Sonny Bill Williams is looking to resurrect his boxing career with a bout against South Africa’s Frans ‘White Buffalo’ Botha in Johannesburg in late September.
Botha, who held the IBF heavyweight title briefly after defeating Axel Schultz in Germany back 1995, told the African News Agency (ANA) that Williams’ camp had approached him for a return bout in an attempt to rekindle his boxing career.
“It sounds like Sonny Bill wants to get serious about boxing again and I’m happy to fight him,” said Botha, who lost a controversial points decision to Williams in 2013, in Australia, where they fought for the vacant WBA International heavyweight title.
The bout which was televised in South Africa at the time, ended controversially when Australian referee Tony Kettlewell called “10th and final round” at the start of the 10th round. The bout was scheduled for 12 rounds. The investigation which followed revealed that the two camps had agreed to shorten the fight to 10 rounds, without telling Botha.
“There will be a belt at stake, and this time I want to fight Sonny Bill for 12 rounds. I don’t want the contest to be abbreviated again. There is a promoter for the fight and it’s set to happen at Ellis Park in late September,” said Botha.
Williams last fought two years ago and his record stands at seven fights, seven wins, four via the short route. He has been stripped of his WBA International heavyweight and New Zealand heavyweight belts because of inactivity.
South African boxing promoter Thinus Strydom who promoted the 2013 bout in Australia said he was finalising details with the Botha and Williams camps.
Uwe Hueck of Germany who recently fought Botha in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, in March, will fight in an eight-round exhibition fight on the undercard.