Holyfield v Botha ''postponed''

This is from Uganda's 'Daily Monitor' newspaper:




Promoter Bazira defiant despite fight postponement


By Innocent Ndawula



Posted Monday, January 4 2010 at 00:00
In Summary
Speaking to Daily Monitor after some sections of the media indicated that the bout was up in the air after failing to get financial backers for the big bout, Bazira of Baltic Pro-Box Promotion calmed the storm.



Kampala

With the rumour mill doing its rounds that the World Boxing Federation (WBF) ‘world’ heavyweight title clash between champion Francois ‘White Buffalo’ Botha and ring legend Evander ‘Real Deal’ Holyfield will not ‘likely’ take off, promoter Eddie Bazira has quashed any such fears.

Speaking to Daily Monitor after some sections of the media indicated that the bout was up in the air after failing to get financial backers for the big bout, Bazira of Baltic Pro-Box Promotion calmed the storm.

He revealed that the postponement of the fight to a later date this month or early February was more of strategy rather than a panic situation. “Time was running out on us and we hadn’t yet marketed the fight well. This is not a small fight, we have to give it the publicity it deserves,” reasoned Bazira before adding.

“We are concluding with the sponsors this week, make posters, set a final date and make the show public. I fly out to New York next Thursday to meet Botha and Holyfield’s camp before finalising everything.” He also remarked that the fight had a big impact on the region and it would not suffer a low turn-up as many critics were purporting.

“Boxers have their fan bases all over the world. The entry fees will be worthwhile and not exorbitant. We estimate 80,000 people to turn up at Namboole Stadium. Already 20,000 people from South Africa have shown their interest in watching the fight and many more from Botha’s camp in Hamburg, Germany will likely make the trip here,” disclosed Bazira.

The fight postponement will also help Botha (47-4-3 (28 KO’s) and Holyfield 42-10-2 (27 KO’s) prepare adequately for the main bout dubbed ‘Beyond the Glory’.