BABY JOSEPH GROWS UP
Boxing: Frans Botha backs Kiwi heavyweight to unify division
Controversial South African boxer Frans Botha backs Joseph Parker to unify the world heavyweight titles.
Veteran Botha was Parker’s first international scalp, being brutally knocked out by the young Kiwi inside two rounds in Auckland in 2013.
The 48-year-old has followed Parker’s rapid progress since then and isn’t surprised to see him now owning one of the four coveted belts as the WBO’s world heavyweight champion.
‘‘I had a lot of fun with Baby Joseph though he’s not a baby any more, he’s world champion. I said then he’s got the speed and when the power comes he’s going to be the unified world champion,’’ Botha said, sticking by his statement.
Parker, 25, is set for the second defence of his title when he takes his belt to Manchester for a September 23 showdown with Britain’s Hughie Fury.
Botha is hoping to be ringside and expects the 25-year-old to comfortably handle the assignment.
Botha dished out lavish praise for Parker who is seen as one of the young lions of the division alongside Britain’s IBF and WBA champion Anthony Joshua.
‘‘With his speed and power, I believe this kid is like Muhammad Ali. Don’t underestimate him, and I think we are going to see a tremendous fight (against Fury). I see a lot of things happening for Joseph Parker. The sky is the limit for him. It’s all up to him,’’ Botha told Stuff from his South African base.
Botha, who fought 62 times as a professional for 48 wins, 11 losses and three draws and got in the ring with greats like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis, is excited by the rejuvenated heavyweight scene.
‘‘I think the level of the division is getting back to where it was, there are some exciting guys,’’ he said, putting Parker in the very top tier.
‘‘Joseph Parker is popular, he has charisma, he has the right team behind him. He has to keep doing what he is doing ... keep building and getting around.’’
Botha felt it was important for the heavyweights to find a unified champion
‘‘100 per cent ... you have all these alphabetical titles, but there are the four main recognised titles. Joseph has one of those. I think you need to unify those four into one champion.’’
That process could speed up now that Klitschko, 41, has opted out of a rematch with Joshua and decided to retire. Joshua is likely to get his IBF mandatory defence against Bulgarian Kubrat Puelv out of the way now and a unification bout with Parker could be held early next year if both fighters still have their titles.
Botha, who lost his last six fights to blot his impressive career, backed Klitschko’s decision. ‘‘I felt Klitschko was done and should go out on top,’’ Botha said. ‘‘Don’t lose your legend ... losing to Tom, Dick and Harry.
‘‘Leave it to the young guys like Joseph Parker who are still young and hungry and want to prove themselves, let them carry on and do that.’’
Botha who went 36 fights undefeated and beat Germany’s Axel Schulz to win the vacant IBF world title in 1995 only to be stripped of the belt after testing positive to steroids, said he was ‘‘basically done’’ with fighting now.
‘‘I’ve had a great life, I really appreciate it. I like to do charity things now.’’
Botha, dubbed the ‘‘White Buffalo’’, was granted another shot at the IBF title in his next fight in 1996 but lost to Michael Moorer. He fought two more world title fights but lost both to Lewis and Klitschko.
He eventually had to settle for the lesser World Boxing Federation belt but has remained one of the most colourful characters in the division, losing a controversial unanimous points decision to cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams in early 2013.