Live Blog: Evander Holyfield TKOs Frans Botha in eighth round

By Brett Okamoto

Published Saturday, April 10, 2010 | 8 p.m.

Updated Saturday, April 10, 2010 | 8:39 p.m.

It wasn't a world title fight or in front of a packed house, but four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield proved he still knows how to box with an eighth-round TKO win over Frans Botha for the World Boxing Federation heavyweight title Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KO) got off to a slow start in his first Las Vegas fight since 2003, but found his groove in the sixth and seven rounds.

Relying on his counter punching abilities early on, Holyfield became the aggressor in the seventh round as a tiring Botha (47-5-3, 27 KO) began backing himself into the corner and leaving his hands down.

At that point, Holyfield knew the fight was his.

"The most important thing was that he was able to tangle me up," said Holyfield. "He's a smart fighter. He kept hanging back and I knew if I missed him with a right hand he could catch me. But all of a sudden in the sixth round, I knew he was winded and that I had an opportunity."

Botha took early control of the fight, although he was warned three times in the first three rounds for hitting Holyfield in the back of the head. Botha's punches were more accurate than Holyfield's at the start, and the crafty veteran continually tied up his opponent's arms to neutralize his counters.

Things quickly fell apart for the Botha in the seventh though, when he found himself in the corner numerous times and looked clearly out of breath on his way back to the corner.

The fight took its final turn in the next round, as Holyfield landed an early right hand that floored his opponent. Although Botha was able to get to his feet, he was a sitting duck the rest of the way, backing into the corner and trying to hide behind his hands.

The win snapped a two-fight skid for Holyfield and may open the door for the 47-year-old to continue fighting in Las Vegas.

Prior to Saturday's performance, Holyfield was granted just a one-fight license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to take on Botha. Dependent on how he did in that one fight, the NSAC would look into renewing the license.

Round One: Botha comes out with a left jab to start things off. Botha lands a straight right and Holyfield counters with a hard left. Botha threw hard coming out of a break and it looks like Holyfield thought it was a little late. Nice body shot lands for Botha. Botha beats Holyfield to the punch again, they clinch and now Botha has to be warned for an illegal punch to the back of his head. Botha gets another warning after throwing both hands around the side of Holyfield's head, an illegal punch. Despite the infraction, Botha takes the round.

Round Two: Holyfield utilizing a lot more footwork than Botha, who feels comfortable standing right in front of him. Holyfield nearly falls over as Botha gives him a push while he's in the middle of a combination. Holyfield leans in for a left jab to Botha's body. Nice left hook lands for Holyfield at the end of a flurry. Botha charges in with a left jab then a right hook to the body. He's the more accurate puncher so far. More body punches from Botha and Holyfields ties him up.

Round Three: Botha comes in looking for another body shot and Holyfield ties him up. Botha is again warned for a hit to the back of the head. Botha looks again for the body and Holyfield swings and misses on a big left hook. Same thing again, Botha starts the action, Holyfield misses with a big left hook. Good counter right this time for Holyfield. A better round for Holyfield ends.

Round Four: Holyfield again looking for that big left hook but so far it's just a bit off every time. Botha throws an overhand right and Holyfield clinches up. He's only looking to counter now, and he lands on e near the middle of the ring as Botha leaves his left side open when he throws an overhand right. Not a lot of significant punches landed there, slight edge to Holyfield.

Round Five: Botha throwing combinations and then clinching to prevent Holyfield from throwing a counter. Good left jab followed by a right from Holyfield. The crowd is very pro-Holyfield by the way. Only about an attendance of around 2,000 it looks like so it's pretty quiet. The only cheering is for Holyfield though. Botha continues to come in with two-punch combinations and then clinches to tie up any counters from Holyfield. Holyfield is trying to punch through them to the body but he's been pretty ineffective this round. Now crowd breaks into a 'Holyfield' chant and he answers them with a good straight right as the bell sounds.

Round Six: Holyfield rocks Botha in the opening seconds and looks to follow up with Botha's back on the ropes but Botha clinches up. Again Holyfield lets his hands go with Botha's back against the ropes and he weathers it and clinches again. Botha backs himself up against the corner and then comes forward with a body shot to get some space back. Holyfield lands a counter left that pushes Botha back. Best round of the night so far by either fighter. Botha backs up again to the corner and Holyfield lands a hard body shot before Botha ties him up. Botha goes in for a punch but Holyfield beats him to it with a right hook that he follows with a left. Botha seems a little hurt now and he backs himself up to the corner again. Nice right hand hits its mark for Holyfield. Round ends with another right hand for Holyfield, who has definitely found his rhythm halfway through the fight.

Round Seven: No question Botha took some shots in that last round but he's got a good chin. His face shows no worse for wear. Holyfield comes on the aggressive again immediately, throwing that right hand that Botha just barely avoids before tying him up. Nice left lands for Botha. Two good left hooks land for Holyfield on the clinch and Botha seems to be fading. He comes forward off the clinch and raises his right hand to touch gloves with Holyfield. Botha lands a left jab. Botha lands a left hook that's quickly answered with the same by Holyfield. Botha throws another overhand right but Holyfield punches straight through it and lands a direct straight left. Ten seconds to go and Holyfield lets his hands go, landing an overhand right at the end of the flurry to finish the round.

Round Eight: Holyfield eats a left jab and then throws a huge right hand that drops Botha for the first time tonight! Botha gets up and backs up to the corner. Holyfield comes on strong with a combination of straight hands and the referee has to step in. Holyfield takes it by TKO in the eighth round.

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected]. Also follow him on twitter: LVSunFighting.