Posted on 11/13/2008 3:23:13 PM PST by lewisglad
Evander Holyfield is set to return to boxing at the age of 46 with a fight against Russia's Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight crown.
The fight will take place in Zurich on December 20th and will be Holyfield's first fight since his defeat to Sultan Ibragimov a year ago.
The 35-year-old Valuev, who stands at seven-foot tall and weights over 330lbs, admitted he is taking the threat of Holyfield very seriously.
"Holyfield was a great champion," said Valuev.
"He is very experienced, but I have no doubts that I will beat him. I take this fight very seriously."
"Holyfield is a strong opponent ... Ten years ago I would not have dreamed of getting into the ring with this champion."
Four-time heavyweight champion Holyfield boasts a record of 42 wins and 27 KOs with nine defeats - four of which have come in the last six years.
Holyfield lost his last world title in 2000, while Valuev recaptured the WBA title when he beat John Ruiz in Berlin in August this year.
Holyfield insists that he will keep on fighting until he regains the title again.
Where is Rocky??????
Holyfield wasn’t that good in his prime against far less intimidating opponents.
Holyfield is an example of what is wrong with boxing. While the champ he is fighting is simply a freak show attraction, Evander has no business fighting for a title.
I wpuld say they need to stop him before he sustains more damage, but I’ve heard him speak often enough to know that it’s too late for that.
I’ll say one thing for Holyfield, he’s got stones.
This may be a Holmes vs. Ali deal, I’m afrad Holyfield will get seriously hurt so Don King can line his pockets in Europe.
Holyfield was an excellent cruiserweight who went nuts with steroids and became an excellent “heavyweight”.
That being said he’s out of his mind getting into the ring, he won’t be happy until he has total brain damage, his speech has already suffered a great deal.
That’s one of my favorite movies of all time!
“I must break you!”
I’d rather see Tyson take in Valuev. It would be interesting to see what would happen to Tyson if he tried to bite Valuev’s ears.
For those old enough to remember the Cold War, this is the kind of Russian that used to scare the bejeezus out of everyone. We thought guys like this were the norm.
Have you ever seen Valuev fight? He's big but he has few evident skills. The only thing that makes this fight interesting is that Holyfield is 46. If Holyfield is 36, he wins with no trouble. If Holyfield is 26, he creams Valuev, even if Holyfield is still a cruiserweight.
Valuev is the modern-day Primo Carnera - big but can't fight a lick.
Holy mackerel. I’d be running out of that ring as fast as I could.
King only has this type of thing going for him now. He lost all of the good fighters years ago.
Holyfield has never been bright, but he has some serious brain damage now.
...and both of his ears.
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