Evander Holyfield vs Francois Botha is ON

Evander Holyfield is set to fight Francois Botha for the lightly-regarded World Boxing Federation heavyweight title in Uganda on 16 January. Organisers at Kampala's Nambole Stadium said both boxers had signed contracts and predicted a crowd of 80,000. Holyfield, 47, has not fought since losing on points to Nikolai Valuev in a WBA title fight in December 2008. The four-time world champion believes victory could earn him another shot at a more prestigious title. Holyfield's record stands at 47 wins and 10 losses, with two draws, and he has vowed to fight on until he regains a recognised version of the world heavyweight crown. Many fans and pundits felt he should have been awarded the decision against Valuev in Zurich, and the Russian has since lost his title to Britain's David Haye. South Africa's Botha (47-4 with 3 draws) has lost to former world champions Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko and Michael Moorer in the past. But he beat Ron Guerrero last February to claim the vacant WBF title and retained it with a split-decision win over Timo Hoffman in May. Britain's former Olympic super-heavyweight champion Audley Harrison held the WBF belt for several months in 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8436344.stm

Comments (20)

joe_strong

this fight will be watched by a few heavyweights like the klits & haye.80000 in Uganda to watch Holyfield vs Botha.Holyfield will get a shot at hayes or vitali if he wins.he's still a draw & the $ that could be made fighting Holyfield or local hero Botha in south Africa this summer during the world cup of soccer.lots of people there to see the tournament.not a bad place to hold a world title fight...I'm interested in this fight.whoever wins this fight could be involved in a big match in Africa later this year.

16y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

I wish Holyfield would just retire already, he gon get hurt one day! it doesn't matter. he's pretty screwed up already. he's not gonna be healthy in a few more years. he already deteriorated a lot.

16y ago

joe_strong

Evander came out of retirement fought some bums got a title shot and lost. Did nothing for a year and got another title shot, which he lost. He is now fighting Botha for a worthless belt and he now thinks he deserves another title shot? How can a guy get so many chances for losing fights and fighting nobodies? the wbf belt is the top belt on Africa.the ibo belt or the EU belt.it's like nabf or usba title.it's a regional belt.pierre coetzer,corrie sanders,Botha have worn it.Rahman too.

16y ago

Bad_Boy_Dazza

Thanks for the explanation guys.

16y ago

Adamantium

Holyfield’s name does not appear on documents, because the drugs in question were ordered by a patient named “Evan Fields,” whose birthday, Oct. 19, 1962, happens to coincide with Holyfield’s. (Fields’ listed address was “794 Evander, Fairfield, Ga.”) And when the SI reporters dialed the number listed on Evan Fields’ prescription, Holyfield answered the phone. http://grg51.typepad.com/steroid_nation/2007/03/the_evidence_ag.html

16y ago

Adamantium

Translation: I am a Tyson fan boy and he is the reason I got into the sport. When Evander proved millions wrong by KOing my hero and then my guy bit his ear off in the rematch, I started hating Evander like a bitter bitch. Dr. Margaret Goodman, now the chief ringside physician for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, told the SI reporters that back in 1994, when Holyfield evinced evidence of a heart defect follwing his loss to Michael Moorer, commission doctors believed the malady to be consistent with HGH use, but since Holyfield denied having used the substance they could not pursue the theory. http://grg51.typepad.com/steroid_nation/2007/03/the_evidence_ag.html Im also assuming you are trying to get yourself banned with the Bitter bitch comment.

16y ago

Adamantium

Get out of here man. Holyfield is no cheater and the headbutting thing was mainly drummed up by sore Tyson fan boys. Fact is, yes Evander used his head, so does Clottey, so does Bernard, Ali used to hold guys heads down, Floyd uses his elbows, Cotto throws low blows, etc etc etc But it can also be noted the amount of headclashes in that fight/s also stemmed from Tyson coming in low then launching up, and also recklessly charging in trying to kill Evander. Holyfield is one of those fighters where I cannot understand how anyone couldn't like him. Brave man is all I will say. Have you watched Holyfield-Toney? You get to see how Holyfield uses his head, literally. And as early as 1994 Margaret Goodman was questioning Holyfield about his heart condition, she believed it was due to long term use of hgh. Also back in 2007 he was caught buying HGH under the name Evan Fields

16y ago

Adamantium

i feel you. never liked holyfield either with his cheating and headbutting. Yeah I agree, at least with other dirty fighters like Hopkins they don't act like they are saints, but Evander is really something else. Playing the role of the righteous Christian while head butting his opponents, cheating and roiding since at least the early 90's. Have you seen Holyfield-Toney that was a Holyfield head butting clinic from about round 2 onwards.

16y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

Dudes going to be a complete mess later on in life, with all his wars and roids thats for sure. Never liked him after he beat by boy Tyson, cant forgive Holyfield for that. i feel you. never liked holyfield either with his cheating and headbutting.

16y ago

Adamantium

name recognition mostly. Dudes going to be a complete mess later on in life, with all his wars and roids thats for sure. Never liked him after he beat by boy Tyson, cant forgive Holyfield for that.

16y ago

jkaisen41

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8436344.stm 80,000... I love it... you know I love these big atmospheres simply... but both should really walk away... Holyfield has his dream but the way goes through the Klitschko's... no chance at this stage of his career... he would get hurt bad against both and his pride would probably stand in his way... he would get punished and I think nobody would want to see that... Botha was never that good to begin with... to believe he can do now something is beyond me... Why is it so hard for guys to walk away?

16y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

Evander came out of retirement fought some bums got a title shot and lost. Did nothing for a year and got another title shot, which he lost. He is now fighting Botha for a worthless belt and he now thinks he deserves another title shot? How can a guy get so many chances for losing fights and fighting nobodies? name recognition mostly. i don't even want to talk about title shots. sore subject for me.

16y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

How do they differentiate the main 4 titles from these fringe belts? I mean what's the difference? wbc , ibf and wba has been around long enough to establish themself. wbo got recognition a few years back. before that it was considered a minor title mostly held by european promoted fighters. ibo will probably be the next fringe belt to be considered a major belt if ever. everything else are minor fringe belts.

16y ago

Adamantium

16y ago

El_Cholo5954

How do they differentiate the main 4 titles from these fringe belts? I mean what's the difference? not by the year they were founded?

16y ago

Bad_Boy_Dazza

How do they differentiate the main 4 titles from these fringe belts? I mean what's the difference?

16y ago

El_Cholo5954

'cause he's a twat. good enough? yeah I suppose I think he is as well. I just don't think he dedicates himself enough to the sport.

16y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

main reason? 'cause he's a twat. good enough?

16y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

'cause he's shit? I always hated him, 'cause he was talented, but was a mental midget. At least Judah managed to win a world title :lol1: i just hate guys that get in the sport late. bugs me for some reason. like it makes me feel they're disrespecting the sport. i don't know why.

16y ago

El_Cholo5954

i hate audley. always have. main reason?

16y ago