Boxing

The South African heavyweight Francois Botha, in his first bout since he lost to Michael Moorer in an International Boxing Federation title last November, won the vacant World Boxing Association North American title after scoring a 10th-round knock-out over James Stanton in Coconut Grove, Florida. Botha may next face the World Boxing Council champion, Britain's Lennox Lewis.

On the same card, the Russian Orzubek Nazarov defended his WBA lightweight title for the sixth time with a seventh-round knock-out of Leavander Johnson. And the American William Joppy retained his WBA middleweight belt with a unanimous decision over Peter Venancio of Brazil. The WBA junior featherweight champion, Antonio Cermeno of Venezuela, defended his title for the third time, with a unanimous decision over Angel Chacon of Puerto Rico.