It looks like Evander Holyfield's quest to become a 5-time heavyweight world champion will continue after stopping Francois Botha in the 8th round at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout was extremely close. At times, Holyfield looked hesitant to pull the trigger as Botha got into a pattern of landing a quick 1-2 before holding on. Midway through the fight, however, Holyfield finally turned up the heat, letting his hands go and landing big shots on a fatiguing Botha. Check out all the action in FightHype's round-by-round results.
ROUND 1
Botha lands an overhand right to start the bout. Holyfield bouncing up and down on his toes. Another right hand over the top lands for Botha. Holyfield lands a jab to the body. HARD right hand to the body lands for Botha. Holyfield digs some shots to the body in the clinch. Both lands a double punch, similar to what Pacquiao did to Clottey, in the clinch. Holyfield answers with a left hook. A little roughhousing on the inside by Botha. Holyfield lands a left hook to the body and a left upstairs. Botha lands another illegal blow to the back of the head in the clinch. Round to Botha.
Holyfield 9 Botha 10
ROUND 2
Holyfield charges out and lands a quick combo. Botha answers with a right hand. Holyfield lands a nice left hook upstairs. Holyfield lands a right, but he eats a right in return from Botha. Holyfield staggers backwards off balance. Botha outworking him on the inside. Holyfield lands a nice right hand down the middle. Botha sticks a jab in his face. Left hook lands for Holyfield and Botha holds on. Another hard overhand right lands for Holyfield. Close round, but I give it to Holyfield.
Holyfield 19 Botha 19
ROUND 3
Holyfield pressing forward. Botha getting into a pattern of landing a quick 1-2 and then holding on. Another rabbit punch lands for Botha and he gets a warning from the ref. Holyfield digs some shots to the body. Short left hook lands for Botha. 1-2 from Botha misses and he holds on. Left hook to the body lands for Botha. Another. Right hand lands for Botha upstairs. Holyfield finally answers with a 1-2 that backs Botha up. Right to the body lands for Holyfield. Botha lands a right down the middle just as the bell rings. Round to Botha.
Holyfield 28 Botha 29
ROUND 4
Holyfield presses forward behind his jab. Both lands a right over the top. 1-2 lands for Holyfield. Both digs a 1-2 to the body and holds on. Holyfield lands a left hook. 1-2 to the body lands for Holyfield. Botha lands a right to the body. They wrestle on the inside. They trade right hands. Close round, but I give it to Holyfield for landing some bigger shots.
Holyfield 38 Botha 38
ROUND 5
Again, Botha throws a 1-2 and then looks to hold on. Holyfield looks like he's getting frustrated. Overhand right lands for Botha. Right hand down the middle lands for Holyfield. Hard right hand to the body lands for Botha. Another nice right hand lands for Botha upstairs. Holyfield is reaching in with his left. Nice right hand down the middle lands for Botha. Another right lands for Botha. Round to Botha.
Holyfield 47 Botha 48
ROUND 6
Holyfield turns up the heat as he presses forward and lands a nice combination. Botha backs up looking to counter. Uppercut lands for Botha on the inside. More wrestling on the inside. Right hand lands for Holyfield. Botha holds on. Botha lands that overhand right again. Hard right to the body lands for Holyfield. Botha lands the right again. Holyfield backs him up to a corner and lands a 1-2. Nice right hand lands for Holyfield to end the round. Round to Holyfield.
Holyfield 57 Botha 57
ROUND 7
Holyfield continues to turn up the pressure. Botha lands a left and holds on. Nice left hook lands for Holyfield on the inside. Another. Jab lands for Botha. They trade left hooks. Botha looks like he's getting really fatigued in there. They trade jabs. Botha holds on. Overhand right lands for Botha, but Holyfield walks right through it. Left hand lands for Holyfield. Holyfield unleashes a nice combination at the end of the round. Round to Holyfield.
Holyfield 67 Botha 66
ROUND 8
Holyfield still turning up the heat. Jab lands for Botha. HUGE right hand lands for Holyfield and Botha is down. He's up but he looks shaky. Holyfield jumps on him and lands a series of right hands. That's it. It's over.
Holyfield TKO8
THE WINNER BY WAY OF TKO AT :55 OF ROUND 8...EVANDER HOLYFIELD
Post Fight Press Conference Quotes
Evander Holyfield: "People talk and you act like it doesn't bother you when they call you old and senile. I've been telling people since 1992 when I lost to Riddick Bowe that I was going to be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I won 2, but not the third. It's never been about money. I was brought up poor and never had anything. I was taught to have goals and to never quit.
"Botha gave me an opportunity. People talk about my legacy. It's about who you've fought. They can't deny me; I fight the best. I always want to fight somebody to get a little credit if I beat 'em. When I decided to come back, it wasn't because I'm the type that says he's one of the best. This is a new era and I didn't think I'd be in this era. I was laughing a little when I fought George Foreman. He was 42 and I was 29. I really didn't want to fight him. He didn't beat me, but he did become world champion again. What I learned from that fight was George said it wasn't about age, but that I will give my all.
"You can't let people tell you what you can do. I fight because I want to. I wouldn't be the person I am without opportunities."
Frans Botha: "I'm honored to fight in Las Vegas and to fight a great champion. Evander Holyfield is the real deal, a true champion and warrior. I can't feel ashamed to lose to a great champion. I think he's going to rule again. He has the skill, power and determination, everything to get that title again."
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