Crown Boxing: Botha vs. Holyfield Undercard Announced

ByBoxing Press

A solid supporting undercard for Saturday night’s “The Legend Returns” pay-per-view event, headlined by 4-time world heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield challenging World Boxing Federation heavyweight title-holder Frans “The White Buffalo” Botha, has been announced by Crown Boxing.

Holyfield (42-10-2, 27 KOs), coming off of a controversial 12-round majority decision loss December 20, 2008 in Switzerland to then World Boxing Association champion Nicolai Valuev, takes on Botha (47-4-3, 28 KOs) in the 12-round main event at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Crown Boxing has been promoting solid shows six times a year in Las Vegas. Fans have come to expect competitive, entertaining fights at affordable prices, in an intimate atmosphere. Every fight counts on Crown Boxing’s cards and its rich tradition continues Saturday night, only headlined by the Holyfield-Botha title fight.

The scaled down (9,500 seats) Thomas & Mack Center insures great seats at affordable prices. The PPV price of $29.95 is much less than charged for most pay-per-view shows.

Award-winning broadcaster Al Bernstein will be calling the action from ringside, teaming with blow-by-blow announcer Trip Mitchell. “I’ve seen many of the undercard fighters on Crown Boxing shows before in exciting fights,” Bernstein commented.

“Since Frank Luca is one of the best matchmakers in boxing, I know there will be exciting fights this Saturday night. I think Holyfield-Botha will be very competitive and this is an excellent chance for people to see exciting fights at reasonable prices, on pay per view or in the arena. They will get an opportunity watch a legend in his final days in the sport and an exciting night of boxing.”

In the 10-round co-feature, Las Vegas cruiserweight Henry Namauu (5-3, 3 KOs), the former UNLV boxer and 2006 National Collegiate Cruiserweight Champion, meets dangerous Texan Rayford Johnson (5-4, 3 KOs). Former IBF cruiserweight champion “King” Arthur Williams (46-16-1, 30 KOs) tests unbeaten Utah prospect Valente Tinajero (8-0, 4 KOs) in a 6-round bout.

Also on the undercard in 4-round bouts is Las Vegas featherweight Rocco Santomauro (3-0) vs. Karl Hammer (1-2), Las Vegas super bantamweight Crystal Hoy (3-1-2, 2 KOs) vs. Jennifer Han (0-1-1), Detroit lightweight Joel Flores (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Jose Fernandez (1-1), St. Louis welterweight Lawrence Hughes (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. TBA, Las Vegas lightweight Jesus Gutierez (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Jonathan Garcia, and Phoenix super bantamweight Alexis Santiago (2-0-1, 1 KO) vs. Brice Yeniki (0-4). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $25.00, $75.00, $150.00 and $250.00, are available to purchase at www.UNLVtickets.com or by calling 702.739.3267.

Doors open at 4 PM/PT, first bout 4:30 PM/PT, and first PPV bout 6:00 PM/PT (9:00 PM/ET).

“The Legend Returns,” presented by Crown Boxing, is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.