State clears Holyfield, 47, to fight Botha

Evander Holyfield has been approved to fight in Nevada, and the 47-year-old ex-champion is scheduled to fight Fran Botha in Las Vegas on April 17.

Holyfield, a four-time heavyweight champion, was granted a license Monday by the Nevada Athletic Commission. The fight will be his first in the state since 2003 when he was knocked out by James Toney in the ninth round at Mandalay Bay.

The commission voted 4-1 in Holyfield’s favor. Skip Avansino voted against approval.

Avansino said he was concerned that Holyfield (42-10-2) has lost five of his last nine fights. However, other commissioners were convinced Holyfield’s health is not at risk based on his most recent fight, a 12-round loss to WBA champion Nikolai Valuev by majority decision Dec. 20 in Switzerland.

"He cleared a big hurdle," said promoter Frank Luca of Crown Boxing, which is putting on Holyfield-Botha and is expected to announce the venue Wednesday. "You never know in these situations what the commission’s thinking. But the doctors cleared him and there’s no reason he can’t fight."

Speaking by teleconference, Holyfield told the commission he is in good condition and still capable of competing at a high level despite his age.

"I still have my hand speed," he said. "I’m a busy fighter. I feel great."

Dr. Timothy Trainor, a consulting physician for the commission, gave Holyfield the green light, but Avansino remained unconvinced.

"I can’t believe his conditioning has gotten better in the last five years," he said. "I would want the medical advisory board to look into his neurological condition."

Trainor said neurological and cardiological tests, conducted within the past three weeks, revealed no problems.

"From a medical standpoint, he’s cleared to fight," Trainor said.

Commission executive director Keith Kizer said having Holyfield fight the 41-year-old Botha at this stage of his career is far different than putting him in the ring against someone like one of the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir or Vitali.

"There are fighters I wouldn’t want to see (Holyfield) fight," Kizer said. "But (Botha) is not one of them. And the same is true for Mr. Botha as it pertains to Mr. Holyfield."

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