Shannon Briggs vs Frans Botha - Showtime PPV 8-7-99 - video Dailymotion

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Former lineal Heavyweight Champion Shannon Briggs faces former IBF Champion Frans Botha in the main event of Showtime Boxing PPV.  Plus an interview with former champion Larry Holmes

Transcript

00:00:00Genial Francois Botha. Tonight our host venue, the Mark G. Eddis Arena and the Trump Taj Mahal here in Atlantic City.

00:00:06Getting set to present a full evening of boxing. Let's give you a complete rundown of tonight.

00:00:09Two down and one to go in our boxing triple header.

00:00:12Coming up next, the main event, Botha versus Briggs.

00:00:15Former heavyweight champ Francois Botha takes on highly rated Shannon Briggs in a heavyweight bout with possible championship ramifications.

00:00:30Welcome back to the Trump Taj Mahal, the Mark G. Eddis Arena here in Atlantic City as we get ready for the main event, Shannon Briggs against Francois Botha.

00:00:54I'm Jim Gray. I'm now joined by the former heavyweight champion of the world, Larry Holmes.

00:00:58He was championed from 1978 to 1985, 48-0 before he lost to Michael Spinks, trying to beat Rocky Marciano's record.

00:01:07How do you see this fight tonight? In fact, they had asked you to fight Botha before, but how do you see Briggs and Botha?

00:01:12Well, I see a good fight. I tell you what, Shannon Briggs was impressed with the fight with his Fort George Foreman.

00:01:17He was jabbing, he was moving, he didn't stand in one spot.

00:01:20And if he can do that tonight, I think he'll be successful.

00:01:23But again, Botha, you know, he's a plotter. He comes in wild, un-acquaduct, and, you know, he can make a lot of mistakes.

00:01:30You know, mistakes are not for him, it's for the other guy.

00:01:33So I think it's going to be a good fight tonight.

00:01:35Now, Larry, it's hard to believe you're going to be 50 years old here very shortly.

00:01:39And you've come up with kind of a novel idea. We've seen it go on, but you're the first to really propose a senior boxing league in which you would fight George Foreman,

00:01:46as opposed to George fighting some of the other guys who are still much, much younger.

00:01:51How's that going, and do you think that this league will come off?

00:01:53Well, we're hoping that it does. I fought Bonecrusher Smith for that title. I won the title.

00:02:00We're hoping that we can bring George Foreman into the fold.

00:02:02Because, you know, let's face it, George is 50, I'll be 50, and we're getting too old to be fighting these young guys.

00:02:09So, therefore, I think that people who never got an opportunity to see George Foreman and I fight would love to see that fight.

00:02:16Because everywhere I go, every time I turn around, they want to know about George Foreman and I.

00:02:20So, George, you come on out and do this fight, you know, not ask for the sky, because it's not going to be available for us.

00:02:27So, you know, I'm willing to take my cuts or whatever I need to do to get a public what they want.

00:02:32All right, Larry, you're both great champions. Final prediction here tonight, Briggs and Botha.

00:02:38Well, you know, even though I was offered Botha by Sterling McPherson, I think Shannon Briggs is going to win the fight tonight.

00:02:47You and George Foreman, both great champions. Don't do it. You don't need it. Let's remember what you were.

00:02:51Thanks, Larry. Good to see you. Back over to you, Steve.

00:02:54Okay, thank you very much, Jim Gray. We are closing in on the marquee matchup.

00:02:58A battle of heavyweights. Former IBF heavyweight champion Francois Botha set to square off with WBC number 7 rated Shannon Briggs.

00:03:08While Francois Botha and Shannon Briggs have collectively compiled an impressive record of 70 wins and just four losses,

00:03:16this could be, and we underline could, the most important, most pivotal bout of their professional lives.

00:03:22For both these fighters entered tonight's contest at the crossroads of their careers.

00:03:27While the pre-fight festivities have been filled with good sportsmanship and jocularity,

00:03:40Francois Botha and Shannon Briggs are keenly aware tonight's contest is not about fun and games.

00:03:45It's about survival.

00:03:46Coming off the most dramatic losses of their careers, each fighter knows a defeat tonight will forever jeopardize their chances for title shots and big money fights.

00:03:57I can't afford to lose. I don't want to step back two steps. I want to rather step up two steps.

00:04:02You're talking about two guys who've been in there with the best, and now we're fighting to go back to the next level.

00:04:08So, you're talking about pure hunger.

00:04:11No one believed the durable South African had the skills to beat the once self-proclaimed baddest man on the planet.

00:04:19No one, that is, except Francois Botha.

00:04:21I don't think I've seen Botha move this good in his entire career.

00:04:24He just seems to be avoiding everything Mike does.

00:04:28I knew he couldn't touch me.

00:04:30I knew, you know, it was easier than I thought it would be, and this is easier than my sparring.

00:04:34He's toying with Tyson. Who ever thought we'd see this? And the crowd reacts.

00:04:40And loves it.

00:04:42I was winning easily, and for a second, I lost all concentration, and I walked right into the shot.

00:04:51Oh, a straight right, right, and down goes Botha.

00:04:55That's all it took. One shot, it's over.

00:04:58Tiger Woods couldn't hit a golf ball better than Mike Tyson hit me.

00:05:01But, you know, that's boxing. I'll be back. I'll be, you know, that's why this fight, you gotta have a good win to get back up there again.

00:05:11I'm back at the crossroads again, you know.

00:05:13I was given an opportunity to fight for him, and I took full advantage of what I felt like.

00:05:16Then I got the Lewis fight.

00:05:18Unfortunately, I didn't go in my favor.

00:05:20Worried about his conditioning, Briggs surprised the pundits and Lennox Lewis by rigorously attacking the champion early.

00:05:27And there, Briggs almost knocks the champion down. Shannon Briggs believing he has hurt Lewis on the attack.

00:05:34He's been in tough fights before. He's been hurt before, so he took it well. He rebounded back. He hurt me.

00:05:41I wasn't ready for a three or four-round tough fight.

00:05:44Down goes Briggs.

00:05:46But I wasn't ready for a 12-round big fight with the champion.

00:05:49He's getting up.

00:05:50The fight is controversial because the punch that they stopped the fight, I missed.

00:05:56I missed the punch. I fell to the ground. I got up. They stopped the fight.

00:06:00Yeah, I was tired, but I'm supposed to be tired. I'm in a fight. It's the heavyweight championship of the world.

00:06:03I felt like, you know, let him knock me out.

00:06:05Both combatants fully realize a loss tonight will dash their championship aspirations and remove them from the upper echelon of the heavyweight division.

00:06:17I can't afford to lose. I mean, there will be things down the road still for me, but, you know, I can't afford to lose.

00:06:23What's next for Shannon Briggs? I don't want to take a step down. I don't feel like I should have to.

00:06:28He's well-known. I'm pretty well-known. Great. Let's do it.

00:06:31Steve Albert, along with the Fight Doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, Bobby Chez, back ringside here at the Mark G. Eddis Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

00:06:46We close in on our main event, Francois Botha versus Shannon Briggs, and we turn back to the Fight Doctor.

00:06:52And, Ferdie, is there any doubt that a victory tonight is vital to remain a heavyweight contender?

00:06:59Well, both are losers, and he changes trainers. He changes diet. He changes altitude. He changes everything. Twice he's done that.

00:07:06You know, he's got to get the message. It's not the exterior things that count. It's him. He's got to change.

00:07:12Well, if he doesn't change tonight and he loses, then he goes back down those stairs to the corral labeled trial horses.

00:07:19And, boy, down there, the money is cheap, and his big-time days are over. He's got to win tonight and win big.

00:07:26And we turn back to Bobby Chez. And, Bobby, what about Shannon Briggs?

00:07:31Not only does he have to win tonight, but he has to look good in winning, yes?

00:07:35Well, Steve, the only two times he's stepped up to the upper echelon, George Foreman and Lennox Lewis, he didn't, you know, the Lennox Lewis fight, he clearly didn't finish, so he didn't win.

00:07:43A lot of people, including myself, thought he didn't beat George Foreman.

00:07:46So the only two times he stepped up to really be counted, he didn't make it.

00:07:49Tonight, he needs to step up again, and he needs to do it in impressive fashion.

00:07:52All right. How about your keys to victory for both fighters tonight?

00:07:55Let's start with Francois Bothe first. A shorter fighter, a slower fighter.

00:07:58He's got to close the gap and get inside.

00:08:00When he gets inside, he has to work that body and also straighten overhand rights.

00:08:04They're his signature punches.

00:08:06Here against Stanton, a bigger fighter, he's going to work him with two jabs and throw his signature punch, the big right hand.

00:08:12Hurts him, and as soon as he does, gets inside, he goes to the body, and he buckles Stanton and works.

00:08:17This is how he has to work against Briggs if he's going to win.

00:08:19He's got to back Briggs up, work his way inside, there's that body shot, he buckles him,

00:08:24and then sort of a right hand, a left hook just to say, okay, take that with you, too.

00:08:31Shannon Briggs is the bigger of the fighters.

00:08:32He's got to use a sharp jab to set up all his combinations, the right hand over that lazy jab of Bothe and dictate the pace.

00:08:38He's got to set the pace, come forward when he wants to and rest when he wants.

00:08:41Here against Valdez, you'll see, he'll jab, double jab, throw a left hook, keeping the left hand out there,

00:08:47following with the big overhand looping right, getting Valdez in trouble.

00:08:51There's a jab, the hook off the jab, and another two, three jabs in the big right hand,

00:08:55using that jab to set up that right hand.

00:08:57He goes back to the jab to set up the combinations.

00:09:00He's got to work in behind that jab, Steve.

00:09:01It's ever so key to winning this fight.

00:09:06All right, Bobby, some final thoughts before the ring walks.

00:09:09This is a fight that neither Francois Botha or Shannon Briggs can afford to lose.

00:09:15The loser of this fight places his career in serious jeopardy,

00:09:18probably, as the fight doctor alluded to, going back to being an undercard fighter.

00:09:24As a result, it could make for an intriguing and competitive contest.

00:09:29We shall see.

00:09:30As we take a look at Shannon Briggs waiting in the wings, his two big high-profile fights up until now,

00:09:40a disputed majority decision over George Foreman to win the linear heavyweight title.

