"Holy-Botha" here in '10 was damn good for old farts.

As the saying goes "When they're young, you can't get them into the gym. When they're old, you can't get them OUT of the gym."

I actually enjoyed this fight. Botha's fights are always exciting, if not exactly full of finesse. I think Holyfield-Botha in 1996 would be a good fight; I think Holyfield wouldn't find it easy, but would win a decision.

It's hard to say what's so likeable about Botha. It's probably just the fact that he TRIES at all times in the ring. He ended up outworking boxers like Schulz and Briggs, even though they were much better technically and physically.

 

Agree with all that.

And yeah, I've been a quiet supporter of Botha throughout his career too. I just like the blue-collar effort he'd give, he was an overachiever but without being a really terrible to watch spoiler or anything.

Holyfield-Savarse from 2007 was another 'old gits' enjoyable fight.

I'd have absolutely no problem if Holy just fought on the senior tour all the time! It's the sharper, quicker, heavier handed younger guys that worry me about him.

 

Back on the crystal meth Bill?.

 

I think this is the first fight where Holyfield looked shot even against a lesser opponent. During the first 5 rounds, he was a mess, but getting by on his still impressive durability and will to win. Then Botha, as usual, had shot his bolt and Holyfield took over.

When he fought Valuev, he was competitive, looked sharp and seemed to belong in the same ring - contrary to when he fought Ibragimov. But against Botha, he looked really bad against someone he's supposed to look good against. Time to hang 'em up but he's too stubborn.

Mr Bill, i appreciate a boxing masterpiece; i cannot understand how you considered this one to be better than Mayweather vs Mosley. Holy-Botha was, as you put it, a good scrap, but no more.



By the way, did anyone else see the post-fight interview? Botha is such a likeable guy. Always has been. The hard working, honest, underdog.

 

As said Botha has suprisingly good boxing skills. He got very far for a round man with little power and **** stamina. Hes made a lot of guys look bad, Tyson Moorer, Holy, Briggs, etc....

 

Is there anywhere, i can actually this fight.

Insted of some shitty fan made, highlight.

 

I think it was more a case of his rust from inactivity showing against the more active Botha. And Botha, as you note, is known to be very good in the first 4 or 5 rounds.
Valuev may just be awful.