Francois Botha claims he was offered A$150,000 to throw boxing bout
Botha, 44, alleges Sonny Bill Williams' manager, Khoder Nasser, offered him the money in a Brisbane park three days before the World Boxing Association fight, claiming he received a phone call asking to pick him up alone.
Veteran South African boxer Francois Botha yesterday claimed he was offered A$150,000 (HK$1.2 million) to throw his fight against Sonny Bill Williams, sparking an angry denial from the New Zealander's manager.
Williams, a former World Cup-winning All Blacks rugby star, won the controversial heavyweight bout on points in Brisbane last Friday, which was marred by unsubstantiated reports that Botha failed a drugs test.
Botha, 44, alleges Williams' manager, Khoder Nasser, offered him the money in a Brisbane park three days before the World Boxing Association fight, claiming he received a phone call asking to pick him up alone.
"I wasn't told where I was going. As we stopped at a park, my cellphone was confiscated and was given to a guy in the car," Botha told New Zealand's Radio LiveSport from Durban.
"Then I was being walked [by Nasser], and during this walk, I was offered A$150,000 to throw the fight.
Then I was being walked [by Nasser], and during this walk, I was offered A$150,000 to throw the fight
"I just said, 'No, I can't do it'."