00:09:45At 97, his next fight, he lost by fifth-round TKO to Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight crown.

00:09:52Briggs' first title fight.

00:09:54After an eight-month layoff, he scored an easy first-round knockout over Marcus Road in December.

00:10:01His only other setback in 33 fights, aside from Lewis back in 96.

00:10:07He was knocked out in round three by Darrell Wilson after starting out with a record of 25-0.

00:10:13So are we looking at...

00:10:43Are we looking at a contender or a pretender, Bobby Chez?

00:10:47Well, you know what?

00:10:48Shannon Briggs has exactly all the tools.

00:10:50He has the height, the reach, the body, the speed, the power.

00:10:54The intangibles are the only things that are ever questioned.

00:10:56I think tonight we get to find out, because BOLTA brings many of those intangibles to the table,

00:11:01and then we get to see.

00:11:02And you're talking, for the most part, about heart.

00:11:05Well, his heart and his chin, two things that are big in this business.

00:11:09If you don't have those at the top of the heavyweight division,

00:11:11you can forget about being a real contender.

00:11:14BOLTA contends that Briggs doesn't have heart.

00:11:18Well, we'll find out.

00:11:20Meanwhile, Briggs says BOLTA is too slow for him.

00:11:24And we'll find out that as well.

00:11:25Here is the White Buffalo, former IBF heavyweight champ.

00:11:29His marketability going up in defeat back in January, leading Mike Tyson on all...

00:11:33Ladies and gentlemen, we welcome you to the magnificent Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey,

00:11:42for the featured bout of the evening.

00:11:45And it's all brought to you by Frank Warren Sports Network,

00:11:49in association with Dillon Productions, Showtime Event Television,

00:11:54Cedric Kushner Promotions, Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts,

00:11:57and the undefeated, undisputed king of beers, Budweiser.

00:12:03This bout coming away is sanctioned by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board,

00:12:08Commissioner Larry Hazard, Sr., Chairman is Jerry Gormley,

00:12:12board members Gary Shaw and Stephen Katz.

00:12:15Physicians at ringside, Dr. Dominic Coletta, Dr. Jordan Garrison,

00:12:19Dr. Ken Remsen and Dr. Howard Taylor.

00:12:22Timekeepers at the bell this evening, Lindsay Tucker and Roosevelt Gilbert.

00:12:27Introducing to you our judges, scoring this main event for ringside,

00:12:31from Plainfield, New Jersey, Henry Grant.

00:12:34From Atlantic City, Joe Pasquale.

00:12:37From Lungside, New Jersey, John Stewart.

00:12:41All right, fans, here we go.

00:12:44The time has come for our main event of the evening,

00:12:47a heavyweight special attraction scheduled for ten rounds of boxing.

00:12:51And now, ladies and gentlemen in attendance and boxing fans joining us around the world,

00:12:59live from the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City,

00:13:03it's showtime!

00:13:05Introducing first our referee in charge of this bat.

00:13:11He'll be giving instructions after the introductions, Ed Cotton.

00:13:16Introducing to you, ladies and gentlemen, on my left,

00:13:19fighting out of the blue corner,

00:13:22wearing red trunks with silver trim,

00:13:24representing Mark Roberts worldwide entertainment and sports,

00:13:28and hailing from Brooklyn, New York.

00:13:32He weighed in at 230 pounds,

00:13:36with a record of 31 wins, two losses.

00:13:39He has 25 big wins coming by way of knockout.

00:13:43Please welcome the WBC number seven ranked heavyweight contender.

00:13:48Introducing the hard-hitting Shannon Briggs.

00:13:55And his opponent, across the ring on my right,

00:14:03ready to fight out of the red corner,

00:14:06wearing solid white trunks,

00:14:08fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada.

00:14:12He weighed in at a ready 232 pounds.

00:14:15His fine record stands at 39 wins,

00:14:18two losses, one no contest,

00:14:21with 24 wins coming by way of knockout.

00:14:24Here is the former IBF heavyweight champion of the world,

00:14:28known as the White Buffalo.

00:14:31Introducing Francois Botha.

00:14:39Once again, our referee in charge, Ed Cotton.

00:14:42Now to give instructions,

00:14:4310 rounds of main event boxing schedule.

00:14:46Francois!

00:14:46Boxers, you both received your instructions in the dressing room.

00:14:55Once again, let me remind you,

00:14:57there's no standing A count,

00:14:58there's no three knockdown rule.

00:15:00If a fighter gets knocked down,

00:15:02go to the furthest neutral corner.

00:15:04Wait till I tell you to come out.

00:15:05Protect yourself at all times.

00:15:07Let's touch gloves.

00:15:07I expect a good, clean fight.

00:15:09Higher the trunks here, higher the trunks.

00:15:10Higher the trunks.

00:15:10Higher the trunks here, higher the trunks.

00:15:10Higher the trunks here, higher the trunks here.

00:15:15Francois Botha, methodical, lulling style,

00:15:18allows himself to be hit,

00:15:20but does have a very good chin.

00:15:22He can be deceptive and heavy-handed.

00:15:25Shannon Briggs,

00:15:26whose average length of fights

00:15:27is just over three rounds.

00:15:29He told us,

00:15:30not only does he have to win,

00:15:31but he has to look good.

00:15:32Says he's faster, stronger,

00:15:34he can box or slump.

00:15:36He's flashy, flashy or addressed.

00:15:39Indeed.

00:15:39He's a vision.

00:15:40Ooh, look at that right-handed start.

00:15:44Shannon Briggs with a big overhand right.

00:15:46That is his bread and butter.

00:15:47Oh, yeah, over to jab, too.

00:15:48Look how both of the keeps

00:15:49that lazy left hand down.

00:15:51He is somewhat slow with it.

00:15:52That right hand is gonna be one of the keys.

00:15:54He almost not let it slow us down.

00:15:56That was with a short left hook

00:15:57in the first round.

00:15:59Well, they define who's gonna be

00:16:00the offensive fighter

00:16:02and who's gonna be a defensive one

00:16:03right off the bat.

00:16:04I mean, it's Shannon coming after it,

00:16:06coming to get it.

00:16:08And if Shannon Briggs

00:16:09wants to get by both

00:16:10and then fight Mike Tyson,

00:16:11he's gonna have to fight

00:16:12a fight where he comes

00:16:13straight in and punches

00:16:14because that's the kind of fight

00:16:16that Mike Tyson likes.

00:16:17And both of them certainly stands there,

00:16:19waits for you to come in.

00:16:20There's no fancy footwork,

00:16:22no movement.

00:16:23He's gonna stand there.

00:16:24If you come in, you can pop him.

00:16:26But you might get hit in exchange.

00:16:28Both of them are very candid

00:16:29about the fact that he's got to

00:16:31wait the first three or four rounds

00:16:33and weather the storm.

00:16:35He knows Briggs is gonna come out banging.

00:16:37Yeah, he says,

00:16:37to win, I gotta control the pace.

00:16:39I can't just apply pressure.

00:16:40I need a jab even while backing up.

00:16:42He said,

00:16:43Botha tries to be cute

00:16:44and he showboats.

00:16:45I gotta stay right on top of him,

00:16:47see how smart a fighter he is.

00:16:48But Botha said,

00:16:49he's not gonna showboat

00:16:50or be cute anymore.

00:16:51He was too careless

00:16:52against Mike Tyson.

00:16:55Botha does not have the range

00:16:57or the speed

00:16:57to win this fight going backwards.

00:16:59If he stays going backwards

00:17:00this whole fight,

00:17:01he can't win it.

00:17:02He's got those little short arms.

00:17:04He's gotta come forward.

00:17:05He's gotta come forward.

00:17:06He's gotta get under the jab.

00:17:07He's gotta get to the body.

00:17:09And he has to wear

00:17:10Briggs down with body shots.

00:17:13Has to attack the body,

00:17:14not the head,

00:17:15like others do against Briggs.

00:17:17Can't look for the knockout.

00:17:18Otherwise, you're vulnerable.

00:17:19The words of Botha.

00:17:22Briggs is much faster

00:17:23and he should be flashing

00:17:24those hands in there right now.

00:17:26If he wants to take this,

00:17:27if he wants to show

00:17:28he's the kind of guy

00:17:31that fights for the title

00:17:32and he's gotta come in with speed.

00:17:33He's gotta come in with force.

00:17:41Bit of a chess match here

00:17:43in the opening round

00:17:44under a minute remaining.

00:17:45Round one scheduled for ten.

00:17:47Botha's working behind

00:17:48a nice double jab

00:17:49and an overhand right.

00:17:50Fairly effective.

00:17:51Not a lot of action right now.

00:17:52Except for that combination,

00:17:55the jab and then

00:17:56the overhand right by Briggs.

00:17:57Briggs showing

00:17:58that's the kind of charge we need.

00:17:59You need to charge

00:18:00the light brigade here.

00:18:01We need two, three jabs

00:18:02and then a good right hand

00:18:03and push inside.

00:18:05I mean, he's got to show energy.

00:18:07Botha's certainly a good target,

00:18:09not much movement for Briggs.

00:18:14Again, Botha's working

00:18:15in behind the double jab,

00:18:16hitting Briggs with a right hand

00:18:17on the side of his temple.

00:18:19And every time he's thrown

00:18:20that right hand,

00:18:20Briggs has counter like that

00:18:21with a right hand.

00:18:23Briggs is no question faster.

00:18:25He's got longer arms

00:18:26and he's got the...

00:18:27Oh, oh, nice right hand

00:18:28by Botha and counter punch.

00:18:30I think Briggs was stepped on

00:18:31accidentally by Botha

00:18:33and lost his balance.

00:18:33The feet got tangled up, Steve.

00:18:35I saw that too,

00:18:35but I'll tell you what.

00:18:37Briggs for his height reach

00:18:38should be more effective

00:18:39with the jab.

00:18:40That was still a good punch

00:18:41by Botha.

00:18:42It wasn't the cause,

00:18:44but it was a good punch.

00:18:45I'm having a very intelligent fight.

00:18:47More jabs, okay?

00:18:48More jabs,

00:18:49you'll find a very good fight.

00:18:50And as you get closer,

00:18:51you want to be able to hit

00:18:52a little bit more with the right hand.

