Frans Botha loses in K1 semi-finals

Compiled by Scott Shaffer

05/12/2004

Frans Botha loses in K1 semi-finals

Former heavyweight Frans Botha participated in the K-1 World Grand Prix Championship in Tokyo last night with mixed results. Botha won his first bout of the eight-man tournament without landing a single punch when former champ Peter Aerts tore calf ligament while throwing a kick in the first round and could not continue (sounds exciting, no?).  Botha advanced to the semi-final to face defending champ Remy Bonjansky. Botha did well at first, landing body shots while ignoring Bonjansky's attacks to his legs. However, Botha legs began bothering him in the third and final round and Bonjansky landed a couple of kicks to Botha's face to win by decision.  Bonjansky went on to win the championship for the second straight year in front of 64,000 fans. Botha briefly held the IBF heavyweight title but was stripped for taking performance-enhancing steroids.