HOLYFIELD RALLIES TO STOP BOTHA IN 8!

Wins first bout since June 2007...

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(From Associated Press)

47-year-old Holyfield stops Botha in 8th

LAS VEGAS — Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield stopped Frans Botha in the eighth round on Saturday night.

The 47-year-old Holyfield (43-10-2) knocked the 41-year old Botha (47-5-3) down with 2:36 left in the round with a right to the left chin.

Botha beat referee Russell Mora's count, but with 2:05 left Mora stopped the fight with Botha backed into a corner. It was Holyfield's 28th career knockout.

Two judges had Botha ahead 67-66 when the fight was stopped. The other judge had it 69-64 for Holyfield, the former heavyweight champion.

There were only about 2,200 people in the stands at the Thomas & Mack Center, most rooting for Holyfield.

Holyfield briefly lost his balance, stumbling into a corner after a right from Botha with 2:04 left in the second round. After that, Holyfield started taking control.

Botha, a native South African, was warned by the referee twice in the first three rounds for hitting behind the head. Botha also was warned in the first round for a double hit to the head during a clinch.

This was Holyfield's first fight in Las Vegas since 2003, when he lost to James Toney at Mandalay Bay.

Before Saturday Holyfield was only 10-6 in Las Vegas, including the infamous ear-biting incident against Mike Tyson in 1997, when he won by disqualification.