/ 7 December 1998

Tyson to fight Botha in January

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Sunday 9.00pm.

NOTORIOUS heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson will fight for the first time in nearly 19 months on January 16 when he makes his return to heavyweight boxing against South Africa’s Francois Botha.

The return, however, might be short-lived as Tyson may be headed back to prison after he allegedly assaulted two men after a traffic accident near Wahington in late August.

The fight is set to be held at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas where Tyson fought most times during his comeback after serving a three-year prison sentence for rape.

Tyson this time makes his return after being banned for biting Evander Holyfield in the ring in June of last year. Tyson was reinstated in October.

The fight was promoted during a boxing telecast Saturday, and details are expected to be announced next week in Los Angeles.

THEY SAID IT

“Indeed, there were so many cries of ‘Come on Tiger’ that I felt like pointing out at times that I was supposed to be the home town boy they were cheering on.”

“When you’re both playing well like we were, you sort of feed off each other and pull each other along. I just felt a bit sort of staid at times playing with Tiger because he is so emotional and it is lovely to watch him make putts then punch the air with the enthusiasm he has for whatever he does. The crowd just loves it.”

— Zimbabwean golfer Nick Price after winning the Sun City Million Dollar championship on Sunday after a playoff with world nummmber-one Tiger Woods.

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