Holyfield and Botha to fight in Uganda

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by hmi, Dec 31, 2009.


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  1. hmi

    hmi Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Holyfield just don't know when to retire.


    KAMPALA, Uganda (AP)—Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will challenge Francois Botha for the lightly regarded WBF title in Uganda on Jan. 16.

    Organizers of the fight in Kampala’s Nambole Stadium said on Thursday that both fighters had signed contracts. A turnout of about 80,000 fans was predicted.

    “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 (42-10-2) has not fought since losing a points decision to Nikolai Valuev a year ago. The 47-year-old American, also a former cruiserweight champion, believes a victory could give him a shot at a more prestigious title that would allow him to achieve his goal of retiring as a heavyweight champion.

    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.

    Holyfield’s last two fights were losses to Sultan Ibragimov and then to Valuev, a majority decision he disputed. Since then, Ibragimov has retired and Valuev surrendered his WBA title to David Haye.

    Botha (47-4-3) has lost to Tyson, Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko and Michael Moorer, but retained his WBF title by drawing with Pedro Carrion of Cuba in Germany in October.

    “I have always been my own harshest critic. My performance against Carrion, without making any excuses, was arguably the worst of my career,” the South African said.

    “Expect the fittest, toughest and best ever—and extremely serious— Francois Botha in Uganda in January. I owe my fans and members of Team Botha the performance of my life. I intend to make good on that.”


    Source
     
    hmi, Dec 31, 2009
    hmi, Dec 31, 2009
    #1
  2. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Every aspect of this sentence is sad. :verysad
     
    My2Sense, Dec 31, 2009
    My2Sense, Dec 31, 2009
    #2
  3. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    This is the saddest match-up in recent memory really.
     
    Boxed Ears, Dec 31, 2009
    Boxed Ears, Dec 31, 2009
    #3
  4. BOGART

    BOGART Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It will actually get worse if Holyfield wins and uses that as a springboard to another title shot where he gets decapitated by a Klitschko.
     
    BOGART, Dec 31, 2009
    BOGART, Dec 31, 2009
    #4
  5. hmi

    hmi Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It's really weird if they are about to fight in a few days but the contract is not yet signed.
     
    hmi, Dec 31, 2009
    hmi, Dec 31, 2009
    #5
  6. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    I agree. Holyfield is completely delusional and beating Botha will bolster that.
     
    Boxed Ears, Dec 31, 2009
    Boxed Ears, Dec 31, 2009
    #6
  7. motownsiu

    motownsiu Boxing Addict Full Member

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    who would have thought ten years ago, that tyson would be at peace with himself and live a simple peaceful life and completely satisfied leaving the ring and is no longer a circus act, but evander is the total opposite.
     
    motownsiu, Dec 31, 2009
    motownsiu, Dec 31, 2009
    #7
  8. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Something metaphysical must have happened during their fights. Some kind of switching, from osmosis during a headbutt or the sacred blood from ear to mouth. It's like voodoo really.
     
    Boxed Ears, Dec 31, 2009
    Boxed Ears, Dec 31, 2009
    #8
  9. Imperial1

    Imperial1 VIP Member Full Member

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    Imperial1, Dec 31, 2009
    Imperial1, Dec 31, 2009
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  10. TerryESB

    TerryESB The Final Boss Full Member

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    I am worried about Holyfield getting robbed, fighting Botha in his homeland of Africa. We need to watch closely what these judges do.
     
    TerryESB, Jan 1, 2010
    TerryESB, Jan 1, 2010
    #10
  11. Atlanta

    Atlanta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Its Uganda, this is pretty big **** over there. By the way, isn't this the country stoning gay people to death?
     
    Atlanta, Jan 1, 2010
    Atlanta, Jan 1, 2010
    #11
  12. TheExecutioner

    TheExecutioner New Member Full Member

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    Holyfield will actually win this,hopefully once he has got his 5th heavyweight title he can then give it up and retire.
     
    TheExecutioner, Jan 1, 2010
    TheExecutioner, Jan 1, 2010
    #12
  13. CottoDaBodykill

    CottoDaBodykill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    LMAO and you watch too .. he'll claim that belt as a world title .. this is his ticket out!
     
    CottoDaBodykill, Jan 1, 2010
    CottoDaBodykill, Jan 1, 2010
    #13
  14. hmi

    hmi Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Another weird thing is that Botha is actually from South Africa and his residence is now in California. I wonder why they are popular in Uganda.
     
    hmi, Jan 1, 2010
    hmi, Jan 1, 2010
    #14
  15. london2k

    london2k Guest

    I know it sounds sick, but I am actually curious to see this fight. And why not, golf fans still like watching the Seniors Tour. Seeing Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus play each other as older men, even though neither can compete with the younger players, is still fun.

    And I wouldn't write off Botha in this one. He still has a few sneaky skills, and has been in many fewer wars than Holyfield over the years.

    I guess in Uganda ANYTHING qualifies as a big event, and they will certainly have all heard of Holyfield, though I doubt many would know who Botha is, as he's from South Africa, which is a LONG way from Uganda...and Botha was never a household word, to say the least. Still, if you accept the concept of a Seniors Tour in boxing, which admittedly is a big "if", it's an interesting matchup.

    But would either one take a belt off one of the Kits? Not one chance in a hundred. Holyfield could have a very long shot against Wlad......one good punch and all that. Botha? Never, he doesn't have the one punch it would take to KO even the shaky Wlad.
     
    london2k, Jan 1, 2010
    london2k, Jan 1, 2010
    #15
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