I guess they'll advertise this one like Rocky IV like they did his fight with Iggy. Amazing. Maybe Holy will win this one. He'll hold training camp with BHop and learn some of his acting skills for longevity (see Calzaghe ball-breaker for details). Oh well..I may as well say it again.....GO HOLYFIELD!
...I don't know about this thing being allowed, But if it's on then it's on... I'm rolling with Holy until he's gone.
This is clearly yet another black eye to the credibility of the sport. How the hell is this possible. This is a complete joke, Holyfield was considered semi-retired since his fight with Ibragimov a year ago and now all over sudden at age 46! he resurfaces to fight a 300 pound guy. Although Valuev is not known as a hard puncher, fighting against such a freak of nature means taking huge risks especially given Holyfields age. Don't get me wrong, I always have been a fan of the real deal but him taking such risks at this stage of his career is just unneccessary. There is nothing left to prove for this all-time great warrior. I also don't understand Valuev handlers, if they were looking for a recognizable ex-champ they could have chosen other options like: Moorer or Toney for example.
After how mediocre Holy looked vs Savaresse (sp) and the schooling he got vs Sultan I am surprised some are picking him to win. I expect Valuev to beat him badly, and most likely stop an exhausted Evander late. If Toney tired him out then the giant's long jabs and right hands, plus his physical bullying of Evander while have the old man dead tired.
[url]http://www.boxingnews24.com/2008/10/holyfield-accepts-offer-to-fight-valuev-for-wba-title-latest-boxing-news/[/url] By Eric Thomas: According to Dan Rafael of ESPN, four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (42-9-2, 27 KOs) is going to get yet another shot at a heavyweight title, this time against WBA heavyweight title holder Nikolay Valuev in a title shot on December 20th. The location isn’t known at this time, but it will probably take place in Germany where Valuev, 35, fights most of his bouts. Holyfield reportedly hasn’t yet signed the contract for the fight but is having his attorney review it, according to ESPN. If Holyfield does end up taking the fight, which is very likely, he will be 46 by then, making him one of the oldest title challengers of all time. He hasn’t fought since losing a one-sided decision to WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov last October. It would seem almost beyond belief that Holyfield would be given another shot considering he’s not fought in a year, and has done nothing to deserve a shot at a title. Six years ago, in December 2002, Holyfield also lost in a title bid against Chris Byrd for the vacant IBF title, getting beaten easily by Byrd in another one-sided decision loss. It’s been an incredible seven years since Holyfield last held a title, losing his WBA heavyweight title after only one fight, getting beaten by John Ruiz in March 2001. Holyfield, a medium sized heavyweight at 6′2″, no matter what his age, would be at a huge size disadvantage against the 7-foot Valuev. Although Holyfield has a lot of prior experience fighting large super heavyweights like Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe, both 6′5″, Holyfield didn’t fare particularly well against either, though he did get two wins out of his many match-ups with them. However, against Valuev, who is much bigger than either of them, albeit much slower as well, Holyfield would be at a significant disadvantage in the fight. Beyond the size problem, though, Holyfield’s age is probably the biggest factor that will keep him from doing well against Valuev. Holyfield looked slow, and unable to pull the trigger in his last fight a year ago against Ibragimov. Indeed, Holyfield looked as bad as he had in his three fight consecutive losing efforts against Byrd, James Toney and Larry Donald in 2002 to 2004, in each of which Holyfield had looked slow, throwing few punches per round and looking shot. He then took two years off from boxing between 2004 and 2006, and returned against against a series of C-class fighters which he suddenly looked good against. However, when Holyfield finally met up with a good fighter in Ibragimov, Holyfield once again looked as shot as he did in 2002-2004. I suppose he may have a chance against Valuev, who is even slower than he is, but he’s going to have a difficult time trying to compensate for his lack of height and reach. Vauev, who’ll outweigh Holyfield by at least a 100 pounds at 320 lbs compared to his svelte 215, fights tall, using his reach to jab his opponents from the outside. When someone does come in range of him, he either nails them with uppercuts or grabs then in a clinch and mauls them like a big bear. This is a fight that the young Holyfield probably could have won, but it wouldn’t have been easy. However, at 46, with most of his speed and work rate now badly diminished, Holyfield will probably be easily defeated by Valuev.
Well ****...all David Tua had to do was ask! Nevermind his horribly protracted comeback, just stroll up to big Nikolay and challenge him. If this is true, if it really happens, for one thing my estimation of Valuev severely drops. This is just utterly pathetic on the part of him and his management...don't give me that "fighting a legend" guff, everyone knows a win over Holyfield means so much less these days and title shots only encourage to fight on even longer. On Holy's part, I can't blame him. I don't think the 'brain damage' stuff for this fight is right because a) Valuev ain't much of a puncher and b) Holy's brain is sadly already swiss cheese at this point anyway. As far as he's concerned, he'll have a title shot so you can't blame him, even as ludicrous as it is. Last thing - I hope the WBA now abolish their rankings. Seriously, what exactly is the point if completely unranked guys can leapfrog those that have earned their ranking? Stop the comedy and scrap it altogether. Really hope this doesn't happen.
Is this Eric Thomas of Boxingnews quite right in the head? Not only does he claim Holyfield had two wins over Bowe/Lewis (one win, one 'draw', three losses actually)...but then says "This is a fight that the young Holyfield probably could have won". Surprised he wasn't struck down by a thunderbolt for that one, 'probably' indeed...
Well old Holy is a more credible opponent than Sinan Samil Sam I guess... I'm not too happy with old Holy continuing to fight and risk his health, but since he does it anyways I'll be rooting for him. I favour Valuev to win, but I think the fight will go the distance. If Holy has not deteriorated too much since his fight against Sultan one year ago I even give him a chance to make the fight close. Holy is still dangerous against slow fighters who do not move too fast, well Valuev is just as slow as Holyfield and Evander has still better inside fighting than the russian giant - to get past Valuevs jab will be a major problem for Holy tho...
The Real Deal does it again. Against all odds and even putting his health on the line, gets up to face another physically impressive, mountain of a man, a much younger fighter and World titlist. People may pull out their hairs and bite their tongues, but Evander has his God given right to live and to fight for his life... And for Glory once again.
IF....IF Holyfield wins this fight please retire and enjoy life. Unfortunately, I think he is in for a 12 round beating and a UD loss.