Evander Holyfield Snags a Title
Written by Jason Keidel, Sunday April 11 2010
Extending the graybeard narrative that has become boxing, Evander Holyfield apparently ripped a page from George Foreman's cookbook and won one of the heavyweight division's alphabet titles Saturday night.
A week after Bernard Hopkins (45) defeated Roy Jones, Jr. (41) - with both men practically needing wheelchairs after the fight - Holyfield knocked out Frans Botha with 2:05 left in the eighth round in Las Vegas, according to The Associated Press.
With the win, Holyfield, 47, becomes the WBO champion. Botha, 41, beat referee Russell Mora's count, but the fight was stopped after the woozy fighter failed to stand straight. Botha (47-5-3) was gracious in defeat. "[Holyfield has] got the skills," he told AP. "He landed his shots. He's a true warrior. I don't feel ashamed losing to a great champion like him."
Holyfield (43-10-2) will not use the bout or the belt as a pristine sendoff to a legendary career. He wants more. "I'm going to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world," he said.
Retirement doesn't seem to be in a boxer's lexicon - at least until every medical body on the planet refuses to grant a fighter a license to fight. It seems to be Mr. Holyfield's fate.
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Big Jason! Great article bro! The line "...gray beard narrative that has become boxing..." made me laugh at its humor and cry at its truth...