KAMPALA, South Africa (AFP) — Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will fight South Africa’s Francois Botha here on February 20, promoters told AFP yesterday.

“We have been in contact with Holyfield’s people for months and while the fight was scheduled to take place in January, we had some delays because of the festive season,” Eddie Bazira of Uganda’s Baltic Pro Box Promotions Group said.

“But the date is February 20. Everything has come into place,” he said, adding that the showdown would be an official title bout for the WBF heavyweight crown.

Bazira said his group learned that Holyfield, 47, was interested in fighting in Africa and made a proposal to his representatives a year ago.

“He’s hungry for a title, so we convinced him along that line,” he said.

Holyfield, who is outspoken about his Evangelical Christian faith, will likely be fighting in front of a sympathetic crowd, as Uganda is home to a rapidly expanding Evangelical community.

“The church is going to be a huge force in promoting this fight,” said ‘ Jackson Mugisha, Baltic’s country manager.

Kampala’s Mandela National Stadium can hold up to 100,000 people, depending on how the ring is configured, and Bazira said he anticipates a sellout.

Holyfield had been slated to fight Ethiopian-born Sammy Retta in Addis Ababa last year but the bout was postponed several times.