00:18:53See, a lot of times

00:18:54while you're rolling,

00:18:54I wish you would just

00:18:55take the step back

00:18:56and check it with the hook.

00:18:57Do you understand?

00:18:58But he's going to one-two

00:18:59and you're trying to roll

00:19:00on all of them.

00:19:01I don't like it.

00:19:01Just try to take it.

00:19:02If you've got such reflex,

00:19:03just take a half a scoop back

00:19:04when he comes in

00:19:05and check it with the hook, okay?

00:19:07We're going to take a look

00:19:08and see what appeared

00:19:09to be both the stinging Briggs,

00:19:10but it doesn't look like

00:19:12that right hand really

00:19:12was the thing that landed.

00:19:14It appeared to be more

00:19:15of the feet.

00:19:17From the overhead,

00:19:17let's look at the feet

00:19:18and see where they tangle.

00:19:19Yeah, you know what?

00:19:20It wasn't a feet tangling.

00:19:21It was just Briggs off balance.

00:19:25I think he got hit.

00:19:30Botha's tricky when he comes in.

00:19:31He's got that tricky counterpunch.

00:19:33And he's been hitting Briggs coming in,

00:19:36but not solidly except for that punch.

00:19:39Not a bad round for both men.

00:19:41I gave it to Briggs,

00:19:42but not a bad round for either one.

00:19:43Botha coming out dangerously.

00:19:45He was left low.

00:19:48Briggs does have the sharp jab

00:19:49and a long reach,

00:19:50and he's looking to take advantage.

00:19:53Nice right hand by Briggs.

00:19:55You can see the look

00:19:56in both his eyes.

00:19:57It hurt, but he smiled back

00:19:59just in his little smirk

00:20:00and let him know I'm still here.

00:20:03Despite his detractors,

00:20:04Emmanuel Stewart says Briggs

00:20:05is more dangerous

00:20:06than people realize.

00:20:08Let me see and see.

00:20:09Well, the only one

00:20:10that's got to realize it

00:20:11is Botha.

00:20:12Right now, anyway.

00:20:14Nice jab.

00:20:15Flicked the head back up,

00:20:17Briggs.

00:20:18He's got to snap that jab out there.

00:20:19Has Botha.

00:20:23There's that snappy jab by Briggs.

00:20:25It's two in a row.

00:20:27Botha smiles at him.

00:20:28Go get him!

00:20:29At least he's not talking to him

00:20:30like he did his last fight.

00:20:31Good right hand.

00:20:32Sneaky right.

00:20:33Over the top by Briggs.

00:20:35See, the things

00:20:36that Botha needs to do

00:20:37to get to Briggs,

00:20:39he not only is not doing,

00:20:41but generally,

00:20:41we've seen him over the past,

00:20:42cannot do it.

00:20:43Keep a good pace.

00:20:44Tire Briggs out.

00:20:45Make Briggs worry.

00:20:46Keep the pressure on.

00:20:47He's never shown the ability

00:20:48to hold that type of pace,

00:20:49use that kind of energy

00:20:50and work that hard.

00:20:51Well, he's going to need it this time

00:20:54because that's the key to the victory.

00:21:01Boing jab there,

00:21:02doing nothing for Botha.

00:21:06I don't think Botha intentionally

00:21:08wants to throw away

00:21:09the first three rounds

00:21:10waiting for this guy to get tired.

00:21:12I mean, I don't think that at all.

00:21:13There he is.

00:21:14He's fighting hard now.

00:21:15He's fighting a lot harder now.

00:21:17It's Botha.

00:21:18The later this goes,

00:21:20the better it gets,

00:21:21of course, for Briggs

00:21:22because Botha has had

00:21:22a history of conditioning problems.

00:21:28This is the best condition

00:21:29I've seen him in.

00:21:30He's lost a lot of weight.

00:21:31You can see

00:21:31what he calls baby fat.

00:21:33It's not there like it used to be.

00:21:35I call it a beer barrel,

00:21:36but, you know,

00:21:36he's not there.

00:21:37Well, he trained eight weeks

00:21:38at Big Bear.

00:21:38He went back to chopping wood,

00:21:40which he attributes

00:21:41to his look right now.

00:21:43He's lost a little weight.

00:21:44It's still a little on the

00:21:46on the fleshy side there.

00:21:49He's still not a tone fighter,

00:21:50and it always makes me

00:21:51wonder about his diet.

00:21:53He's changed his diet

00:21:53four or five times.

00:21:55His trainers,

00:21:55his training technique,

00:21:56he's done a number

00:21:57of things differently.

00:21:58Said he lost his baby fat.

00:21:59He's 30 years old.

00:22:00I'm not sure how long

00:22:01baby fat hangs around.

00:22:04Well, he's saving,

00:22:06saving everything

00:22:07for the fight, he says.

00:22:08In the past,

00:22:09he said he worked too hard

00:22:10in the gym under Panama Lewis.

00:22:12No more Panama Lewis.

00:22:13Now his able sanction.

00:22:14You know, great heavyweight,

00:22:15former heavyweight world champion

00:22:16in our audience,

00:22:17and Harry Holmes

00:22:18never had the best physique,

00:22:20but what a fighter he was

00:22:21in his day,

00:22:22and still is.

00:22:23But he was huge.

00:22:24He was a Woolworth building.

00:22:26That guy was big.

00:22:27Pretty good champ.

00:22:28You had to get in the ring

00:22:29with him to understand

00:22:30how big he was.

00:22:31Heading for the battle,

00:22:32round two.

00:22:33Right hand over the top

00:22:35by Botham.

00:22:37Good punches

00:22:38by Botham at the end.

00:22:39Deep breath.

00:22:48Lock it.

00:22:49Deep breath.

00:22:53Once again.

00:22:58That's it.

00:22:59Okay.

00:22:59I gotta have it right here.

00:23:00Don't worry.

00:23:01I just gotta have it right there.

00:23:02We gotta lose.

00:23:03Okay, little grease.

00:23:06Little grease, Mario.

00:23:07Let's go.

00:23:10Briggs came out to

00:23:11make a statement

00:23:12early in this round,

00:23:14using that nice long jab

00:23:15and a straight right hand,

00:23:17snapping Botha's head back,

00:23:18got his attention immediately.

00:23:23And then jabbing his way in later.

00:23:25Well, there's a right hand

00:23:27and a sort of a left uppercut,

00:23:29not using the jab to strip.

00:23:33And at the very end there,

00:23:34we don't have time to show it,

00:23:35of course,

00:23:35but at the very end,

00:23:36Botha got in

00:23:37some great ringing shots,

00:23:39which indicated the first

00:23:40that he landed in combination

00:23:41and hard punches

00:23:42that he landed.

00:23:44Round three.

00:23:45Things cranking up.

00:23:47Things are cranking up.

00:23:51Botha's starting to punch hard

00:23:52with authority.

00:23:54There you go.

00:23:55Just missed with that right hand,

00:23:57Botha.

00:23:58Good idea, though.

00:23:59It went right over his left

00:24:00and should have landed.

00:24:01Briggs immediately tied him up.

00:24:02He's got Briggs' attention with a couple

00:24:06with a left hand and inside

00:24:08and one of the rights.

00:24:09Botha loading up,

00:24:11which could be dangerous,

00:24:12loading up with that right hand,

00:24:13could open himself up

00:24:14on the left side of his body.

00:24:17Right by Briggs.

00:24:18This guy's going all out.

00:24:21Botha knows this is night

00:24:22and he's got to look good.

00:24:23Beautiful triple jab by Botha,

00:24:26but no right hand or hook following.

00:24:28Yeah, that was a problem he had

00:24:30against Mike Tyson,

00:24:31although he controlled the fight.

00:24:32It was a good left jab by Briggs.

00:24:34He didn't follow up.

00:24:35He was one and done.

00:24:35And again,

00:24:38one and done by Botha.

00:24:41Yeah, but nothing in return by the other.

00:24:43I mean, he's got a good jab.

00:24:46That's what kept Moore at bay.

00:24:49That's what was winning the fight for him

00:24:51with Tyson.

00:24:51He's not doing bad.

00:24:52He's doing very good here.

00:24:53Tridge is much more effective.

00:24:54Excuse me, Shannon Briggs

00:24:55is much less effective in this round.

00:24:57Botha getting to him a little bit.

00:24:59Yeah, because Botha's doing the action.

00:25:00Botha's leading.

00:25:01He's, he's, he's letting.

00:25:03No sound effects

00:25:07courtesy of Francois Botha.

00:25:10This is what the corner people

00:25:11scream, you first, you first.

00:25:13This is what you'll be screaming

00:25:14at Briggs right now.

00:25:16Big round for Botha.

00:25:17Come on, you first.

00:25:18Get off.

00:25:19Very good frequency.

00:25:25Oh, there's a smacking left hook

00:25:27by Shannon Briggs.

00:25:28Sort of an off-balance shot,

00:25:30but it nailed Botha in the face.

00:25:31Almost lost his mouthpiece

00:25:33and nailed him good,

00:25:34but he came back.

00:25:37He's one of the bravest fighters

00:25:38you'll see, though,

00:25:39Francois Botha.

00:25:40You can say nasty things

00:25:41about his skills.

00:25:42Oh, he's brave.

00:25:43He stands right in there,

00:25:44Monday.

00:25:45And this time,

00:25:46he lets loose with a combination,

00:25:48not one and done.

00:25:49He hit, Shannon,

00:25:50all three-door shots,

00:25:51that jab following.

00:25:52Shannon's defense

00:25:53is getting more suspect.

00:25:55Botha said,

00:25:55George,

00:25:56he's slow.

00:25:57Now, George is also 6'4",

00:25:58but Botha proving his point.

00:26:00And Botha gaining confidence.

00:26:01Good block

00:26:02off that straight right

00:26:03by Briggs.

00:26:05Botha doing the fighting right now.

00:26:06Goal.

00:26:07An overhand right

00:26:08that caught the attention

00:26:10of Briggs.

00:26:12Briggs just covering up

00:26:13as Botha comes in

00:26:15instead of trying to counter.

00:26:16He's just covering up.

00:26:17So it's Botha

00:26:18piling up the points.

00:26:21And Briggs breathing heavily

00:26:23through the mouthpiece.

00:26:24Stop punching him.

00:26:25Stop punching him.

