francois botha vs corrie sanders

He was in top condition for that fight. he was using all sorts of innovative training methods. For once in his life he really got into it. I know he didn't look "cut", but that's just the way his body is.

I couldn't believe the way he showed up for the follow up fight against Vitali. I was suspicious when I saw he was always wearing a sweatshirt for his public training. He showed up freakin fat! - and still he was missing Vitali by bombs by inches - and Vitali was a thing of beauty that night too - absolutely peak (though he may well be even stronger now).

 

Suck ? Sanders KOed W.Klitschko and Botha's had a nice career. Only 5 losses in 50 fights at heavyweight, against good opposition is a good record. He even TKOed a good prospect some months ago.

You can't only have respect for champions.

 

"Sanders, because he sucked less."

The trouble with these dumb assed boxing forums is they are 95% composed of not very bright twelve year olds, or 40 year olds with twelve year old brains.

 

As far as I remember Sanders' was about d same in both fights .
He simple didn't need stamina against Wladimir and was not very far from repeating d same with Vitali .
Sanders did come at a low weight 4 himself vs Wladimir and slightly high vs Vitali but what r 10 lbs 4 a man his size ? I weigh much less , am significantly shorter and I don't feel that much effected by 10 lbs (measured from my lowest 2 current)

 

Sanders by TKO between rounds 2 and 5. Too much handspeed and power, and Botha's chin isn't good enough.

 

Sanders would win. He was much faster, hit much harder, and had more skill. Botha was tough, which means he would pay dearly for the encounter.

 

Agreed.

And all those losses translates to a guy that could not solve a southpaw. He couldn't solve Moorer either & I'm certain Byrd would have boxed his ears off. I think Botha is never going to do well against lefties and he is not the only heavy with that problem.

 

if by some miracle sanders doesn't bomb out botha early, his pressure would beat sanders down the stretch.

but that's a stretch.

and neither of these guys 'sucked'. they both had very good boxing careers despite their limitations.

 

Sanders missed a lot of the big opportunities because he was avoided and he was also managed by the same promotional company as Lennox Lewis, which I feel handled his career poorly. I also think his lack of consistent conditioning did not help him.

Sanders had his flaws but he was a big fast hard hitting southpaw, a very dangerous foe and I think he would have had a decent chance to upset many of the top guys at the time if given the chance but here was a white guy that was off-limits. Sanders power and speed and southpaw style were a danger. Look at some of his quick wins and compare the results to other top guys at the time. I think he would have a long shot chance to stop Evander or Lewis, he had Rahman hurt badly, dropped him 2 times and had zero jogging for the fight because of a leg injury, he was stopped on his feet form being tired.

Botha was a tough guy but not a really hard puncher or as fast or difficult as Sanders. Botha was ballsy and had heart but I think Sanders was the stronger opponent and his power and speed take Fran out.