Holyfield getting the title shot is better for everybody!

Holyfield is still a big name not just in boxing but in mainstream American sports. When it was announced that he would be replacing Chagaev, it made the front page of ESPN's news stories. This fight will establish Ibragimov more than anything else he has done in his career up to this point. And after he defeats Holyfield, there will be a lot more interest in Ibragimov-Chagaev unification. That fight will now almost certainly be on one of the major American networks and both fighters will cash in.

Holyfield will get his shot and hopefully retire.

Ibragimov will establish himself as more of a name.

Ibragimov-Chagaev will be much bigger with Ibragimov's enhanced status!

 

im not sure i think we will all know after the fight if it was better for boxing

 

Sultan will get little attention before, during and after this fight from the US media, don't expect that this will be some kind of springboard to US popularity for Sultan.

He beats Holyfield up, he's just beaten a 44-year old shot guy. He loses, he's a no-good bum and won't be remembered anyway. That's the kind of extremist opinion you can expect from your local ESPNs and all about this whole thing.

Bloody sad, but true.

 

besides getting a decent paycheck and a little more exposure the fight itself is a no-win situation for him....like what was said above. I just hope this is Holy's last hoorah and then rides off into the sunset.

 

i think holyfield gets absolutley destroyed, his power is gone, he never had much anyway, and if the powers gone, retire

 

Finaly Holyfield sceptics will have his day or bad night.

 

I'm not sold on Sultan, AT ALL. Anybody who gets knocked down and draws with someone as mediocre as Ray Austin can be beaten, even by today's Holyfield. This is Holyfield's best shot at a title, imo, and he could win this - Sultan is really not that good, so far as I can see.

 

Holyfield should wait for one of these belt holders to somehow unify them all (2 fights). Then hopefully it goes into the hands of someone that is suited for Holyfield - and THEN Holy fights that guy tries to win the crown. You say that anyone who unifies the titles is gonna be tough to beat - not really, it is also a matter of those guys JUST simply facing each other. Hopefully for Holy, the belt doesn't go into the hands of the Klits or else that'd be a problem. Think George Foreman - he could have never beaten young Holy at that age for the crown - so he waited with luck for Moorer to get the title - his average chin and Foreman's power was a perfect match for Foreman - so Foreman won the 3 titles with a single blow - EASIEST road for Holy's goal.

 

Very logical - and I agree. Unfortunately, it doesn't account for the role of money ("bird in hand"), and that Holyfield doesn't have Foreman's equalizer of power, and his likelihood of winning is more likely to decrease the longer he waits. I am sure these are two KEY reasons why he jumped at the first shot, even if your proposal makes more sense from a logical/historical perspective.

 

The irony of the thing is, Holyfield was in exactly the same situation 15 years ago, against old Foremand and an old Holmes. I suspect this upcoming fight to look like that one, by the way.

 

The sad reality is that Holyfield is the only American Heavy Weight thatc can save the division ..

 

I don't think Holy at his age is the draw some think he is.


And beating Ibragimov won't mean much of anything as the name *Ibragomov* is not really known at all by anyone. Even Jim Lampley, a guy who makes his living commentating fights, didnt' know his name. LOL

But, I guess we shall see. I may be wrong and it may sell well, but I don't think it will.

 

..the sad reality is that i firmly believe holyfield has ever chance of winning this fight........and that speaks volumes for sultan......and, perhaps, paints a rather bleak picture of the heavyweight picture.....hell, il be rooting for the old geezer......

 

Part of me doesn't want Holy to win because once he does, inevitably the next fight will be against Wlad. And, while I like busting the balls of Holyfield fans from time to time, I don't dislike the guy- especially not that much.

But, if Holyfield does win, a unification fight is much, much more likely. Decisions, decisions...:think

 

Do you just base your opinions of fighters off of one bad performance? He was 10 pounds overweight for the Austin fight and seriously lacking mobility. At 218-220, Ibragimov has a chance against anyone.

See his fight against Lance Whitaker for the blueprint on how good Ibragimov can be. I think he stands a good chance to beat any heavyweight other than Wlad.