|
Former WBF World Heavyweight
Champion Francois Botha is
beaming with confidence ahead of
his attempt to reclaim his old,
now vacant, crown against
American Michael Grant in the
headliner of Showpony Promotions
“Urban War” extravaganza at the
Monte Casino in Johannesburg,
South Africa on Saturday
November 19.
And just like in the ring, the
man nicknamed “The White
Buffalo” is pulling no punches
when interviewed:
“I see a knockout coming. The
Buffalo is going to roam the
Prairie. I'm going to knock him
out”, Botha, 48-5-3 (29),
recently told IOL Sport when
asked about his view of the
upcoming challenge. And,
expecting to ease past Grant,
Botha eventually has his sights
set on revenge against the man
who dethroned him in Las Vegas
last year, the legendary Evander
Holyfield:
“I'm going to reclaim my belt
that I lost to Holyfield, and
he's going to have to stand in
line after I've knocked out
Michael Grant. We're doing our
next show in February where we
want to bring Evander Holyfield
back”.
In what looked like a shootout
at the Last Chance Saloon, Botha
rebounded from the Holyfield
loss by stopping previously
undefeated countryman Flo Simba
this past June, and he fully
expects to do the same to Grant,
saying:
“At one stage he was the next
Mike Tyson, but you have to look
at the guys he knocked out. I
think my sister could knock him
out”.
The two fighters met at a public
workout Tuesday morning, and
Michael Grant, 47-4 (35), of
course begs to differ. The
former WBC, IBF and IBO World
title-challenger, like his foe
on Saturday, came back with a
very good performance in his
last bout, following a
disappointing setback. After
dropping a decision to Thomasz
Adamek last year, Grant looked
impressive in March knocking out
giant Tye Fields (45-2) in three
rounds.
“I applaud Francois for taking
this fight”, said Grant when the
match-up was announced. “It will
be a good night for the fans,
but it will not be a good night
for Francois. I look forward to
exploring South Africa, but I am
going to take care of business
at the same time”.
With the fight just a few days
away, the stage is set.
Legendary ring announcer Michael
Buffer is hired to work the big
event, and as Grant's fellow
American is famous for saying:
Let’s get ready to
rrrruuuuuummmble!
Botha vs. Grant is just one of
six WBF title fights on the huge
“Urban War” bill promoted by
Damian Michael and his Showpony
Promotions. Five world
championship encounters and one
All-Africa title fight completes
the biggest event in World
Boxing Federation history.
Besides Botha vs. Grant,
Lubabalu Msuthu will defend his
WBF World Bantamweight
championship against undefeated
Philippino Dennis Tubieron, Ali
Funeka takes on Zolani Marali
for the vacant WBF World Light
Welterweight Championship,
Malcolm Klassen squares off with
Mexican Daniel Lomeli for the
vacant WBF World Welterweight
crown, and Ilunga Makabu goes
for the vacant WBF World
Cruiserweight title against
Pedro Otas from Brazil.
Additionally, the vacant
All-Africa Welterweight title
will be up for grabs in a fight
between compatriots Mthobisi
Buthelezi and Gerry Nekhubvi.
For more info go to
www.showponypromotions.com
|
