| |
|
THE "REAL DEAL" HOLYFIELD TAMES THE "WHITE BUFFALO" BOTHA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Mon, 12 Apr 2010
 Botha down on the canvas.
Former four-time world heavyweight champion Evander ?The Real Deal? Holyfield tamed World Boxing Federation champion Francois ?The White Buffalo? Botha and stopped him in the eighth round of a interesting battle before a mere 2,000 fans at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The crowd was a reflection of how the heavyweight division has lost its glamour and what boxing fans feel about ageing warriors continuing to fight which was best illustrated in the boring clash between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr which did more to hurt the sport than lift it up.
Botha started strong and connected with some solid shots but Holyfield who was looking to counter began to turn things around in the fifth round and started nailing the big South African with telling combinations in the sixth and hurt him in the seventh round.
In the eighth round Holyfield dropped Botha with a huge right hand and although the WBF champion Botha beat the count, the 47 year old Holyfield went after Botha and hammered him almost at will before referee Russel Mora jumped in and called a halt at :55 seconds of the round.
In a post-fight interview Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KO) said Botha (47-5-3, 28 KO?s) was a very good defensive fighter and ?a smart fighter too. His right hand had a lot of power and he?s also a very quick big man.?
Emphasizing that he knows he can get better, Holyfield who gave himself a 7 on a scale of 10 for his performance said he wants to come back soon while Botha praised Holyfield for being ?a great fighter? and indicated h e would go home and discuss his future with his team.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara , Fri, 06 Feb 2026Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES , Fri, 06 Feb 2026Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ , Fri, 06 Feb 2026Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026“Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj , Thu, 05 Feb 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO MAKES ITS PRUDENTIAL CENTER DEBUT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18 , Thu, 05 Feb 2026Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS) By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE , Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco , Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories , Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53 , Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7 By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON , Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General , Tue, 03 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|