by James Slater – It’s perhaps fitting that 47-year-old Evander Holyfield and 41-year-old Frans Botha will clash on January 16th next year, for exactly 20 years (and one day) ago on that very date, two other veteran heavyweights met in a bout that was perceived as nothing much more than a “fun” fight. George Foreman, then 41, and Gerry Cooney, then a mere lad of 33, are the two big names who clashed in Atlantic City, and their fight was somewhat sarcastically dubbed “Two Geezers At Caesars..”
“The Real Deal” and “The White Buffalo” are set to square off in Uganda, at The Nelson Mandela Memorial Stadium, and it’s anyone’s guess what sort of taglines this fight will get. However, as much as there will surely be no shortage of fans who either laugh or squirm when looking at Botha-Holyfield, there is a chance the fight could be a decent one to watch – just like Foreman Vs. Cooney was all those years ago.
See, there’s nothing too wrong with veteran fighters fighting, as long as they’re evenly matched. Holyfield and Botha are evenly matched. And, face it, you wouldn’t feel confident enough to put much money on your pick for the winner, would you?
Holyfield, 42-10-2(27) might have a little more left than Botha, but as he’s been out of action for almost a year (since his close points loss to Nikolai Valuev in Switzerland just prior to Christmas last year) we can’t be sure. But while Botha, 47-4-3(28) has been active – having fought three times this year without defeat – he struggled and barely escaped with a draw last time out, when he drew over 12 with little-known Pedro Carrion of Cuba.
Neither former four time heavyweight titlist Holyfield or former three time heavyweight title challenger Botha are hard to hit these days, and as such there could be some decent action on January 16th. Always well conditioned, even at age 47 and after having had over 25 years in the sport, Holyfield still looks the part; far more than does Botha.
Weighing-in at a hefty-looking 252.5-pounds for his last fight, Botha’s days of looking like a primed and fit athlete have passed (if Botha ever looked great physically, it must be said). But impressive or unimpressive physiques aside, Botha is a tough man and he will likely come right out blazing away at Holyfield. Could Botha, the younger man by six years, even be the more motivated fighter of the two veterans?
Scheduled for 12-rounds, and with the lightly regarded WBF heavyweight title that belongs to Botha being on the line, the battle of the relics could attract a big crowd and also a fair T.V audience. Very much having the feel of a curiosity fight, or, we hope, a fun fight, next year’s bout won’t go unnoticed, that’s for sure.
Bottom line, fans are suckers for the heavyweights; even when they’re as old and faded as Holyfield and Botha.