When The Checks Stop Comng In: Evander Holyfield and His Old Self Gets Back in the Ring

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Looks like Evander Holyfield is trying to start 2010 off by making some paper:

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will challenge Francois Botha for the lightly regarded WBF title in Uganda on Jan. 16. Organizers of the fight in Kampala’s Nambole Stadium said on Thursday that both fighters had signed contracts. A turnout of about 80,000 fans was predicted. “I am very much looking forward to going to Uganda and I expect a tough fight against Francois Botha,” Holyfield said. “I am going to win and I will cherish the WBF world title.”

Holyfield (42-10-2) has not fought since losing a points decision to Nikolai Valuev a year ago. The 47-year-old American, also a former cruiserweight champion, believes a victory could give him a shot at a more prestigious title that would allow him to achieve his goal of retiring as a heavyweight champion. Holyfield has earned more than $200 million in the ring, including a reported $34 million for his second bout with Mike Tyson in 1997. That was the “Bite Fight” that ended with Tyson being disqualified for chewing off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear. Holyfield’s last two fights were losses to Sultan Ibragimov and then to Valuev, a majority decision he disputed. Since then, Ibragimov has retired and Valuev surrendered his WBA title to David Haye.

Botha (47-4-3) has lost to Tyson, Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko and Michael Moorer, but retained his WBF title by drawing with Pedro Carrion of Cuba in Germany in October. “I have always been my own harshest critic. My performance against Carrion, without making any excuses, was arguably the worst of my career,” the South African said. “Expect the fittest, toughest and best ever — and extremely serious — Francois Botha in Uganda in January. I owe my fans and members of Team Botha the performance of my life. I intend to make good on that.”

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