00:26:26Come on, Ray.

00:26:27Stop, stop.

00:26:27Hit me on your head, okay?

00:26:28All right?

00:26:29Here we go.

00:26:30Fight him clean.

00:26:32Wild miss there

00:26:33by Botha,

00:26:34but no counterpunch

00:26:35by Briggs.

00:26:36Time!

00:26:38Good round for Botha.

00:26:45I'll get him

00:26:45that round.

00:26:46See, what you're doing,

00:26:47you're just doing

00:26:48exactly what I was worried about.

00:26:49Everything he's punching,

00:26:51you're going into

00:26:51all of these motions.

00:26:52Now he's starting to time you.

00:26:54You're not staying

00:26:55or you're not staying

00:26:56on top of it.

00:26:56You're not working

00:26:57staying back out here, boy,

00:26:58but you're going

00:26:59into this shit too much

00:26:59and he's starting to

00:27:00time you bobbing weeds

00:27:01and you're not going

00:27:02after him at all.

00:27:03You're counterpunching

00:27:04whether you know it or not.

00:27:05And this guy doesn't hit you.

00:27:06If you notice when you're

00:27:07throwing him,

00:27:07he don't counterpunch you

00:27:08that much.

00:27:09If you caught him over

00:27:09with the hook of him here,

00:27:10he doesn't counterpunch.

00:27:11He basically waits, waits

00:27:12and he runs in with a one-two

00:27:13and all you're doing

00:27:14is just sitting there

00:27:15trying to roll and roll.

00:27:16And he's timing you now.

00:27:18I don't want to see

00:27:18a white hook.

00:27:19I want to see an uppercut.

00:27:21You want to see the bats?

00:27:22Everything from the outside here.

00:27:23It's on the inside

00:27:24before Eddie breaks you up.

00:27:25All right?

00:27:26All right.

00:27:27Second shot!

00:27:29I think I heard him say,

00:27:31I want to see more

00:27:32of an uppercut.

00:27:33He said, before Eddie

00:27:34breaks you up,

00:27:35while you're in close,

00:27:36get that uppercut in there.

00:27:37More uppercuts, less hooks.

00:27:39That was Abel Sanchez

00:27:40to Francois Botha.

00:27:41You heard Emmanuel Stewart say,

00:27:43hey, Botha's not counterpunching.

00:27:44Take advantage.

00:27:45Emmanuel Stewart's very,

00:27:46very smart, very honest.

00:27:48He said, you lost that round.

00:27:49I gave him that round.

00:27:50And what he told him to was,

00:27:51he's got to be the lead.

00:27:52Botha's not a good counterpuncher,

00:27:54not a good mover.

00:27:55But he's timing you.

00:27:56He's starting to get your timing down.

00:27:58Combination to the head

00:27:58by Francois Botha.

00:28:01He's starting to time

00:28:02his Bob and Weed,

00:28:03and therefore he's hitting him.

00:28:05Also, he's hitting him first,

00:28:06and the other guy's

00:28:06just ducking in

00:28:07and closing in

00:28:08the defensive procedure

00:28:09instead of counterpunching.

00:28:11Now, a little taunting

00:28:12by Botha.

00:28:13That's not what you want to see.

00:28:14That's what he did

00:28:15against Tyson.

00:28:16Came back to haunt him.

00:28:18Come on, let's go.

00:28:21Get out, get out, get out.

00:28:22Stop for him, stop for him.

00:28:24Briggs, a 3-1 favorite,

00:28:26in case you're wondering.

00:28:28Don't tell that to Francois Botha,

00:28:30who seems to be gaining confidence

00:28:31every minute.

00:28:33As long as he's doing the leading,

00:28:36he can win.

00:28:37Because the other guy

00:28:38doesn't seem to understand

00:28:39he's got to mix it up here.

00:28:41He can't just fall

00:28:43in a defensive shell.

00:28:44Counting overhand

00:28:48right off the top

00:28:48of the head

00:28:49by Shannon Briggs.

00:28:51Botha's got a hard head.

00:28:52Bobby, what did

00:29:05Emmanuel Stewart mean

00:29:06when he said he's timing?

00:29:08Well, what happens is this.

00:29:10Shannon Briggs is strictly

00:29:11counterpunching at one point,

00:29:13which is what Emmanuel Stewart

00:29:13was talking about.

00:29:14So when...

00:29:15When Francois botha punches,

00:29:18Shannon Briggs makes the same move

00:29:19to get out of the way.

00:29:20He's starting to time it.

00:29:21He throws a punch out of distance

00:29:22when he made that move.

00:29:23Big story here by botha.

00:29:26He's got Briggs

00:29:27in a little bit of trouble.

00:29:30I don't know if he's in trouble,

00:29:31but he sure should be getting tired

00:29:33of getting hit

00:29:33because he got hit a lot.

00:29:36Some terrific shots there

00:29:38by Francois Botha,

00:29:40smiling at Shannon Briggs.

00:29:42Briggs looked a little dazed there

00:29:44for a moment,

00:29:44momentarily dazed.

00:29:46Stop him, stop him, stop him.

00:29:47He just stopped doing everything.

00:29:50Oh, he got hit

00:29:50a good collection of punches.

00:29:52There wasn't just one or two.

00:29:53Oh, there's a terrific right hand

00:29:55by Botha.

00:29:55Stop him, stop him, stop him, stop him.

00:29:56Right on the mark.

00:29:57Good job, good job.

00:29:58Botha's gonging him

00:29:59with those right hands.

00:30:00This fight can't go on like this forever

00:30:02with those right hand punches.

00:30:03That's going to take control.

00:30:05He cannot keep letting him land

00:30:07completely clean right hands.

00:30:09Botha may be slow,

00:30:10but he is connecting

00:30:11with that right.

00:30:12First, he pulls out a left

00:30:14and then comes a right.

00:30:15If he ever throws a left hook

00:30:17after that,

00:30:17could be Katie bar the door.

00:30:19So far, Shannon Greggs

00:30:25is anything but impressive.

00:30:27This is not helping his stock.

00:30:29And again, it's helping Botha's stock.

00:30:31And those punches being blocked

00:30:32by Botha.

00:30:36That was a block.

00:30:38That was beautiful.

00:30:41He blocked a couple

00:30:42and as he thought about throwing another one,

00:30:44he got hit.

00:30:45Biggs got hit with a big shot.

00:30:47Another round in the kick front for Botha.

00:30:49You're getting in front of him.

00:30:49You haven't caught it,

00:30:50but you're waiting.

00:30:51You're heading letting him get out too much.

00:30:53You don't realize it.

00:30:54You can't have no damn close fight, brother.

00:30:55You're waiting on you.

00:30:56You know, you got to look out for that formula.

00:30:57You can't take it.

00:30:58Here we're going to see Francois Botha, okay?

00:31:00Here's the thing.

00:31:01There's no gap here.

00:31:02He has closed the gap.

00:31:03He's going to come in tight with the right hand here.

00:31:05Then he's going to shoot the left hand up here.

00:31:07And then he's going to continue and follow his man,

00:31:09chase him back.

00:31:10As we roll the tape,

00:31:11you watch the right hand sneak around.

00:31:12Here comes the left hand on the inside.

00:31:14And he stays with his man.

00:31:16He closed the gap behind the jab,

00:31:18got in, worked his opponent,

00:31:20and landed cleanly on Shannon Briggs.

00:31:21An entire combination.

00:31:23Beautiful right hand, left hook,

00:31:24and some follow-up shots.

00:31:26This is what he needs to do.

00:31:30Later in the round,

00:31:31Botha still landing that big right hand.

00:31:33He's timing.

00:31:34Shannon Briggs is lean.

00:31:35And Shannon Briggs is not getting out of the way.

00:31:38He paid attention to that pawing jab

00:31:40and leaning in.

00:31:41So the right hand lands.

00:31:42That's what they're telling him.

00:31:44That's what Emmanuel Stewart is telling him.

00:31:46You're letting this guy time you.

00:31:48Briggs, frustrated,

00:31:50comes out with a purpose to begin round five.

00:31:52But then he lets off.

00:31:56One of the keys to victory,

00:31:58we told you, for Botha,

00:31:59was to connect with the big right hand.

00:32:01He's been doing that thus far with regularity.

00:32:03Now you can remember that Botha

00:32:05has a history of doing really good at the beginning,

00:32:20and then getting dog-tired.

00:32:22And sometimes you see him wearily take a big, deep breath right now,

00:32:24and it's only, what, the fifth round.

00:32:26So it's about this time that we start looking to see if signs of getting weary.

00:32:32For Botha.

00:32:34Nice right hand to the body by Botha.

00:32:36Be mindful that both guys have lost by knockout in this round, the fifth round.

00:32:40Botha to Tyson and Briggs to Lewis.

00:32:44Well, Briggs better do something right now.

00:32:58He's certainly not winning this fight, nor is he impressing anybody.

00:33:02He's winning this round, though.

00:33:04He's coming out, trying to make a statement, trying to reverse the tide.

00:33:08Bobby, we're at the middle of the round.

00:33:10We've got a long way to go to the end of that.

00:33:12Meanwhile, a good sneaky right hand applied by Botha to the face of Briggs.

00:33:18Botha trying to set up the right with a double left jab.

00:33:22There it is.

00:33:24Right there.

00:33:25You could see it coming, Steve.

00:33:26You were talking about it while it was on the way.

00:33:30Ed Cotton getting into the face of Botha, telling him to stop punching when he says break.

00:33:36When he says stop punching, he means stop punching.

00:33:42A whacking left hook off the side of the face.

00:33:45Back comes Botha with a combination.

00:33:47And they keep landing.

00:33:48That right hand keeps landing.

00:33:49Briggs fires some wild shots, wasted a lot of energy.

00:33:52He was missing.

00:33:53Stop punching!

00:33:54Stop punching!

00:33:55Ineffective punches by Briggs.

00:33:58There's a very effective combination to the head by Botha.

00:34:02Now he goes downstairs to the body.

00:34:04Stop punching!

00:34:05Stop punching!

00:34:06Step out!

00:34:07Man, I don't know what in the world Biggs has got in his...

00:34:13Briggs has got in his jaw.

00:34:15Overhand right by Botha that scored again to the jaw of Briggs.

