Holyfield could return to Las Vegas ring

It has been more than six years since former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield fought in Las Vegas.

On Oct. 4, 2003, he was stopped by James Toney in the ninth round at Mandalay Bay. Now, at age 47, Holyfield (42-10-2, 27 knockouts) wants to return to Las Vegas, and Crown Boxing’s Frank Luca is trying to match him against Frans Botha, another fighter well past his prime.

Luca has set aside April 17 for a possible Holyfield-Botha fight, one he wants to put on pay per view at a Las Vegas site to be determined. They were to fight Saturday in Uganda, but the fight was canceled because of financial issues.

“I’m convinced if he (Holyfield) has anything left he can make a good showing,” Luca said. “I’ve been good friends with (Holyfield’s manager) Ken Sanders for a long time, and I’ve known Evander for years.

“There’s always hurdles to clear with every fight. But we’re working on it, and we hope to have something official to announce soon.”

One hurdle is Holyfield’s recent activity in the ring. He has lost five of his last nine fights, the latest on Dec. 20 when he dropped a 12-round majority decision to WBA heavyweight champion Nikolav Valuev in Switzerland.

“I saw that fight, and I thought he fought well enough to win, and so did a lot of people whose opinions in boxing I respect,” Luca said. “He impressed me enough that I was willing to pursue this fight with Botha.”

The other major hurdle is Holyfield’s health. He has submitted the results of most of the extensive medical tests the Nevada Athletic Commission requires for fighters age 35 and older.

Those tests showed nothing that would prevent the process of granting Holyfield a license from moving forward, executive director Keith Kizer said.

“The medicals that have come in so far are satisfactory according to our doctors,” Kizer said. “Ultimately, it’s up to the commission to decide whether (Holyfield) fights here.”

■ PARTING WAYS — Luca has ended his relationship with Oliver McCall, who was arrested Feb. 13 on cocaine possession charges in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

McCall, 44, was scheduled to fight Zuri Lawrence on Tuesday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Luca let McCall out of his contract to fight in his native Florida, but with McCall’s subsequent arrest, Luca said he is moving on.

“When it comes to drugs, I’m old school,” Luca said. “I can’t have someone fighting for me who is involved with narcotics.”

McCall (54-9, 37 KOs), a former WBC world heavyweight champion, had fought three times in 2009 for Luca at The Orleans, winning all three, including the IBA intercontinental heavyweight title against John Hopoate on May 22.

■ VARGAS TESTS POSITIVE — Manuel Vargas won’t be fighting in Nevada anytime soon after the super flyweight tested positive for the painkiller Hydrocodone following his third-round knockout loss to Nonito Donaire on Feb. 13 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Vargas, a last-minute replacement for Gerson Guerrero, eventually will have to appear before the commission and probably will receive a suspension and fine. Vargas made $10,000 for his fight against Donaire.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.