Botha-SBW fight to be investigated

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Sonny Bill Williams celebrates winning his fight against Francois Botha in their heavyweight bout at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 8, 2013 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Sonny Bill Williams celebrates winning his fight against Francois Botha in their heavyweight bout at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 8, 2013 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Published Feb 11, 2013

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Johannesburg – South Africa's, “Mr.Boxing”, Stan Christodoulou, will be part of an investigation into Friday's contentious battle between South Africa's Francois Botha and All-Black Sonny Bill Williams, according to a report on Monday.

“I hope to soon have answers to all the questions,” Christodoulou told Beeld newspaper on Sunday.

“On the surface, it was a confluence of mistakes, but I don't want to say too much before I've familiarised myself with all the facts.”

Controversy surrounding the fight in Australia, which has been described in some circles as a farce, gained momentum on Sunday amid reports that Botha had tested positive for banned stimulants, Beeld reported.

Shortly after the rumours surfaced, John Hogg, a member of the Australian National Boxing Federation, denied that he knew anything about them.

Williams won the fight, billed in Brisbane as one advertised for the World Boxing Association's (WBA) international heavyweight title, on points.

Botha was reportedly furious because he believed the fight would last 12 rounds, and he had Williams almost out on his feet in the tenth round when the fight ended.

Christodoulou is one of the world's most experienced and respected judges and the WBA's representative in South Africa, reported Beeld. – Sapa

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