00:34:18It's amazing to me with what appears to be not very quick right hand.

00:34:22Nice countervote.

00:34:23Botha opened himself up.

00:34:24He faked a right.

00:34:25He stood still like a statue.

00:34:27And he ate one.

00:34:28And he really didn't.

00:34:29He ate a good one too, Steve.

00:34:30And he ate a big one.

00:34:31Step out!

00:34:32Step out!

00:34:33Not a good move by Botha.

00:34:34He should have followed through.

00:34:35Yeah.

00:34:36Okay.

00:34:37Good job.

00:34:38Good job.

00:34:39You have to throw it.

00:34:40You have to throw it.

00:34:41You can't stop in the middle of it.

00:34:42Deep breath.

00:34:43Now, you give me the left hook that I want, but I haven't seen the upper kind.

00:34:46Now, deep breath.

00:34:48Now, you give me the left up that I want,

00:34:50but I haven't seen the upper cut.

00:34:52Okay.

00:34:54Okay.

00:34:56Relax.

00:35:00Deep breath.

00:35:04Little grease. Deep breath.

00:35:06Here you go, Marlon.

00:35:08Both are teeing off with that right hand.

00:35:10He's just getting through their one to the body,

00:35:12working his way on the inside.

00:35:14He's got to jam a little uppercut in here, too.

00:35:16But he's been laying that right hand so regularly,

00:35:18it's just incredible.

00:35:24There was a nice feint.

00:35:26Shannon Briggs fainted.

00:35:28Briggs, excuse me, both have stopped in his tracks,

00:35:30and Shannon hit him with a nice right uppercut.

00:35:32And that's the first thing they said to him

00:35:34when he got back in the corner.

00:35:36He said, don't stop a punch in mid arc.

00:35:38That's when you're going to get in.

00:35:40And that's what happened.

00:35:42He was both ahead 48 to 47 by mine.

00:35:44I have it the same way, three rounds to two.

00:35:46Both of them made a nice little run there

00:35:48and put together some, you know,

00:35:50a few rounds of good punching.

00:35:52Good job.

00:35:54I tell you what, he's found gold with his right hand.

00:35:56But you know what? Look at him.

00:35:58He's getting tired, guys.

00:36:00He's puffy and puffy. He's getting very sluggish.

00:36:02I'm telling you from the last round,

00:36:04this is the time that he fades.

00:36:06Five.

00:36:08That's when he faded with Tyson.

00:36:10And that's how he used it with Moore.

00:36:12I mean, Botha is not a guy

00:36:14that's got a big iron constitution.

00:36:16You saw the online scoring there,

00:36:18and Botha coming into this fight saying,

00:36:20hey, it's a short fight, relatively short.

00:36:22I want to get as many rounds in the bank

00:36:24as Briggs starts to come back,

00:36:26but not for long.

00:36:28Botha does look exhausted.

00:36:30Both fighters have a reputation, too,

00:36:32of having a small gas tank.

00:36:34Straight right hand by Shannon Briggs

00:36:36to the chin of Francois Botha.

00:36:38Briggs looking more effective here now,

00:36:40all of a sudden. Botha slowed down.

00:36:42Every once in a while he gets one off,

00:36:44but Briggs is scoring more.

00:36:46But back comes Botha.

00:36:48Nice right hand and left hook,

00:36:50but you know what?

00:36:52It's gonna come down to those quick punches

00:36:54that Briggs will throw the tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap,

00:36:56like that.

00:36:58Botha has got the counter and start working again.

00:37:00He's running out of steam.

00:37:02Yeah, all of a sudden,

00:37:04the gas tank getting low for Francois Botha.

00:37:06He has had energy problems as fights have worn on.

00:37:10We're on.

00:37:14Perfect time for a body shot.

00:37:16I was just thinking Shannon went downstairs

00:37:18but didn't connect.

00:37:20He's taking the round off,

00:37:22is Botha.

00:37:24Oh, come on.

00:37:26Off the top of the head goes Briggs.

00:37:28Good job, good job, good job.

00:37:32Very polite referee.

00:37:34Great right hand by Botha.

00:37:36That set Briggs back.

00:37:38Missed with that one.

00:37:40Good job.

00:37:41You saw Shannon Briggs look through his corner,

00:37:42looking a little bit frustrated.

00:37:44I know he's upset that he got hit with Botha's right hands.

00:37:47He looks sheepish.

00:37:48He looks like saying,

00:37:49Oh, I shouldn't have gotten hooked.

00:37:51Sorry.

00:37:52Well, just when you think Botha's in trouble,

00:37:54he comes back.

00:37:55We've seen that many times.

00:37:57Look, he's just pulling with the left,

00:37:59nails him with the right,

00:38:00and then hugs him.

00:38:02Botha.

00:38:04Botha, when he wants to be in action,

00:38:06is taking this fight.

00:38:08There it is again.

00:38:09Overhand right.

00:38:10Right hand again.

00:38:11By Francois Botha.

00:38:12And again, scoring effectively.

00:38:13Now the left jab.

00:38:15I hesitate to think what he could do

00:38:16if he'd throw a left hook after that right hand.

00:38:19Once he throws a right hand, he's through.

00:38:21Tough as he is,

00:38:22you've got to imagine if this guy could ever get in real shape.

00:38:24What he could actually do.

00:38:26I think his body style is that.

00:38:28I mean, he can go so far.

00:38:29Even if he lets you throw the body style out

00:38:31and the body shape.

00:38:32What he's able to do in performance.

00:38:34Oh, what a wild match there.

00:38:36And both of the counters with an overhand right.

00:38:40That really scored.

00:38:41Right on the button.

00:38:43What a careless maneuver by Kroos.

00:38:48He paid for it.

00:38:49Inside the rope, Bobby Chet.

00:38:52Francois Botha right now,

00:38:55if he is winning this fight,

00:38:56which I think he is,

00:38:57is with this.

00:38:58Jab, jab, right hand.

00:38:59Another right hand.

00:39:00Counter right hand on the inside.

00:39:01Right hand in a hook.

00:39:02That right hand is finding such a home.

00:39:05There's a double right hand.

00:39:07One to the body.

00:39:08Another one to the chin.

00:39:09Followed up with another one in the left hand.

00:39:11That right hand is winning the fight for him

00:39:13if he is indeed winning on the judge's store card.

00:39:15Well, for any.

00:39:22What has been as a full pirouette.

00:39:25And another right hand following the spin.

00:39:27And that put a period on the pirouette.

00:39:29Hey, that's ballet.

00:39:30This here is boxing.

00:39:32Come on.

00:39:37Briggs looking to edit on one punch with a home run left there,

00:39:40but left himself wide open just before the bell.

00:39:42And he really paid the price.

00:39:44Well, are we in for another Botha night, folks,

00:39:46where Botha guts everything up

00:39:48and then finally loses in the end?

00:39:50Are we in for one of those nights?

00:39:52Or is he got enough gas to go to 12 here?

00:39:5410, I'm sorry.

00:39:5510.

00:39:56In this particular fight,

00:39:57it could go both ways.

00:39:58Both fighters have a reputation for fading,

00:40:00getting tired,

00:40:01and not being able to close the big one.

00:40:03Well, now we have two that don't close the big one.

00:40:05It'll probably be a draw.

00:40:07Botha's average length of fights just under five rounds.

00:40:12Briggs' average length of fights just over three.

00:40:15And we're now in round seven.

00:40:19That's what Briggs needs to do, that jab.

00:40:22There's almost no way for Botha to offset that jab

00:40:24if he keeps using it.

00:40:27All right, Briggs, get out, get out.

00:40:28Good job, good job.

00:40:29Good job.

00:40:30The other thing is when Botha comes in with that hard jab,

00:40:34Briggs turns his face and turns his face away

00:40:37to receive the jab.

00:40:38That's when he gets hit with the right hand.

00:40:39He doesn't seem to be able to keep his eye on the right hand.

00:40:42Just like that, he did it again.

00:40:43He did it again.

00:40:44Watch when the left comes.

00:40:45He turns his head away.

00:40:46That's, he's completely over to the right.

00:40:48You can't see it.

00:40:49There's a left jab by Briggs, got in there.

00:40:51Botha did not counter.

00:40:54Get out, get out, get out, get out.

00:40:56Let's go.

00:40:58Overhand right continues to be a big left hook

00:41:01for Francois Botha.

00:41:02Then he nailed him with a left hook,

00:41:03a short left hook, got in.

00:41:04He doesn't normally throw the left hook.

00:41:06Look how effective it is

00:41:07if you've got the left hook behind that right hand.

00:41:08Boy, the left hook is the one to paint you.

00:41:10Now he goes to the body again, to the chin,

00:41:12a right hook there by Francois Botha

00:41:14to the face of Briggs.

00:41:16It's Botha all the way right now.

00:41:18Botha on a roll.

00:41:20Shannon Briggs' legs just now for the first time,

00:41:22didn't look like they were under him as well

00:41:24as they should be.

00:41:25Those body shots probably contributing to that.

00:41:28And now shots to the head by Botha.

00:41:30He's just wearing Briggs out.

00:41:34Body shots.

00:41:35Botha, Botha chopped a lot of wood,

00:41:37and he's chopping wood tonight.

00:41:39This has strengthened him, and he is going at it.

00:41:41Wait.

00:41:42Soon they be yelling timber.

00:41:47Oh, ah!

00:41:50Briggs has been down three times in his career,

00:41:52Botha twice.

00:41:53Look!

00:41:54Look!

00:41:57An abrasion above the right eye of Botha,

00:42:03who just nailed Briggs with a right cross.

00:42:06Come on, move my dad here.

00:42:07Right on the jaw.

00:42:08And uppercuts inside as his corner is telling him to do.

00:42:11Low blow.

00:42:12Come on, hands are free, let's go!

00:42:14Let's go!

00:42:16A cut over the left eye of Briggs.

00:42:17Oh, a straight right hand by Botha,

00:42:18right on the nose.

00:42:19Briggs is in low trouble now.

00:42:21Yep, Briggs all the way up.

00:42:24Briggs is rocky.

00:42:25Briggs is game.

00:42:26Botha just wants it more,

00:42:27and we talked about the intangibles.

00:42:29Skill factor, Shannon Briggs.

00:42:31Seven seconds to go in the round.

