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LAS VEGAS (Mar. 29, 2010) –
Reigning World Boxing Federation
heavyweight title-holder
Frans “The White Buffalo”
Botha was supposed to fight
4-time world heavyweight
champion Evander “The
Real Deal” Holyfield 12
years ago but boxing politics
eventually destroyed that
match-up.
More than a decade later,
though, Botha (47-4-3, 28 KOs)
will finally get his crack at
the living legend and future
Hall of Famer when he defends
his title belt April 10 against
Holyfield in the 12-round main
event, headlining “The Legend
Returns” pay-per-view event,
live at Thomas & Mack Center in
Las Vegas.
“The Legend Returns,” presented
by Crown Boxing, is being
distributed in the United States
and Canada by Integrated Sports
Media for live viewing at 9
PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable
and satellite pay-per-view via
iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH
Network, Avail-TVN, Viewer’s
Choice and Bell TV, for a
suggested retail price of only
$29.95.
In 1998, Botha was the No. 1
mandatory challenger and
Holyfield world champion.
Instead of getting his title
shot, Botha explained, he was
placed in a box-off that he
refused to fight in, sending him
from No. 1 to No. 11 in the
ratings, and Holyfield ended-up
fighting Vaughn Bean.
“God works in mysterious ways,”
Botha said. “(Promoter) Frank
(Luca – Crown Boxing) got me
Evander. We both have a lot of
experience and it’s going to be
a good fight. I know he’s going
to be right there and he’ll be
in good condition. This is a
chance for me to prove I still
got it. Holyfield is coming to
prove himself as well. If he
doesn’t beat me, he’s done, and
I’m going to make sure that this
is his last fight. I’m going to
retire him once and for all.”
The 47-year-old Holyfield
(42-10-2, 27 KOs) is coming off
of a controversial 12-round
majority decision loss December
20, 2008 in Switzerland to then
World Boxing Association
champion Nicolai Valuev that
most observers felt Holyfield
really won.
“He is a legend, take nothing
away from him,” Botha continued.
“He’s one of the all-time best,
a multiple world champion who
has fought the best heavyweights
in the world. I can’t ask for
anything better at this stage of
my career. It’s a big
opportunity. I have another 2-3
good years left to do some
damage in the heavyweight
division. All of my losses have
been to world champions (Mike
Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Michael
Moorer and Shannon Briggs) and
three of those fights never
should have been losses. A win
will put me right back in the
picture and I’d then I’d like to
fight Vitali Klitschko.”
Tickets, priced at $25.00,
$75.00, $150.00 and $250.00, are
available to purchase at
www.UNLVtickets.com
or by calling 702.739.3267.
Doors open at 4 PM/PT, first
bout 4:30 PM/PT, and first PPV
bout 6:00 PM/PT (9:00 PM/ET). Go
on line to
www.crown-boxing-inc.com
for additional information
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