Botha is the kinda guy you never want to fight in a bar

Lets all give some props to the real hero, the guy who picked Botha up on his shoulders at the end of the match.

Much respect for Botha. He was definitely a tough guy.

Botha's game plan was "huh-huh!"

Botha fought Tyson, he ain't scared or intimidated by anyone.

Francois eating kicks and punches like candy, respect.

Although Botha is a 1-2 fighter, dude can be explosive. He also fought Tyson, Vladimir klitshko, holyfield, Lennox Lewis. In boxing he was on a 35 fight winning streak until his first loss

The title should be : boxing legend stun kickboxing legend

He was even with Tyson before he walked face first into the most vicious puncher who ever walked the planet. Mad props to the man on this fight. The white Buffalo.

Botha may not have been the most skilled boxer in terms of movement and speed. He made up for it with absolute toughness and resilience. Never underestimate a South African Boer.

Going up against a young le banner at kickboxing at his age. That takes some serious balls

Shows that basic boxing skills and a lot of ring experience can go a long way in other combat sports. Botha was a good boxer, but not among the best heavyweights of the 1990s. I remember watching him get knocked out with a single punch by Mike Tyson who had just got out of prison. But even at an advanced age, with no kicking or kneeing ability, slow footwork, and just a 1-2 combo, Botha was still able to beat a bigger, stronger and younger professional kickboxer under kickboxing rules.

The great champions can also give up... a very beautiful lesson in life. (Two great champions in the ring)

Botha would brutalise half the current top10 now if he came about all over again. Was in a brutal era, ducked nobody & still held his own! Big up 2the big man FBotha

That full body wobble! Someone got rocked! I love the Stand On Ropes sign of dominance at the end before the extra round. This is Good Fight definition.

Damn... i doesn't expect that. And Botha had Balls of Steel, a true Fighter !

White Buffalo Botha for a reason. This guy was tough as nails. A real friggin brawler.

Old Boxers are like submarines. Never underestimate a submarine. Way to go, Botha!

The 1st round replay showed the fact that Botha was able to use the small space in the corner to avoid most of the serious blows that looked really bad in full speed.

In hindsight, if Francis Botha learned the low kick technic at his younger age, he'd have been an awesome powerful kick boxer, cause his one two punch was crispy, fast, strong & so very effective. Regardless, he did fight really well in terms of the strategy against one of the strongest kick boxer in the world. Thus he deserves a pat on the back.,,,,,,,(06/05/22)

You could see the boxer realizing that the kicker couldn't hurt him, not with his feet or his fists. After that it was just a matter of getting in close enough to land his own punches.

Respect to Botha for his fighting heart, he sade after the fight against Swedens Jörgen Kruth that he could not walk after all legkicks, but he was quite ok for a guy that have no defence from that kind of punishment. Think how that hurts when a big dude like Banner or Kruth kicked the legs of a man that have no defence, even the headkicks Probabaly hade ko many other. Botha could take a punch like a man. It would be great to see Botha aginst a shorter guy like Mark Hunt, if both were in their prime, sorry my bad english

It really looked like, in that slow motion, Botha responded to a kick in the head with a smile…

This fight shows just how effective the ole 1-2 combo really is. He straight wore his ass out with it. Bravo.

Le banner is a legend in the kickboxing world fighting guys like cro cop , mark hunt and Ernesto hoost so a lot respect should go towards botha. He wasn't the greatest but he always put up a fight the best he could, I remember seeing an interview back in 2020 where shannon briggs who also fought in k1 said francois botha was the hardest puncher he ever faced

Botha is 57 years old and still he is good

This fight was in 2004 Botha was 36YO. People act like it was last week lol

Within a year, Lebanner had a second operation on his right arm and before the fight he was complaining of pain (look at the number of times he shakes his arm to ease the pain). In his corner at the end of the second round, Lebanner says "Je suis mort, je suis mort" (I am so tired) After the fight the organization took Lebanner to the hospital to get an x-ray, he actually had a huge tendonitis. You should also know that this same year, Lebanner lost his mother and was very hard morally. Botha is a good fighter and a real warrior but he would never have passed an in-form Jerome in k-1 rules.