00:42:33Guts, heart, nerve.

00:42:35Who wants it more right now?

00:42:37Francois Botha.

00:42:38Making a statement.

00:42:39No question.

00:42:40That's a good, good round for Botha

00:42:43as this fight heats up.

00:42:49Shannon, nuts and guts now.

00:42:50You've got to sit down and fight something.

00:42:52What?

00:42:53No need.

00:42:54This man is walking through you right now.

00:42:56That's almost an end.

00:42:57You're not fighting.

00:42:58Francois Botha on the right here.

00:43:00He comes in behind a jab in that right hand every time.

00:43:03He just keeps on throwing it to Shannon Briggs

00:43:05as he closes the gap behind that jab.

00:43:06We should roll the tape.

00:43:07He comes in behind that jab,

00:43:09and that right hand is right there.

00:43:10There's the jab.

00:43:11Bang!

00:43:12Right hand on the button.

00:43:13Closes the gap.

00:43:14He's on the inside.

00:43:15He's got to be the more effective man on the inside.

00:43:17What a good job he's doing.

00:43:20Later in the round,

00:43:21for pretty much the whole round,

00:43:22Botha loading up with the right hand.

00:43:24There's the jab,

00:43:25and the right hand right over.

00:43:27Shannon Briggs not making any adjustments whatsoever.

00:43:29Manuel Stewart's giving the right advice in the corner.

00:43:32He just cannot do it.

00:43:37Big sense of urgency in the Briggs' corner

00:43:41as we enter round eight.

00:43:42Stick and move there, hollering at him.

00:43:44Stick and move.

00:43:45Well, he better do something.

00:43:46He can't just stand there and keep hitting,

00:43:48getting hit by both of them.

00:43:49There it is again.

00:43:50The overhand right.

00:43:51Another one.

00:43:52You know, against Tyson,

00:43:53you could see Botha using the jab

00:43:55and a long-range right hand.

00:43:56Against a guy bigger than him,

00:43:57faster than him, with longer reach,

00:43:59you never would think it.

00:44:00But he's using similar style to get the job done.

00:44:03Briggs missing with that combination.

00:44:05A very hungry Francois Botha.

00:44:07There's a wild miss again

00:44:08with that left hook by Briggs.

00:44:10Come on, hands free!

00:44:11Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out!

00:44:14Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out!

00:44:17Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out!

00:44:20Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out!

00:44:24Beautiful jab by Shannon Briggs.

00:44:26You may recall,

00:44:28Shannon Briggs missed with one of those wild lefts

00:44:31against Lennox Lewis.

00:44:33Got knocked down, and he blamed it on that.

00:44:35Shannon Briggs right now...

00:44:36Looks like deja vu.

00:44:37Steve, right now, Shannon Briggs is sucking it up.

00:44:39Amanda Stewart told him,

00:44:40you can't even lose this round.

00:44:41I gotta have this round.

00:44:42Shannon Briggs is going out there

00:44:44and showing that he's got what it takes

00:44:45to at least give it his back.

00:44:46He said it's all about guts right now.

00:44:48I cleaned that up for you.

00:44:50Well, he has been getting gone.

00:44:52Get out! Get out! Stop it!

00:44:53Bobby, he's getting gone.

00:44:54He's trying,

00:44:55and the two good punches he threw,

00:44:56he missed both of them.

00:44:57They looked good, but they didn't land.

00:44:59And Botha just walked into a left,

00:45:00but he hammers him with a right.

00:45:02Botha... Hands free! Hands free!

00:45:03Into the face of Briggs.

00:45:05The right hand is landing with such frequency,

00:45:07it's almost ridiculous.

00:45:08I can't understand...

00:45:09I cannot understand

00:45:11why Shannon Briggs doesn't have that left hand high,

00:45:13and make a different move.

00:45:14It's the same move.

00:45:15He moves to his right hand side,

00:45:17and all Botha has to do

00:45:18is make a slight adjustment,

00:45:19and he lands it.

00:45:20Briggs is confused,

00:45:21he's frustrated, and he's tired.

00:45:23Those are not...

00:45:24That's not a good combination in boxing.

00:45:26Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out!

00:45:27And he's not...

00:45:28There goes the mouthpiece.

00:45:29Out of Briggs,

00:45:30and that proves that he's tired.

00:45:31Don't go...

00:45:32When you lose the mouthpiece.

00:45:39Well, it might be Botha's mouthpiece.

00:45:41It was Botha's. Botha's the one who pointed to it.

00:45:43Botha needs a little bit more of a rest and bridge.

00:45:46But he's the one that's more effective,

00:45:48even though he's trying to...

00:45:49Now there's blood streaking down the left side of Botha's face.

00:45:52He's doing this on... Look at this.

00:45:53But he's coming back strong. He senses it, too.

00:45:55He's doing it on sheer guts.

00:45:57He's tired. He's exhausted.

00:45:58He's not the more skilled of the two,

00:45:59but he wants it more, and he's tougher.

00:46:01And he believes in himself most often.

00:46:03Trying to wipe the blood out of his left eye is Botha.

00:46:06He's bleeding, as you said, on both sides of the face.

00:46:09You talk about heart and guts.

00:46:10Francois Botha's got them.

00:46:12Stop him, stop him, stop him, stop him.

00:46:17Boy, he is becoming a fan favorite.

00:46:19He is pawing at that eye.

00:46:22He couldn't...

00:46:22There's a straight right hand by Briggs.

00:46:24He's just clutch.

00:46:25A little bit of Botha's down.

00:46:26It's a knockdown.

00:46:27It's another Botha night.

00:46:32Five, six, seven, eight.

00:46:35You know that?

00:46:36Yeah, here we go again.

00:46:38It's another Botha night.

00:46:39He needs 20 seconds to survive.

00:46:41And Briggs is trying to end it right here.

00:46:44In round eight.

00:46:46It's a game.

00:46:47It's a game.

00:46:48It's a matter of fatigue.

00:46:50Eddie Cotton looking closely.

00:46:52He's got enough time.

00:46:53Ten seconds.

00:46:53He hasn't got any time.

00:46:54He hasn't got any time.

00:46:55He hasn't got any time yet.

00:46:55Pocah with no energy.

00:46:57Hanging in there.

00:46:58It's all hard.

00:46:59Hey!

00:47:02One three zone.

00:47:03By French Robocco.

00:47:07Come down here, man.

00:47:11He's got to stay focused in there.

00:47:14It's business.

00:47:15Come on, baby.

00:47:15You got to go forward, not backwards.

00:47:17Water.

00:47:18How are you feeling?

00:47:20Huh?

00:47:21We're going to take a look at that knockdown.

00:47:27Shannon Briggs sensing the need to do something to make a statement.

00:47:30Gets a nice right hand. He hurts both of both of those back to the ropes

00:47:33and walks right into a straight, excuse me, a left hook.

00:47:36There's another angle. Here's the left and then the right.

00:47:40That's the right hand that starts things. Now watch his left hand.

00:47:43Right there, that left hand, he came off the ropes right into the left hand.

00:47:46He was hurt. I think this knockdown was a combination of

00:47:49a couple of good punches by Shannon Briggs as well as Botha's fatigue.

00:47:53Botha will never be able to fight 10 or 12 rounds at a great pace.

00:47:57He just doesn't have it for whatever the reason.

00:48:00It's another Botha night. Botha down for the third time in his career

00:48:04versus Moore in the 11th round twice and now here.

00:48:08Botha looks like he's going to fall down right now. He hasn't got hit yet.

00:48:13Francois Botha looking like a beaten fighter.

00:48:16You wouldn't know that he's been winning decisively up to this point.

00:48:20Up until that point, I had a 68-65.

00:48:22Now I have a 76-75.

00:48:24Botha's still ahead by one point.

00:48:26Exactly. Exactly what I had.

00:48:27But we're in New Jersey and Briggs is from Jersey.

00:48:31I wouldn't trust that score.

00:48:32Brooklyn, close it up.

00:48:34If you're a fighter, if you're Francois Botha, what do you do now?

00:48:40Do you try to stay away from Briggs and try to win it on the cards,

00:48:43or do you go forward like Abel Sanchez tells him?

00:48:46He has to go forward. He has no choice, but he doesn't have the energy.

00:48:49He cannot...

00:48:49A straight right hand by Botha.

00:48:51He cannot keep the pace that was necessary to win this fight.

00:48:54If he kept the pace he was keeping, you saw what he was doing.

00:48:57That was one of my keys, too.

00:48:58You had to land that right hand, get inside and work there.

00:49:00Straight right hand by Botha.

00:49:02He's coming back.

00:49:03Get out, get out, get out, get out.

00:49:04This is going to be one of those fights where, in a loss,

00:49:07he's plovering himself with glory.

00:49:09Again.

00:49:09Get out, get out, get out, get out.

00:49:10Three fights. He loses three fights.

00:49:12The public loves him.

00:49:13Well, he hasn't lost yet.

00:49:15He hasn't lost yet.

00:49:16It's boxing.

00:49:23Left by Briggs.

00:49:24It's scored right on the face of Botha.

00:49:27Left hook by Briggs.

00:49:28Botha, back to the body with the run.

00:49:30Get out, get out, get out, get out, get out.

00:49:32If Briggs doesn't put him away now, then the market value on Briggs is down.

00:49:37Get out, get out, get out, get out.

00:49:37Because this guy is a shot and beaten fighter right in front of him right now.

00:49:40He knocked down Botha in the eighth round.

00:49:43Things look very blatant for the former IBF heavyweight champ,

00:49:47but now he's let him off the hook, as it appears.

00:49:50And Briggs walked into another right hand.

00:49:52The steam isn't on the right hands anymore the way it was,

00:49:55but Briggs is just walking the right hand after right hand.

00:49:57It stops him from punching, Bobby.

00:49:59And those seconds are ticking away.

00:50:00We're inside of one minute.

00:50:01All he's got to do is survive this minute and get his gas back into the tank.

00:50:06Well, Briggs may have underestimated the heart,

00:50:10the guts, the will and determination of the South African.

00:50:13He should have gone after him all, all, all fire, all guns firing.

00:50:17There's no reason for him to let Botha off the hook.

00:50:19None.

00:50:21Low blow there on the right uppercut by Botha.

00:50:23Come on, come on.

