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Home / Rotorua Daily Post / Sport

Boxing: Botha's farewell bash

By Gary Hamilton-Irvine
Rotorua Daily Post·
10 Apr, 2013 10:11 PM3 mins to read

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Francois Botha is set to cap a stellar career by fighting New Zealand's best heavyweight boxers.

The South African visited Rotorua this week to promote his fight against 21-year-old Kiwi Joseph Parker on June 13 in Auckland.

Parker is considered to be the brightest young talent the country has seen in years, with a pro record of 4-0.

However, Botha said he would "stampede over Baby Joseph" in June, setting up a re-match against Sonny Bill Williams.

The outspoken fighter, who turns 45 in September, rose to prominence in New Zealand this year after losing a controversial bout against Williams.

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The White Buffalo, as he is called, is still upset about the encounter and looking for a re-match after the fight was finished unexpectedly in the 10th round.

"The reason that I am fighting Baby Joseph ... is Sonny Bill Williams sparred against him in preparation against the Buffalo.

"I have a verbal agreement at this stage with Sonny Bill Williams to fight again in December, " Botha said.

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However, the South African suggested Williams would not be keen to climb back in the ring with him.

"If pussy-cat Williams doesn't come to the table, then I will fight the lion, David Tua."

Botha said he did not know how many fights he had left in him but alluded to retirement as soon as next February, after his fights in New Zealand.

"I feel young, it is just when I talk about Baby Joseph - that's when I start feeling old," he said with a laugh.

"But I've got to make a decision, I love the game but I might start giving back to the sport in other ways, like promoting."

Botha said his son, Marcel Botha, 23, would make his professional debut in Auckland on June 13 in an undercard fight.

"He is very good and I have high hopes for him," Botha said.

The White Buffalo said he did not always have such a large personality and confidence, but picked it up during his career.

"I was very much like Joseph [Parker] when I started," he said.

He had moved to the US early in his career, dominating in Texas before picking up bigger fights against some of the world's best: "Only then did I start building up the confidence and talking a lot of sh**."

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A four-time world-title challenger, he has fought Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko.

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