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24.12.2009:
The World Boxing Federation ‘world’ heavyweight title clash
between champion Francois ‘White Buffalo’ Botha and ring
legend Evander ‘Real Deal’ Holyfield, announced to take
place in the Ugandan capital of Kampala on Jan. 16, seems now
likely to be postponed. Fight Production manager Olaf Schroeder,
whose company holds the promotional rights on Botha together
with SES Boxing, confirmed that the financial backers are now
more than three weeks overdue with the agreed advance payment
for both boxers. Consequently, the South African title holder
has not started serious sparring, awaiting further news from
Uganda.
“I trust that promoter Eddie Bazira is really trying his best
down in Kampala to get things sorted with the backers, but a
contract is a contract and we can hardly expect Botha and
Holyfield to continue serious preparations until everything is
in place,” said Schroeder.
However, he also confirmed that Fight Production and SES Boxing
will not yet pull the plug over Botha’s participation in the
historic event, planned for the Nelson-Mandela-Memorial-Stadium:
“It’s still a great fight for both and we are definately willing
to give Mr. Bazira some more time to organize the funds to pay
for it. Just that January 16 as a date is out of question now,
because both Francois and Evander need more than three weeks to
get ready for it.”
In his last fight, Botha, 47-4-3 (28 KO’s), retained his title
for the second time, but disappointed in drawing with Cuban
Pedro Carrion in Germany in October, while Holyfield, 42-10-2
(27 KO’s), lost decisions in both his last two outings for the
WBO respectively WBA championships. |