00:50:23You all right?

00:50:25You all right?

00:50:26Let's go.

00:50:26All that time the talking is going.

00:50:29Seconds are ticking by.

00:50:30Seconds to save Botha.

00:50:33I'll tell you what, this fight works out to be a very funny thing.

00:50:36Briggs' stock can't go up being tested and beaten

00:50:38for the majority to fight the way he has.

00:50:40Botha running out of complete gears late in the fight.

00:50:43The stock can't go up.

00:50:44But he could be a very worthwhile opponent for some of the other fighters.

00:50:48Only one round remaining after this.

00:50:51Oh, nice right in.

00:50:56Oh, just before the bell, Botha comes on to.

00:50:59That's it, Francois, that's it.

00:51:10Keep the bridge on me, man.

00:51:17Last round, folks.

00:51:17Hold it up, hold it up.

00:51:19Francois, Davi, let's do it for more.

00:51:21Relax.

00:51:22Get right in front of him, you stop, and then you wait until he finish.

00:51:26It's too late.

00:51:27Get your shit out first.

00:51:28You understand?

00:51:29Danny, just let your hands go.

00:51:30Get your punches out first.

00:51:31You get there, you let him get out first.

00:51:33You got to win this round, brother.

00:51:35Your whole fucking career is in three goddamn minutes here now.

00:51:38I need this round.

00:51:38And you said that, but you get right there, but then you stop.

00:51:40Then wait until...

00:51:41We didn't lose here.

00:51:42Don't do anything.

00:51:43Come on.

00:51:43Don't carry you out, buddy.

00:51:45Keep carry out there.

00:51:46Deep breath.

00:51:47Hell of a fight.

00:51:49Kill me.

00:51:51Kill me.

00:51:52Kill me.

00:51:53Kill me.

00:51:58Kill me.

00:51:59Kill me.

00:51:59Dramatic stuff in the corner of Shannon Briggs.

00:52:02Touch gloves.

00:52:03Touch gloves.

00:52:04Touch gloves.

00:52:04Desperation time for Briggs.

00:52:07And survival time for both of us.

00:52:09I have it 85-85, guys.

00:52:12This round is the deciding factor on my unofficial scorecard.

00:52:16The last round can decide the future for these two heavyweights.

00:52:20Round 10.

00:52:22This is the round for their careers.

00:52:26They've seen a very good heavyweight fight here.

00:52:29And I must say, while that's nice hype, I can't agree completely because both guys,

00:52:35both guys have covered themselves.

00:52:38They're fighting.

00:52:38Another overhand right that scores for both of them.

00:52:41Both is, you know what?

00:52:42I think, I'll tell you what.

00:52:43I think right now, I think both of them want some more.

00:52:45I think Shannon has more.

00:52:48What a way this has to lay out.

00:52:51Stop him.

00:52:52Stop him.

00:52:53Stop him.

00:52:53Again, the right uppercut by Botha.

00:52:55A little low.

00:52:57Cut at the corner of Briggs.

00:52:58Right eye continues.

00:53:00And he continues to be first, Botha.

00:53:02If the other guy could just, Briggs could just get his punches off.

00:53:05If he could just land something hard.

00:53:07Botha is so exhausted.

00:53:09And yet, Botha is first.

00:53:11That's guts.

00:53:12That's heart.

00:53:12Get out, get out, get out, get out, get out.

00:53:14That's willpower.

00:53:16And look at the eyes of Botha.

00:53:18Bloodied.

00:53:19But he continues to land with that right.

00:53:22The overhand right.

00:53:23That has been his punch.

00:53:24Get out, get out, get out.

00:53:25All night long.

00:53:27Halfway through the last round.

00:53:30Does Briggs have what it takes?

00:53:32Briggs' eye is bleeding.

00:53:33Get out, get out, get out.

00:53:34His left eye is bleeding.

00:53:35I think Briggs has more in the tank.

00:53:37I think Briggs has more skills.

00:53:38I think there's no question that Francois Botha is the braver man who wants him more.

00:53:42Look at that combination.

00:53:43Big finish here for Botha.

00:53:44Go, go, go.

00:53:45Get out.

00:53:45Determination.

00:53:46Who wants to win?

00:53:48Who will not lose?

00:53:49Botha.

00:53:49Oh, what a powerful overhand right by Botha.

00:53:53Right on the face of Briggs.

00:53:55To the crowd going wild.

00:53:57Stop it, stop it.

00:53:58One minute remaining.

00:54:02Another straight right hand by Botha.

00:54:04He continues to score.

00:54:06Let's go, get out, get out.

00:54:08Look at the blood on the face of Briggs.

00:54:11Again.

00:54:11Another right by Botha.

00:54:13And again.

00:54:14Look at the ears bleeding now.

00:54:15Even his ear is bleeding now.

00:54:16The left ear of Briggs is in a pool of blood.

00:54:20Stop it, stop it, stop it.

00:54:22Go.

00:54:22We approach the final 30 seconds of the final run.

00:54:27What a strong finish by Botha.

00:54:30All over Briggs.

00:54:31Landing repeatedly with the overhand right.

00:54:33There's a straight right hand right on the nose.

00:54:36And Briggs is dazed.

00:54:40He can barely stand.

00:54:43Botha continues to land.

00:54:45Stop it, stop it.

00:54:4615 seconds to go.

00:54:49It's Francois Botha's night.

00:54:52Briggs misses with a wild left.

00:54:55Five seconds to go.

00:54:56Stop it, stop it, stop it.

00:54:57They embrace in the center of the ring.

00:54:59And this one is over.

00:55:00Good job, good job.

00:55:02Good job.

00:55:07Come on, baby.

00:55:09Come on.

00:55:11Come on, Vince.

00:55:11He's effing now.

00:55:14Hands up.

00:55:15Hands up.

00:55:17Hands up.

00:55:18Hands up.

00:55:19Hands up.

00:55:20Hands up.

00:55:21Hands up.

00:55:22Hands up.

00:55:29Well, by the looks of things, round 10 obviously belonged to Francois.

00:55:34I thought you were going to stomp on him.

00:55:36You were going to stomp on him.

00:55:37You stomp on him.

00:55:37We always knew he had a heart.

00:55:39But, boy, the will to win, sheer determination,

00:55:42that's what carried that 10th round.

00:55:43That's what makes boxing such a great sport.

00:55:46Do you want to talk about, Steve, that we can't put on paper?

00:55:49Boy.

00:55:53My unofficial scorecard was 95-93.

00:55:56I gave the last round a two-point round for both of them.

00:55:59He beat him from pillar to post.

00:56:01He dominated the entire round,

00:56:03maligned him, hammered him at Will Staggart at least six times.

00:56:06I gave him a two-point round,

00:56:08even without that, he wins the fight.

00:56:10Both of them have it 96-94,

00:56:14and I would be hard-pressed to think anybody thought

00:56:16that anybody but Bosa won this fight.

00:56:19If we get one of those stinkers, oh, brother.

00:56:21Or if we get a draw, that would be brutal.

00:56:25Even if we got a draw, the winner is Bosa,

00:56:28as far as public opinion, and the loser is definitely great.

00:56:32So, we await the decision.

00:56:44A very worried look on the face of Shannon Briggs.

00:56:47I'm a betting man.

00:56:51We're in New Jersey.

00:56:52The powers that be play the game.

00:56:54You watch this fight to draw, guys.

00:56:55You really think so?

00:56:57Well, they did it with Louisville Lewis,

00:56:58and that was more one-sided.

00:56:59I just have that feeling.

00:57:06That would be a gift for Shannon Briggs.

00:57:07It doesn't feel good, but I have that feeling.

00:57:09Well, we'll see how long it takes.

00:57:11For once, I hope you're wrong about it.

00:57:13For once, I hope you're wrong.

00:57:14Okay, we'll give it a best shot.

00:57:18Here we go.

00:57:19Let's go up to Jimmy Lennon Jr. for the decision.

00:57:22Ladies and gentlemen, before I read the score totals,

00:57:25we've all seen an outstanding 10 rounds of action.

00:57:28Both of our fighters deserve recognition.

00:57:31Great fight, Shannon Briggs, Francois Bocca.

00:57:37Well, ladies and gentlemen,

00:57:38after 10 rounds of boxing here at the Trump Taj Mahal,

00:57:41we go to the scorecards.

00:57:42Here are the score totals.

00:57:43Judge at ringside, Joseph Pasquale,

00:57:47scores the bout, 95 to 92.

00:57:50Francois Bocca.

00:57:53Judges at ringside, Eugene Grant and Jon Stewart,

00:57:57both score the bout, 94-94.

00:58:01A draw.

00:58:02The decision is a majority draw.

00:58:07All right, I tell you what,

00:58:09I actually hate myself for being right.

00:58:10I hate you for being right,

00:58:12and I hate me for being wrong,

00:58:13but that, damn it, you're right.

00:58:15That is highway robbery.

00:58:17That is a stinker of a call.

00:58:20Well, Bobby called.

00:58:21Francois Bocca won that fight.

00:58:22All right, Bobby called it.

00:58:23Let's say it like it is.

00:58:25Bobby lives in New Jersey.

00:58:26He knows what he's talking about.

00:58:27This was a smeller.

00:58:29One judge had it, 95-92, Bocca, and the other two had it, 94-94.

00:58:41The look of disappointment, understandably, on the face of Bocca.

00:58:47Let's go up to Jim Gray in the ring right now, who will be talking to both fighters.

00:58:50All right, thank you very much.

00:58:54Francois Bocca, what did you think of this decision?

00:58:57It seemed to me, and at least to the fans here at ringside, that you won the fight.

00:59:00Well, I thought I won, you know, but I'm not going to take much away from Shannon.

00:59:04He's a great fighter.

00:59:05And, you know, I don't doubt fighters, so Shannon, good fight.

00:59:09Are you surprised with this decision?

00:59:11Yes, I am, but, you know, boxing is like that.

00:59:13I knew that I was fighting Shannon in his hometown, but, you know, boxing is like that.

00:59:17You can go either way.

00:59:19You know, you don't know how the judges score the fight.

00:59:21We have fighters in the ring.

00:59:23I think that we're doing a good job and winning, but, you know, at the end of the day,

00:59:28our lives is in the hands of the judges, and we've got to reside by that.

