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.
Holyfield can win this fight if he does what Sugar Ray did to Hagler (frustrate and run around the ring, concentrating on scoring points and not brawling)
Holyfield is a great fighter from, believe it or not, the 1984 U.S.A. Olympic Team. He should have retired permanently 10 or 11 years ago.
I don't like boxing so much these days.


It's refreshing to hear a boxer talk like that about an opponent instead of just more loudmouth bragging and trash-talking like most boxers have done ever since Cassius Clay, aka Mohammed Ali, started it by ridiculing Sonny Liston almost 50 years ago. Previous big name heavyweights like Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano were class acts who usually referred to their upcoming opponents as worthy opponents.
Ain’t no way I’d get in the ring with that man!
I kinda miss the times when we knew who the enemy was.
Holyfield doesn’t have stones. He is both brain damaged and desperate. He is broke, has more kids than he can count (and their mothers) to support in a style he cannot afford, and has no way to make money besides fighting.
He’s even managed to pass the point of pity. He truly created this whole mess for himself. He has led and continues to lead a pretty shabby life.
I hadn't heard that before. Holyfield just moved up a few notches in my estimation.
These days, I miss the times when we knew who the good guys were!
“Id rather see Tyson take in Valuev. It would be interesting to see what would happen to Tyson if he tried to bite Valuevs ears.”
LOL! Tyson would have to shimmy up Valuev’s tree-trunk leg to get there.
Holyfield’s image is far from reality. People wanted him to be the anti-Tyson, but he wasn’t the saint people thought. Being a better person than Mike Tyson is not much of an accomplishment.
You forgot the part where it helps to have judges who always give you the benefit of the doubt, which Leonard had.
That and beating Mike Tyson by noticing he dropped his stance before throwing a punch, and beat him to the punch, making sure all his blows hit harder than Mike's by subtracting some of the force.
It was how he was beating him so bad again in the rematch that Mike took it out on his ear, Mike Tyson couldn't stand to take the same beating twice.
But being a better boxer than Mike Tyson twice is quite an accomplishment.
OMG! LOL!!!
That is the funniest thing I have seen all day.
Holyfield’s brother is a patient/friend of mine.
A really nice guy down to earth and humble.
He works at the FCI trying to get the felons on the right track to reenter society and reduce recidivism.
Evander spends time working with the Boy’s club and helping to keep kids from getting into trouble.
He has certainly made mistakes, but he is a good person and has given back to the community and is trying to get out of debt the way he can best, not seeking a federal handout like others.
He said the fight will be in Germany. He trains in Houston near downtown.
Brought me an autographed picture of big brother I did not even ask for.
Thanks for telling us about that.
Don King may do that for him. A match with one of the other Russians could be worth big bucks!
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