By James Slater: Whether we like it or not, we’d better get used to the fact that 48-year-old Evander Holyfield (49 in October) is not going anywhere near retirement any time soon. We’ve all heard the rumours about how the former four-time heavyweight king will be the first challenger for new “regular” WBA champ Alexander Povetkin, and in a recent interview with Ringtv.com, “The Real Deal” confirmed how he is negotiating with Sauerland Promotions about the fight.
Holyfield also informed the web site of The Bible of Boxing that he will first take an October 22nd return fight with Frans Botha.
“They [Sauerland] were asking me about fighting Povetkin, but I told them I couldn’t get too far ahead of myself because I‘m still fighting in October,” Holyfield told Ringtv.com. “We’ll just have to see what’s going on after October. I’m just taking one fight at a time.”
Holyfield met and defeated Botha back in April of last year in Las Vegas, scoring an 8th-round TKO. But Holyfield didn’t have things his own way prior to the stoppage he scored. Behind on points according to two of the three judges going into the 8th, Evander looked a faded force indeed; which of course he certainly is. Botha has craved a shot at revenge ever since, and as bad as Holyfield looked in his two subsequent fights, with Sherman Williams and Brian Nielsen respectively, maybe “The White Buffalo” will be able to derail Holyfield’s possible fight with Povetkin.
Botha, six years younger than Holyfield at age 42, is coming off a decent stoppage win over the up-and-coming 21-year-old Flo Simba. Maybe, just maybe, Botha has more left in the tank than does “The Warrior?”
But if Botha did defeat Holyfield (in South Africa on Oct. 22nd – the talked-of date and venue for the rematch) and ruin Evander’s shot at Povetkin in the process, would the fans be too bothered? In truth, though Holyfield says he sees nothing too much to worry about in Russia’s Povetkin, most fans feel the ageing legend would lose once again. And another embarrassing night is the last thing fans want to see their hero go through. Maybe, if Botha beats Holyfield, we will be spared Povetkin “defending” against the former cruiserweight ruler.
That way, Povetkin could get on with fighting a far more credible, deserving contender instead.