Jerome Le banner was a beast kickboxing and had some wars during his career.....always exciting to watch always.

This fight was the epitome of one player mashing the same buttons repeatedly on a video game mixed with Bruce Lee fearing the man that had practiced one technique 1000 times rather than the man that practiced 1000 techniques once. Bothas one two was just too strong

Props to Botha. The man has fought the best in the world in boxing now in kick boxing.

フランソワ・ボタ選手はボクサーとして偉大なばかりでなく、ボクサーの強さをキックボクシングの戦場であるK-1でも証明した魅力的なファイターでした。 K-1の歴史で過小評価されているファイターの一人だと思います。 今見ても胸が熱くなる試合です！👍

I was so glad to see that towel thrown in, that man was hurt bad but finished the fight. He was beat fair and square and couldn’t believe they gave him a draw. The judges were hacks.

I think Botha was called 'The White Buffalo'. He fought many greats, but he was usually out-classed. He was a tough guy though.

Hats off to both fighters

Never thought it would turn out that way after knowing some of the competition Le Banner has met and beat since Botha was a boxer only and long out of being a contender in that sport and had no idea at the age he was that he'd continue in the UFC.. After continuously seeing the thumbnail for this video I finally watched it expecting Botha to be out classed because of his age and only knowing how to box but I guess a hard hitter always has a chance to win judging by this fight outcome...

I LOVE the fact there is no annoying commentary on this 👌🏼

2 belles bêtes de sport ❤❤❤❤❤ Nostalgie ...

Botha's defense against the kicks was better than I expected. I don't know if he had kickboxing fights before this or what.

The music always reminds me of Andy Hug.

Botha, is a Legend!

Malgré tout c'était pas un guignol il était un adversaire déterminé et a prendre au sérieux c'était quelqu'un le Botha..!

Both are such tough men.

How old was Botha in this fight? The guy is a beast!!! Monster!!! 👊🏽

Botha was always a tough cookie. Fought well and bravely against Lennox Lewis and so many others. You are not going to drop an old warrior without a real fight on your hands.

So the ole man still has huh, well good for you Francis. That was some nice boxing there buddy "TRUTH!!"💪👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼✌🏻

I'm a boxing fan, but I like the kickboxing sport too. This fighter was very composed, even after a big shot.

Strange that JLB hardly used any leg kicks? Maybe he wanted to see if he could box a boxer?

Botha the og of fighting the man just loves fighting.

This is a blast from the past

The voice he makes when he punches is so cute🤗

Goodness, how old is Botha? I'm 53 and i remember watching him 30 + years ago.

Both good fighters

YAWWWWWWN!!!! still waiting for stunning part

The old 1,2 combo still works.

Never under-estimate a boer

If Botha had perfected more than 1-2 punches he may have kept Jerome off balance long enough to score a solid KO. But 1-2 is good in basic fights, it's not always effective with pros who will come forward regardless like Marciano, Tyson, Dempsey, Foreman, Frazier, or even Ali. Combinations, jabs & hooks are needed. Jerome, like most kickboxers, despite his fine physique & conditioning, depends mostly on his feet. He throws telegraphing punches with not much power behind them. Botha doesn't. He holds his arms close to his body & many times throws punches from his shoulders. If you look closely at the good camera work Botha is always focused on his opponent even when under assault. I'm convinced Botha knew when a leg was coming up & deflected it. The sign of a great fighter. Both men did exceptionally well. Jerome, having received a solid punch that stunned him, recuperated, and shook off the cobwebs without losing his head. Much to be admired since Botha doesn't throw light punches & the majority are calculated. Botha appeared quite "fresh" even towards the end because he looked as if he paced himself well. He didn't waste a single punch though some went wild -- in the heat of a fight, it will happen. Both men are obviously skillful & I applaud them both. There wasn't a dull moment.

To win a fight only wit 1-2 combo deserves respect

It's impossible how my boy the white buffalo is in better shape now than when he was in his prime 20 years ago

Botha is the most basic fighter ever : his full fight was made with straight one-two... and it worked

frustrating to watch this for the Xth time and still wonder why Le Banner wasnt spamming body kicks the entire fight instead of crashing range, crowding his punches and giving Botha a chance to use the only weapons he had in this fight.

