Prime Frans Botha - where does he rank among ATG Heavies?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Brock Rock, Mar 30, 2016.

  1. Brock Rock

    Brock Rock Member Full Member

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    Top 10-20 I feel, I think I slide him in about number 16. Incredibly under rated during his prime.
     
  2. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    ATG? Do you mean 1995?
     
  3. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Better than you jokers think.
     
  4. expljose

    expljose Active Member Full Member

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  5. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    H2h or overall greatness?
     
  6. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Better than top 10 to 20 ??
     
  7. Hookie

    Hookie Affeldt... Referee, Judge, and Timekeeper Full Member

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    I kinda liked Botha but he was far from an all-time great. He was 47-4-3 going into his fight vs. Holyfield. He should have fought once more then retired IMO. 48-5-3 (29) sounds better than 48-9-3 (29).

    SD over Axel Schulz for the vacant IBF HW title, stripped (banned substance) and the result was changed to a NC... technically he is not considered a former champ.
     
  8. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Not too high, I should imagine. He was rough, tough and had a good chin and a decent punch, but was otherwise unexceptional. He still gave a sliding Tyson a good fight (I had him slightly ahead) before getting KTFO.

    Sanders, Coetzee and probably Du Plooy were a step above him in the SA heavy scene.
     
  9. Brock Rock

    Brock Rock Member Full Member

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    Can't see many arguments yet as to why he's not top 20
     
  10. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Why he's NOT? I'm pretty sure that this forum could come up with 20 candidates that were better ATG HW's than Frans Botha. No disrespect to him, I like him and think he's a very solid boxer. But I don't see a top 20 rank for him.
     
  11. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Tyson
    Ali
    Holyfield
    V Klitschko
    W Klitschko
    Lewis
    Louis
    Marciano
    Dempsey
    Schmeling
    Liston
    Damiani
    Sanders
    Tua
    Rahman
    Frazier
    Norton
    Bowe
    Foreman
    Jeffries
    Johnson

    ... off the top of my head in completely random order. Boxers who had a better resume and were probably better H2H than Botha.
     
  12. Hookie

    Hookie Affeldt... Referee, Judge, and Timekeeper Full Member

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    Naming 20 greats who were better is easy. Name 20 who never held a HW world title who were better...

    Tua
    McCline
    Grant
    Savarese
    Williams "The Truth"

    Oquendo
    Machen
    Folley
    Young
    Lyle

    Bonavena
    Chuvalo
    Quarry
    Bugner
    Shavers

    Langford
    Wills
    Jeanette
    McVea
    Bob Baker

    Moore
    Elmer Ray
    O. Norris
    Cunningham
    Tarver
     
  13. Smokin Bert

    Smokin Bert Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I assume this is meant to be a joke. Botha wasn't even one of the top 20 best of his own era.
     
  14. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Top 20 in his own era you could definitely make a case for. Let's be fair for a moment.
     
  15. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Broke Moorer's jaw and a couple of his ribs. At his best, he was a tough night for most anyone.