Evander Holyfield beats Frans Botha to take WBF title in Las Vegas

Evander Holyfield stopped Frans Botha in the eighth round to win the World Boxing Federation heavyweight title in Las Vegas last night. It was the former four-times heavyweight champion's first fight in 16 months. Holyfield, 47, downed the 41-year-old Botha with a right hook early in the eighth and although his South African opponent managed to return to his feet the referee, Russell Mora, later stopped the fight Holyfield had been behind on two judges' cards, 67-66, when Mora halted the bout, while the third judge had it 69-64 for Holyfield. Holyfield said he would seek more title fights. "I'm going to be the undisputed world heavyweight champion," he said.