In a bout broadcast by per-per-view from Las Vegas, Nevada, Evander Holyfield won a share of the heavyweight championship for the fifth time by winning the vacant World Boxing Federation Heavyweight title with an eighth round knockout over Francois Botha. Holyfield weighed 220, Botha 250. Botha won the first two rounds by manhandling Holyfield, landing hooks on the inside and constantly tying him up. Holyfield began scoring in the second with with counter lefts, and appeared to win rounds three, four and five by landing counter rights over the Botha right, but the rounds appeared very close. Holyfield won rounds six and seven with frequent flurries, particularly later in these rounds, which eventually wore Botha down. Holyfield knocked down Botha with a powerful right hand at 0:24 of the eighth. Botha beat the count. Holyfield stayed on top of Botha after the knockdown and continued hitting Botha until referee Russell Mora stopped the contest at 2:05. It appeared that the excess weight began to slow Botha down after the sixth round, leaving him more susceptible to getting hit, a fact noted by Holyfield in the post fight interview with Al Bernstein. Holyfield also stated in the post fight interview that he continued to improve as a fighter at age 47, and that he intended to fight again. Botha was warned for double hitting Holyfield's head in the first, and hitting behind the head in rounds two and three. 2200 fans were in attendance for the bout, with ticket sales picking up close to fight time. Two judges had the bout 67-66 for Botha, while the third judge had the bout 69-64 for Holyfield, the bout still close by the scoring going into the eighth. Before the bout began, a moment of silence and the 'ringing of the bell' was observed for boxing referee Arthur Mercante Sr., who died earlier in the day at age 90.