Holyfield Gets Title Shot Against Ibrgimov!!!! Ibragimov-Chagaev OFF

When is he going to fight as a heavyweight?

 

I hate this crap. Oh well hurry up and get it over with.

 

...

 

Exactly.

 

So I guess Holyfield - Golota in the works for the late fall?

 

i think this has killed any lingering interest i had in the division until haye goes up.

 

From said article:

"Evander Holyfield will challenge Sultan Ibragimov for the WBO heavyweight title in October. The opportunity became available because WBA titlist Ruslan Chagaev apparently injured himself and will not be able to face Ibragimov in the unification bout scheduled for Moscow on October 13, 2007. Chagaev's loss is Holyfield's gain, however, as the boxing legend will now get an opportunity to add another championship to his storied career. The bout will take place at the same time and place that Ibragimov-Chagaev was originally slated for."

 

From Dan Rafael of ESPN:

The heavyweight division's first unification title fight since 1999? So much for that.
Ruslan Chagaev, who was scheduled to meet titleholder Sultan Ibragimov on Oct. 13 in Moscow, withdrew from the fight Thursday because of an undisclosed stomach ailment, a source involved in the fight said.
A news conference is scheduled for later Thursday in Moscow.
Meanwhile, in order to save the date and the card, discussions are under way between Ibragimov's camp and former four-time world titleholder Evander Holyfield for Holyfield to replace Chagaev. Holyfield was the initial target of Ibragimov's handlers for a fall fight before a deal with Chagaev was finalized.
There hasn't been a recognized world heavyweight champion since the retirement of Lennox Lewis in January 2004. For the division, there hasn't been a unification fight since Lewis became the undisputed champion by defeating Holyfield in their November 1999 rematch.
Ibragimov, 32, of Russia, won the WBO version of the heavyweight title on June 2 with a lopsided unanimous decision against Shannon Briggs in Atlantic City, N.J. Chagaev, 28, a native of Uzbekistan based in Germany, won a majority decision to lift the WBA belt from Nikolai Valuev on April 14 in Germany.
Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com

Must be one hell of a tummy ache :yep
No mention of Wlad. Looks like we can put unification on hold for another year :dead

 

What a joke, beating lou saverese gets you a title shot! ha ha ha, oh well i suppose its the WBO and thats never been regarded as a real world title at heavyweight anyway.

 

Jesus ****ing Christ.

All due respect to Holyfield, and I know his fans will be thrilled beyond belief, but this is big blow to the division. If Holy wins, what does that say about the quality of today's division? If Holy gets his head bashed in, the critics of boxing will have a field day.

And most importantly of all, no more unification bout. Dear God...couldn't they just delay the fight or something?

 

I have really mixed emotions about this. On one hand, I was anxious for HW unification. On the other hand, I'm really excited to see Holyfield get a title shot against the champ whom I believe he has the best shot at beating. Either way I'm pumped to see the fight, I guess.

 

I could see him beating Sultan. I'm afraid I don't have a lot of faith in the guy, although I would plead general ignorance.

 

Anyone who has watched Holyfield recently would notice that he is not the same fighter who lost 3 straight fights (Byrd,Donald,Toney). Should he win, and I believe he can, it just says more about the greatness and legacy of Holyfield than it would condemn the division.

 

Evander will be champ!!!

 

You sincerely don't think it wouldn't condemn the division?
Even though Holyfield, if not as bad as he was against Toney and Donald, is quite clearly not a patch on his prime version...yet could end up a belt-holder again? Or even the very fact he's worthy of such a shot?

When Foreman punched out Moorer, it gave his rep a major shot.
For the division in general, it made them look like a bunch of jokers.