00:59:33Let me ask Shannon real quick.

00:59:34Are you surprised with this decision?

00:59:36It seems to most observers here that you lost this fight.

00:59:39Well, it was a close fight.

00:59:41The knockdown kind of helped me, put me back in the fight.

00:59:43You know, me fighting at home, the crowd was definitely behind me,

00:59:46but I underestimated him, I can't lie.

00:59:48Well, I'll be honest with you, not even that, because I trained very, very hard.

00:59:51It's just, you know what, it's the ring rush.

00:59:52How do you feel that you won?

00:59:54Yeah, I feel like it was a draw.

00:59:55Actually, I feel like it was a draw.

00:59:56You know, I feel like it was a draw, but at the same time, the ring rush,

00:59:59not fighting eight months, and the guy I did fight eight months ago was a first-round knockout.

01:00:02I think that's the first time I've ever heard a fighter tell me they thought that they tied someone else.

01:00:06Yeah, well, I thought it was really close.

01:00:08I thought, you know, me being at home, I would have the edge and have the morale behind me.

01:00:11But this guy is so tough.

01:00:13He took some hell of a shot.

01:00:14It's KG Boxer, a KG Boxer, most underrated fighter that I fought, white, black, whatever, green, tough fighter.

01:00:21Your total inability tonight, Shannon, to stop his overhand right.

01:00:24Why?

01:00:25Not really, not looking for one punch, looking for one punch, wanting to knock him out.

01:00:29You know, I figured he never fought any punches besides Tyson and Morris,

01:00:32so I could knock him out without an estimated him.

01:00:35Tough guy, KG fighter, did some sick things.

01:00:38Definitely a heavyweight to reckon with, for sure.

01:00:39Let's start with you, Francois.

01:00:40Where does this leave you?

01:00:42What next?

01:00:42Is this a rematch?

01:00:43You want a rematch?

01:00:44Well, yeah, if I say rematch, you know, it's okay with me if it's okay with Shannon.

01:00:49Rematch is basically a setback for you.

01:00:51It is because, you know, I really don't have to prove myself.

01:00:54I think that the public, the public know what happened and they can make the decision.

01:00:59I just go back to what I know how to do and that's fighting.

01:01:03And I try to do the best I can.

01:01:05And if it means fight great fighters like Shannon Briggs, I don't dog nobody.

01:01:09I don't hide from nobody.

01:01:10I fight everybody.

01:01:12I usually don't invoke God, but what in God's name would you want a rematch for?

01:01:15Because I think that I could beat him, honestly.

01:01:18Tough fight, don't get me wrong.

01:01:19It won't be an easy fight.

01:01:20But, again, I was making my mistakes.

01:01:21It wasn't really him.

01:01:22It was me.

01:01:23Ring Ross, not really being stupid.

01:01:25You want to fight him again?

01:01:26Yeah, I would love to fight him again.

01:01:27Really, I would like Tyson, to be honest with you.

01:01:29But, you know, hey, listen.

01:01:31I would like Tyson, to be honest with you.

01:01:33But I'd fight him again.

01:01:33He's a good guy.

01:01:34He's been nice to me.

01:01:35He's managed everybody.

01:01:36He's promoted.

01:01:36No, nothing wrong with me.

01:01:37Does he benefit by being here in New Jersey?

01:01:39A lot of people are going to say that as well.

01:01:42No, I don't think so.

01:01:42I think the knockdown, I was controlling him a little bit.

01:01:45It was back and forth for some very close rounds.

01:01:47But, again, those last rounds, he was throwing that right hand from down south, and he was

01:01:50catching me with it.

01:01:51He's a tough fighter.

01:01:52Strong, very underrated fighter.

01:01:53Tough guy.

01:01:54All right.

01:01:54Thank you, Shannon.

01:01:56All right, Steve.

01:01:56That's it from up here.

01:01:57Back down to you.

01:01:58All right.

01:01:59Very interesting stuff.

01:02:00Thank you very much, Jim Gray.

01:02:01Here's how the folks at home saw it on the online scoring.

01:02:05And how about that?

01:02:06They had both ahead convincingly seven rounds to three.

01:02:11Wow.

01:02:11And the judges, again, here, Henry Grant and Jon Stewart had it even at 94.

01:02:17Joe Pasquale had both ahead 95-92.

01:02:20Two judges gave both a 10-8 tenth round.

01:02:23So had he not won that round that convincingly on the scorecards of two judges, he would have

01:02:28lost the fight.

01:02:29Another gift for Shannon Briggs.

01:02:30We saw it with George Foreman in many minds, and now we see it here.

01:02:34I think even though it wasn't a victory and it was a draw, it was a hometown decision for

01:02:39Shannon Briggs.

01:02:40Let's take a look with the Telestrator, Bobby Chiz.

01:02:43Well, certainly the turning point in the fight for Shannon Briggs just put him back.

01:02:47He works his way in behind the jab here.

01:02:49He's working both the back.

01:02:50He gets both to slide along the ropes here, and he hits him with a beautiful straight right

01:02:54hand.

01:02:55Then he gets him in real trouble after that.

01:02:58As we roll the tape, you'll see him work in, and he bangs both very well.

01:03:02Here's the jab, and then he misses that right hand.

01:03:05But as he gets him over, that's the right hand that works.

01:03:08Now over here, he walks into that left hand where it bounces off the ropes into it, and

01:03:12that's more than he can handle.

01:03:13He has to leave his feet for a little rest.

01:03:15That saved the fight for Shannon Briggs, at least on these judges' scorecards.

01:03:22Well, what can you say?

01:03:26Botha departing.

01:03:27Botha departing.

01:03:28Botha departing.

01:03:28I'm disappointed that he did not get the victory, but in the minds, I think, of most

01:03:34people, in the court of public opinion, as they say, Ferdy Pacheco, Francois Botha is

01:03:42victorious.

01:03:43Well, it's not the worst decision I ever saw in my life.

01:03:45I can't scream and holler about that.

01:03:47I do believe that he won, and won in convincing fashion.

01:03:51What I do believe is this.

01:03:52I don't believe Botha lost anything here.

01:03:55I think he won.

01:03:56Whether they gave it to him or they didn't give it to him, he won.

01:03:59Because what we were looking at was a guy that came in strong and dominated when he needed

01:04:06to dominate, especially that last round.

01:04:07When he needed it, he went for it, he got it.

01:04:10What more can you ask for Botha?

01:04:12He's back in the hunt.

01:04:14Now, let me ask you something.

01:04:15Would you like to see?

01:04:16I don't think Briggs would like to see it, but would you like to see a rematch?

01:04:19Oh, absolutely.

01:04:20That was a barn burner good heavyweight fight.

01:04:22Listen, you don't get that much better, and they deserve to fight again, and either one

01:04:27off this should fight Tyson, although I would say Botha deserves a lot more than the other

01:04:31guy.

01:04:31I mean, Briggs did not cover himself with glory, and that he squeaked by here with a draw isn't

01:04:37what he had in mind when he came in here.

01:04:38So he's the loser tonight.

01:04:40The winner tonight is Botha, no matter what the score says.

01:04:43All right, let's turn back to Bobby Chez here.

01:04:46Where does this leave?

01:04:49Shannon Briggs, a very exciting fight.

01:04:51I think most people are disappointed by the decision, but that doesn't take away from

01:04:55the electricity here.

01:04:56The electricity is here.

01:04:57The excitement was here.

01:04:58The fight was a great fight.

01:04:59They both showed that they can give and take with the best of them.

01:05:01Shannon Briggs took a lot of right hands.

01:05:03It didn't go down.

01:05:04Showed that maybe he does have a better team than people think, but some are still going

01:05:07to question his heart because both are more tired, both are more fatigued, both without

01:05:12the natural skills and abilities, just sucked it up and wanted it, just wanted it more.

01:05:16One of those intangibles that you can't put on paper, that you can't define.

01:05:20All right, Bobby.

01:05:21A tremendous fight, indeed, but one that will go in the books, I think, with an asterisk.

01:05:27No question about it.

01:05:28Similar to George Foreman's fight with Briggs and similar to a number of the fights, even

01:05:32with Botha and Schultz.

01:05:33A number of the fights were close.

01:05:35This one was not a runaway robbery, but I still think that the statement was made by Botha.

01:05:40And I can't say it any other way.

01:05:43I had more respect in this draw for both of them.

01:05:46I've had the whole entire time of watching fight and win and lose.

01:05:51Well, as we wind things down, let's take a look at tonight's results from right here in Atlantic City.

01:06:00Omar Sheikah took care of business against Kevin Pompey.

01:06:04Time to step up the quality of opposition, perhaps even a title shot.

01:06:08How about WBO champ Joe Calzaghe?

01:06:11And in a stinker, Marco Antonio Barrera retained his WBO junior featherweight title,

01:06:16beating relatively unknown pastor Marin, who was very awkward, unorthodox, and elusive.

01:06:20Could title unification be next?

01:06:22How about Eric Morales?

01:06:24And in our main event, a very exciting fight with a most questionable decision.

01:06:30It wound up a draw between Francois Botha and Shannon Briggs.

01:06:34So once again, Francois Botha's stock goes up, even though he didn't win.

01:06:41But in the minds of most people, I think, who saw this fight, he did.

01:06:47More world championship action coming your way on Showtime in two weeks.

01:06:50On Saturday, August 21st, we'll present a much-anticipated bout between interim WBC's

01:06:56super-lightweight champion, Kostya Zou, and number one contender, Miguel Ángel Gonzalez for the vacant crown.

01:07:02Catch this exciting action from Miami, Florida, on Showtime Championship Boxing,

01:07:07Saturday, August 21st at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.

01:07:13Well, that'll do it from the Mark G. Edis Arena in the Trump Taj Mahal

01:07:16for the fight doctor, Ferdi Pacheco, Bobby Chez, Jim Gray, our entire crew,

01:07:20Steve Albert saying so long from Atlantic City.

01:07:26Botha vs. Briggs has been brought to you by Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts

01:07:33and by Budweiser, the undisputed, undefeated king of beers.

01:07:39This Bud's for you.

01:07:41Pay-per-view distributed by Showtime Event Television.

01:08:00The East Man osuptar.

Shannon Briggs vs Frans Botha - Showtime PPV 8-7-99

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