Comments Thread For: Williams-Botha Controversy Will Likely Bring Investigation

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Australian boxing officials have not explained why Friday's fight between Francois Botha and Sonny Bill Williams lasted only ten rounds.

The heavyweight bout in Brisbane was scheduled for twelve rounds, with the WBA international title at stake. But at the start of the tenth, the ring official announced it would be the last round. According to some reports it caught even the judges by surprise.

A senior Australian official confirmed afterwards the judges had not been told the fight had been shortened to ten rounds. But no one seems to know whose call it was or whether the referee or the ring announcer had made a mistake.

Officials of the Australian Boxing Federation are likely to investigate and discuss the matter as soon as possible. Everything points to a huge embarrassment for the federation and the organisers of the tournament.

The WBA may even declare the result null and void and order a rematch, taking the title away from Williams, a New Zealand rugby international who was fighting in only his sixth professional bout.

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[Wesker115]

Ignoring the hating.... did the fights overrun?
Is that why they had to stop early? What time did they stop fighting? What time was the place licensed to show fights until?

[joe strong]

This fight should be a no-contest. Nobody told the judges? Yeah right they just didn't want their guy to lose to Botha. I don't recall seeing a world organizations region title being a 10 round fight. Domestic title fights many times are 10 rounds. All Canadian title fights are 10 rounds but this was for the WBA international title so minimum 12 rounds...protecting their fighter is all that happened...

[Hitman932]

This fight should be a no-contest. Nobody told the judges? Yeah right they just didn't want their guy to lose to Botha. I don't recall seeing a world organizations region title being a 10 round fight. Domestic title fights many times are 10 rounds. All Canadian title fights are 10 rounds but this was for the WBA international title so minimum 12 rounds...protecting their fighter is all that happened...

This specific belt has been fought for at both 10 and 12 rounds so you can't judge off of that.

It's either in the contract as 10 or 12. I would be interested in seeing pre fight press conference clips, media releses etc by SBW's promoters.

Botha repeatedly double punching the sides of SBW's head because the ref wouldn't stop the holding was classic.

[dan649]

Did Khoder Nasser (Anthony Mundine, Sonny Bill Williams and Quade Coopers manager) train over in Germany under Wilfried Sauerland????? Australia, the new germany of boxing! Im ashamed.

[.:: JSFD26 ::.]

This reminds me of that Mike Lee fight which was 4 rounds then it was extended to 6 except I didnt hear anything about them investigating that fight.

Was Botha winning or was the fight close?

[Hougigo]

[Capaedia]

Likely??

How about a definitely?

[Hitman932]

They will scapegoat the ref and announcer and avoid punishment.

As if all the people invested in the fight ringside who knew it was 12 rounds couldn't have corrected the announcer after the 10th.

[$Money]

What a load, there is so much evidence pointing to a 12 rounder that this crap decision has to be over turned or a rematch granted on neutral ground.