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

I'd move the goal posts back a bit and say maybe top 30-35 from 1990-2010, which isn't bad in a 20 year period loaded with talent.

Botha was a fringe contender type, who was willing to fight anyone and had good relations with the promoters. Such a fighter is needed as he's the stepping stone for being a serious contender or better.

Botha was moderately skilled, but he was durable ( in his prime years ) with heart, and rather colorful outside the ring. If you caught he early fights he was a bit faster. When he was overmatched, he never took the easy way out. Boxing needs those types.

 

I was at the Moorer-Botha fight. And, a typically unmotivated Moorer dominated Botha.

I enjoy watching Botha, but, he really doesn't have a single meaningful win on his entire resume.
He was a decent fighter. But, to even discuss him as an ATG is a serious insult to the All Time Greats. No way in hell he even gets into the exceedingly watered down Hall of Fame.
Jerry Quarry isn't even in, and he would have murdered Botha.

 

That was a great card. Moorer was fit and ready but was a bit gunshy since his Foreman experience.

BTW, I believe Stuart Winston had Botha ahead going into the 12th.

 

Yes, obviously a joke thread.
I agree, he's probably not top 20 in his own era, but depends how we define the parameters of an era.

He was barely and rarely in the top 10 HWs at any time in his career. 1995-'96 he was a top 10 boxer on the basis of a win over Axel Shulz (who had just been robbed against Foreman), but as someone noted he was busted for 'roids then anyway. I don't think he has ever been a genuine top 10 fighter since that time.
He was a decent second-tier fringe contender.

 

He is certainly top 20 for the 1990's.

 

Based on what ?

 

He was better than Tommy Morrison.

 

1. Lewis
2. Holyfield
3. Tyson
4. Bowe
5. Ibeabuchi
6.Byrd
7. Morrer
8. Mercer
9. Sanders
10. Tua
11. Morrison
12. Bruno
13. Rhaman
14 McCall
15. Ruiz.


I say are better. If you add Wlad and Vitali, both active from 1996, that's 17 already. Add Foreman, and that's 18. And add Holmes and we are on 19.

Akinwande, Briggs, Maskaev, Ruddock, and Hide are arguable, but I think each were better than Botha.

I'd say top 22-25 in the 1990's is better. But like I said before this was a special time for talent.

 

Michael Grant should be on the list

 

Guys like Botha always have a lot of opportunities. Because they are beatable. He's the type that is a soft east defense while waiting for the next opportunity. He'll give you what he has, but guy's can show up with their B game, and still get the W.

It's important to have these kinds of guys around and they always secure big fights because they so seldom have their arm raised at the end. Nice to have a champ not have to get razor sharp time after time and have opponents like a Botha......guys that have enough flaws. Ledoux was another guy like this and always got his opportunities. When did they get the W?

 

I'd take Botha over Grant, but it's very close.

 

Damn, now that Mendoza has laid it out like that, the 90's were stacked with talent.

 

Botha wasn't even close to being amongst the elite. Bonavena, Quarry, Chuvalo...they would have all beaten him. Botha wasn't even the best from his own country either. 1979 -1983 Coetzee would have slain him..as would have Sanders.

 

Jimmy Young would have played with him all night long...even that Grade B version of Young, Chris Byrd would have messed with him.

 

I rank him over Akinwande, Briggs, Ruddock and Hide. Hell, I had him winning his fight against Briggs.

In addition to the Schultz performance, we have his memorable efforts against Bronco Billy Wright, Mirovic and taking Moorer to the brink.