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Botha Now Claims 150K Was Offered To Take a Dive

Botha Now Claims 150K Was Offered To Take a Dive

BoxingScene Staff

•Feb 12, 2013

Khodder Nasser has labelled Francois Botha "a sore loser" after the South African claimed he was offered $150,000 to throw his fight against Sonny Bill Williams. Botha alleges Nasser, Williams's manager, had offered him the sum in a Brisbane park on Tuesday last week, three days before the supposed World Boxing Association (WBA) title fight which Williams won on points. Botha's remarkable claim is the latest twist in a scandal that has also included a positive drug test and claims the fight was ended two rounds too early. Nasser says the 44-year-old Botha needs to come to terms with the fact he "got his ass whipped" by Williams. "I think he (Botha) is still in a daze," Nasser said.

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Khoder Nasser Fires Back at Botha's Tampering Claims

Khoder Nasser Fires Back at Botha's Tampering Claims

Random Hits

•Feb 12, 2013

Khoder Nasser, manager of rugby star and heavyweight boxer Sonny Bill Williams, has responded to allegations by Francois Botha that his urine sample was potentially tampered with by a relative of Nasser. Following a controversial match between Williams and Botha, allegations emerged that a pre-fight drug test taken by Botha tested positive for a banned substance.

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Botha Claims Test Tampering, Vows To Clear His Name

Botha Claims Test Tampering, Vows To Clear His Name

BoxingScene Staff

•Feb 11, 2013

South African heavyweight Francois Botha has decided to have another drug test to clear his name and wants the result of his fight against Sonny Bill Williams removed from his record. In a statement released through his promoters on Monday, Botha said the test that Australian news media reported he had failed was administered by "a confidant” of Williams's manager, Khoder Nasser. The veteran South African said the chaotic fight with the New Zealand rugby international was "a disgusting state of affairs" and "amounts to match-fixing." Williams won on points after coming close to being knocked out in the final round.

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David Tua Targets Sonny Bill Williams For Comeback

David Tua Targets Sonny Bill Williams For Comeback

BoxingScene Staff

•Feb 11, 2013

The Sonny Bill Williams and Francois Botha fight debacle has picked up plenty of attention among the New Zealand boxing fraternity, with David Tua’s camp hoping to offer Williams to a fight that would “restore credibility” to boxing. "This business with the rounds looked really bad, so we'd like to give Sonny Bill a chance to restore some credibility to the sport," promoter Dave Higgins, of Duco, tells the New Zealand Herald. "Right now we are looking for an opponent for David [Tua], and we'd like to offer that fight to Sonny Bill and his people.”

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Francois Botha Tests Positive For Two Banned Substances

Francois Botha Tests Positive For Two Banned Substances

BoxingScene Staff

•Feb 10, 2013

South African heavyweight boxer Francois Botha - the man seemingly robbed of victory in his fight against Sonny Bill Williams - has reportedly tested positive for two banned substances. Australia's Channel 9 is reporting that a blood sample collected a few days before the bout has shown Botha used phentermine, which is an appettite supressant that can lead to hostility and "and urge to attack", and benzodiazepines, a muscle relaxant. Both are on the WADA (World Anti-Drug Agency) banned list.

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Williams Camp Not Shocked With Botha Failing Test

Williams Camp Not Shocked With Botha Failing Test

BoxingScene Staff

•Feb 10, 2013

As BoxingScene.com reported late Saturday night, former champion Francois Botha allegedly failed a drug test before his controversial fight with Sonny Bill Williams. The 44-year-old submitted a urine sample on Tuesday last week, the Sydney Morning Herald said, and the test revealed the presence of phentermine, a banned stimulant. It also showed traces of benzodiazepine, a valium-type product. The drug test had been forwarded to the WBA's headquarters in Panama. Australian National Boxing Federation committee member John Hogg cast doubts on the report, telling Australia's News Limited there were no compulsory drug tests required for boxers in Queensland.

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WBA Rep Goes After The Williams vs. Botha Organizers

WBA Rep Goes After The Williams vs. Botha Organizers

BoxingScene Staff

•Feb 9, 2013

A WBA representative has lashed out at organizers of the Sonny Bill Williams, Francois Botha fights saying they "defrauded" the Australian public. WBA Oceania representative Brad Vocale has lashed out at the organisers of Sonny Bill Williams' so-called title fight, saying they have "defrauded" the Australian public. The legitimacy of what was purported to be a WBA international heavyweight title fight between the former All Black star and South African veteran Francois Botha was thrown into extreme doubt on Friday night. Williams defeated Botha in a unanimous points decision in Brisbane, but the fight ended after 10 rounds, instead of 12 as per WBA rules and as had been advertised. Bookmakers refunded bets on Williams's controversial win and 44-year-old Botha has challenged the rugby star to a rematch. "In my view, they defrauded the fight-paying public of Australia," Vocale told Fox Sports on Saturday.

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ANBF Denies Corruption Claim in Williams vs. Botha Bout

ANBF Denies Corruption Claim in Williams vs. Botha Bout

BoxingScene Staff

•Feb 9, 2013

Australian National Boxing Federation's John Hogg says the decision to cut short Sonny Bill Williams' WBA fight was made before the bout started. Australian National Boxing Federation (ANBF) committee member John Hogg has rubbished claims the decision to cut short Sonny Bill Williams' controversial bout was made after the fight started. However, the legitimacy of what was purported to be a WBA international heavyweight fight between Williams and South African veteran Francois Botha remains unclear.

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Sonny Bill Williams Bests Frans Botha; Fight Cut Short?

Sonny Bill Williams Bests Frans Botha; Fight Cut Short?

Jake Donovan

•Feb 8, 2013

By Jake Donovan - Multi-sport athlete Sonny Bill Williams endures his toughest test to date in his young career as he faces former heavyweight contender Francois Botha. The bout airs live on Australia Main Event atop a seven-fight card Friday evening at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Queensland, Australia.

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Williams-Botha Controversy Will Likely Bring Investigation

Williams-Botha Controversy Will Likely Bring Investigation

BoxingScene Staff

•Feb 8, 2013

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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