12th round TKO. Botha's career also included three losses in title bouts and eight losses in non-title bouts. His first loss was to Michael Moorer via a 12th round TKO on November 9, 1996, ending his 35-fight win streak.

Botha's last professional fight was a non-title bout against Andrzej Wawrzyk on March 15, 2014, where he lost via 5th round TKO. Botha retired from professional boxing with a record of 48-11-3, which included 29 knockout wins and nine losses via knockout.

Throughout his career, Francois Botha adopted the nickname "The White Buffalo." He was known for his impressive height of 1.88 meters (6 feet 2 inches) and his orthodox stance. His reach is recorded at 188 cm (74 inches). While he did not achieve any world titles despite his long career, he is well-respected in the boxing community for his skill and bravery.

One of the most noteworthy fights in Botha's career was his win against Axel Schulz in 1995, which earned him the IBF heavyweight title. Unfortunately, he was stripped of the title after failing a drug test. He later made two more attempts at the world heavyweight title in 2000 and 2002, but he was not successful. However, these fights made him one of the most prominent boxers in the world.

Besides boxing, Botha also ventured into other combat sports. In 2004, he participated in a mixed martial arts fight, which was his only fight in the sport. He also competed in kickboxing from 2003 to 2015.

Despite his success in boxing and the combat sports community, Botha's career wasn't entirely without controversies. He was known for his outspoken personality, which caused him to be suspended from boxing for two years in 1999 after testing positive for anabolic steroids. He also faced criticism for his decision to fight a then-52-year-old Mike Tyson in 2013. The fight ended in a loss for Botha in the 10th round, but it generated significant attention for the boxing world, as Tyson was known as one of the best boxers of his generation.

In conclusion, Francois "Frans" Botha is a legendary South African former professional boxer and kickboxer who dedicated his life to boxing and combat sports. Despite the controversies surrounding his career, he is still regarded as one of the most respected heavyweights of his time. His massive height, knockout power, and bravery inside the ring made him a force to be reckoned with. Botha's name is written in the history books of boxing and combat sports, and his impact on the sport will be felt for generations to come.

Francois Botha Fight Record