Jerome ' coach says: "break his legs", up your guard, dont let him rush you, high kick straight ahead, but a lot of "keep up your guard!! " you see the result !

I met Francois in Newport Beach. A real warrior with a heart of Gold.

Botha didn't throw any kicks, but he must've trained a lot to take them without flinching. Leg kicks will put down a fighter who hasn't prepared for them. Much credit to both men.

Mad props to the grey chin whiskers..Botha has been around LONG TIME..He deserves respect from any fighter.. Especially at his age

2 legends ,bravooo!

Wow! Old man is fast as heck! Packs the power, speed, and accuracy. Banner should have used more kicks as this would have won the fight for him. Looked like Botha could not defend the kicks so well.

Jerome le banner was my idol back in the days when we didnt know mma in eu all we got sometimes was k1.. when i heared it will be on tv i sneaked there in middle of night with my 13 years or so...... i cant tell you year but would guess between 98-02 i started watching him and peter aertz

That iron jaw ate them kicks and smiled😆

Franz Botha, ein mutiger und großer Kämpfer. Gegen alle ist er angetreten. Ein Vorbild.

Wise move by Le Banner! He came back stronger.

Toughest Frenchman I've ever seen.

2004年かぁ〜この頃は本当に熱くなったよな😊

A legend

Бота из бокса танк мощный👍

Strange fight though...good job Botha, he was ready to fight 2 more rounds if needed!

brilliant fight

Totaly crazy, after the first round you think the kickboxer destroy him and then this xD.

@Glory Kickboxing, not a fair statement considering LeBanner's mother passed away the week before. He still showed up but his heart understandably wasn't in it.

Tha quickest way to the Chin is still a straight punch. The entirety of Bothas Boxing career was on display here.

Manifestement, Jérôme n'était pas prêt physiquement. Respect à François Botha qui est un grand boxeur !

Jerome underestimated the punching power of Francois. Francois's punching was quick, accurate & powerful, & well delivered to Jerome's face.. From Jerome point of view, he should've executed his persistent low kick to his opponent's calf & thigh from the beginning. Then Jerome could've won against Francois?! Just my rather foolish speculation though??!! This proves a boxer sometimes can win over a kick boxer. (04/27/22) .

If a boxer can defend the kick and the knees , then he can beat a kickboxer.

7:55 that remind me someone stumble on the side of the chair when he was so high and realised after that the table was not that close

The White Rhino! Good to see his great ONE-TWO in the ring again, he nailed Mike Tyson with that two punch combo a lot.

I can't believe at his age Botha fought a young stud in a kickboxing match and held his own when he pretty clearly can't get his foot above his hip. That's impressive balls and toughness.

I've seen LA Banner not fight a 4th round several times. He's so spent he knew he'd be KO'd.

Good old days amazing😂

Gros respect à Mr Le Banner, sacré combattant !!!

Funny Botha won by just 1-2. Jab and uppercut in the last round!

Botha so tough those kicks would've crippled most of us, let's not even talk about those head kicks. Damm dudes like a tank.

For a heavyweight Boxer Botha was actually pretty good at kickboxing. I wish he would've started in Glory Early, he could be Heavyweight Champion

Jerome had a good start but got winded too soon and was much less the fighter after that. He's carrying around too much muscle for his frame. It does him no good except sap his energy.

its a match up thing. mighty moe beated him using hands only

Two intense fighters! Wow!

Botha seems like the Roy Nelson of the boxing world. As opposed to Spinks and Biggs, Botha did not seem to be intimidated AT ALL by Tyson in that fight.

Botha was too quick for him, even the basic one-two and he couldn't stop it. LeBanner just quit. Sad.

Mind you, Francois Botha took it against Mike Tyson, lost due to a severe knockout to the chin by Iron Mike.

Botha was beast in boxing and kick boxing that's so hard

Botha definitely has heavy hands, he also can absorb quite the punishment.