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80,000 boxing fans will watch Holyfield's comeback bout

Updated on: 01 January,2010 07:50 AM IST |
AP |

Boxing fans will watch 47-year-old Holyfield Fight Botha on January 16

Boxing fans will watch 47-year-old Holyfield Fight Botha on January 16

Evander Holyfield will challenge Francois Botha for the lightly regarded WBF world heavyweight title in Uganda on January 16 in his latest bid to regain credibility as a big draw in the ring.

Organisers for the fight at Kampala's Nambole Stadium said yesterday that both boxers had signed contracts.

"I am very much looking forward to going to Uganda and I expect a tough fight against Francois Botha,"
Holyfield said. "I am going to win and I will cherish the WBF world title."

Holyfield (42-10 with 2 draws) has not fought since losing a points decision to Nikolai Valuev a year ago. The 47-year-old American, a former world cruiserweight and heavyweight champion, believes a victory could give him a shot at a more prestigious title.

He badly needs it. Holyfield twice faced foreclosure on his estate in suburban Atlanta over a default on a $10 million loan and, although his money woes have since eased, he has to get back to facing more credible opponents than Botha.

Holyfield has earned more than $200 million in the ring, including a reported $34 million for his second bout with Mike Tyson in 1997. That was the "Bite Fight" that ended with Tyson being disqualified for chewing off a chunk of Holyfield's ear.

Holyfield also beat Larry Holmes, lost two of his three contests with Riddick Bowe, drew with and then lost to Lennox Lewis and had a win-lose-draw sequence against John Ruiz.

Three defeats in a row to Chris Byrd, James Toney and Larry Donald accelerated his decline, and Holyfield was out of the ring for 21 months before returning in August 2006 to start a run of four straight wins.

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