Sporting Digest: Boxing

FRANK MALONEY, manager of the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis, said yesterday that he was 'very optimistic' that a unification fight against Evander Holyfield will happen in April or May.

RIDDICK BOWE'S first fight since losing his WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles to Evander Holyfield last month will be against South Africa's Francois Botha on 5 February in Las Vegas. Botha is unbeaten in 29 professional fights.