Botha in mean mood

FRANCOIS Botha had some brotherly advice for his friend Michael Grant, telling him to forget about taking the World Boxing Federation (WBF) world heavyweight title to the US on Saturday.

The more experience "White Buffalo" takes on the American in the Urban War title fight at Montecasino on Saturday night.

Speaking at the weigh-in in Johannesburg yesterday, Botha warned Grant: "The buffalo is coming out. I have not had a good meal in a long time. I need some neck bones and ribs on Saturday. I'm going for an early knockout and I don't want to be paid overtime money. We are friends but Grant will go back to America empty-handed."

Botha chipped in after Grant's trainer James Thomas took the mike and said: "I have been with Michael for more than 12 months and he does not have a nickname.

"I have decided to nickname him 'The Black Lion' with immediate effect. I have never seen him in such great shape ahead of a fight."

Botha retorted: "The buffalo does not want to see other animals in front of it. I had The Black Panther (Flo Simba) a few months ago. What happened to The Black Panther is now history, now here comes The Black Lion. The White Buffalo is also going to deal with it."

Grant said: "I feel good, I've been training hard and I'm ready for the fight. It's a make-or-break for me. The crowd will definitely be satisfied on the night of the fight."

Botha, a former International Boxing Federation and WBF heavyweight champ, has fought the likes of Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko.