The fight legend that was and still is the White Buffalo
JORDAN Henderson is facing a race to be fit for the defining games of Liverpool’s season after he was ruled out for three weeks with hamstring damage.
The Liverpool captain will miss matches against West Ham United, Watford and Bournemouth in the Premier League plus the FA Cup trip to Chelsea.
More of a concern for Jurgen Klopp, though, is that Henderson is a doubt for the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid on March 11.
The Merseyside derby at Goodison Park follows five days later.
Whether there will be an opportunity for Takumi Minamino remains to be seen.
The Japan international, who signed on January 1, is being eased in gently at his new club, in stark contrast to former Red Bull Salzburg team-mate Erling Haaland at Dortmund.
While Haaland is winning rave reviews for his blistering form in Germany, Minamino has been restricted to a few cameo appearances.
Klopp said: “He is fine, training really hard. He wants to do what we want him to do, and we want him to do what comes naturally.”
BOB Marley, with wisps of ganja in the air, etched the famous
lyrics on the minds of millions throughout the world, but a White Buffalo was not in his thoughts.
This was left to Frans Botha, the White Buffalo. Botha may not have come from the heartland of Africa, but apart from the greatest, Muhammad Ali, he was the most remarkable heavyweight fighter in American history.
Leaving his homeland, he sought the American dream, and for 14 years he lived it, fighting such big names as Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Axel Schulz (who he beat for the IBF title), Wladimir Klitschko and Shannon Briggs (a draw) – all had won world heavyweight titles.
George Foreman is the one name missing. Big George was unfit at the time as he was into his grilling business. Pity he missed grilling a bit of Buffalo, although Botha wouldn’t have gone down without a charge to take away Foreman’s appetite – Big George was on a see-food-eat-it diet at the time.
But back to the dread-locked legend from Africa. Marley, if he was still around, would have been in the front row along with wife Rita, his close late friend Peter Tosh and the rest of his group, The Wailers, at the premier of – with Jeff Bridges representing Botha. The film will be released in the US next year. ,
Before each fight could be heard from a boom box in the confines of Botha’s change-room.
After stomping into an exclusive interview at Mythos Suncoast popular beachfront restaurant on Durban’s promenade, Botha, who prefers to be called Buffalo, lifted his hoody on his unique story.
Breakfast was a surprise. Buffalo wings were not on his plate – starter, black coffee, followed by fish and chips. A shocking revelation KO’D thoughts of dessert.
Nothing new that Buffalo had his “balls cut off” after failing a drugs test which saw him stripped of his IBF world title in 1996, less than a year after winning the belt from Schultz.. But this was: Someone from the Gerrie Coetzee camp injected Botha with a cocktail of chemicals that would assist him in the fight of his life against Schultz and his camp was not aware that this injection contained illegal substances.
There appeared to be a leak after Coetzee in a fit of anger tore up a $5000 cheque presented to him by Buffalo’s wife Elsje and insulted her.
There was some money owed to Coetzee. Buffalo shouted at Coetzee to get out the house. Coetzee then struck Buffalo while his back was turned. Buffalo fired back – there was blood on the floor and walls – but no blood transfusions were required.
Shortly after this Buffalo found himself under investigation for using something illegal in his fight with Schultz..
It was staggering that Botha amassed over $20 million in a career of 63 fights (48 wins, 11 losses, nine by decision). He had stopping power, as 29 of his opponents never heard the bell ring for the next round.
However, Buffalo who lived well, did not let his wealth go to his head. He bought a yacht, a boat and two fancy upmarket cars – one for himself, one for his wife, and some property.
Unlike Tyson, there were no pet white tigers, over 20 cars and plenty of mansions. Buffalo last year was estimated to be worth $5 million.
Don King was key to unlocking the vault of millions for Botha. He immediately recognised Buffalo as a marketing dream.
Botha recalled a wheeled behind him pre-fight interview.
Botha admitted the hardest he has ever been hit was by Tyson.
Although Botha made millions from this fight, it was not a fight of two hopes for the White Buffalo – the hopes being no hope and Bob Hope (the late top American comedian).
Botha had been a difficult sparring partner for Tyson and knew everything about him, his exploits in and out buffalo being while doing a the ring, even the names of the tigers although he refused to pat them or take them for walkies.
Botha fought 20 fights for King who had locked Iron Mike into a cage of a contract.
The White Buffalo was convinced he could beat Tyson as he had the style to frustrate him. Also, no-one ever intimidated the Buffalo.
The scrap took place on January 16, 1999. Botha had won the first four rounds with his continuous taunting enraging Tyson, who tried to break Botha’s arm.
Botha was silenced in the fifth, though, as he was caught by a Tyson trademark – a vicious uppercut which not only de-horned the White Buffalo, it put him into a state of confusion.
It was the second hardest knockout punch thrown by Iron Mike. The hardest was the haymaker that struck his soon to be ex-wife Robin Givens – over the bed and into a wall in their apartment.
The dawn finally broke through the darkness when Botha stumbled into his change-room, but this time
was also not echoing from the boom box.
Botha had stopping power, as 29 of opponents never heard the bell ring for the next round.
On reflection, should Botha not have accepted a $1,5 million bribe to take a dive against rugby and league superstar Sonny Bill Williams in their fight in New Zealand in 2013? Buffalo said that was not his way. With the music turned down, Buffalo explained his reasoning for linking up with wrestling promoter Mano Singh’s Rumble in the SA tournament at Sibaya Casino in Durban this Wednesday, while on Friday he is the guest of honour.
He is taken with the WWE empire with all the hype and great entertaining script writing. “I miss seeing my name in the lights – the glitz and glamour I enjoyed for such a long time. Once you experience this type of life, it is hard to adapt to a normal life. Money is not an issue, I am comfortable. I am also involved in a lot of lucrative business here and throughout the world.’’
So will we see a White Buffalo enter the world of wrestling considering Tyson Fury recently featured in a WWE event in Saudi Arabia?
Buffalo retorted with a chuckle: “I need some time to come to grips with what is required here.’’
Buffalo doesn’t want a repeat of what happened in his one and only foray into MMA which took place in Japan, where he often found himself mobbed by fans. “Never again. I was kicked and down I went. Before I knew it I was in a hold that I couldn’t get out of. I needed medical l treatment for my arm and shoulder for months afterwards.’’
Why Japan? Surely it couldn’t have been a love for and women. After all, Botha has always been happily married and now has two grown up offspring.
However, talking of women though, he and fellow boxers and officials in the boxing world have been guests at the Playboy mansion.
Yes, Hugh Hefner’s home. Hef was a pugilist fan.
But let’s go back to Going Big in Japan. It was money that lured the Buffalo. He built up a huge following there due to his exploits in the kickboxing combat sport K-1 with 11 victories including two against K-1 legends Jerome Le Banner and Peter Aerts.
The Buffalo has only one regret. He should never have cut his links with King.
“It cost me plenty and it was due to greed. I wanted a few extra hundred thousands dollars for a bout. Don then cut my initial fee.
“We then parted ways. I took him to court. However, we are friends today as I am with Tyson.’’
The Buffalo, who is an engaging man and very likeable, then bid farewell to me.
A return encounter is a foregone conclusion as he is based down the KZN coast .
This time I will ask Buffalo for his autograph while sharing Buffalo wings.