I watched the Valuev vs. Holyfield fight this past Saturday afternoon. I saw it on line and I had Holyfield winning 10 of the ugly, boring 12 rounds. I fully expected a bad decision win for Valuev and it happened. I have been on numerous boxing websites and read many articles calling the decision a “robbery” or a “farce” and I agree. However, I have a different perspective on the outcome. I am glad Holyfield lost. He did not look good in the fight at all and the only reason I had him winning was that Valuev did NOTHING to win. I have seen many Hockey fights that only lasted a minute or two with considerable more action that this contest. Holyfield never took a big shot but it was obvious that he would if he was in with a competitive Heavyweight and it also looked obvious that he would not be able to land anything of meaning in return. He needs to hang them up and really, if he had won, how could you not fight again? You just won the title at 46 and you are a champ. Why not see how far you can go? He is called a warrior frequently and warriors do not know the word quit. That could mean serious permanent damage to Evander and his faculties. Now, if Holyfield never fights again all his fans and the media recognize he won his last fight even if the blind judges didn’t see it that way. You beat a 7 foot 300+ pound champ in your last fight and what a way to go out.
Holyfield is truly a classic American athlete. He was an Olympic Bronze medalist in 1984 and won his first title in 1986 in an all-time great fight with Dwight Muhammad Qawi. His resume has names like Tillman, Dokes, De Leon, Foreman, Bowe, Mercer, Tyson, Moorer, Rachman, Toney & Byrd to name a few. Whew, that list has at least 4 Hall of Famers on it and maybe more. Holyfield has not been perfect and has been linked to HGH and steroid use but he has not landed in prison or the front page of the tabloids. Just imagine getting in shape and stepping into the ring at 46 against a 7 foot opponent who weighs almost 100 pounds more than you? No thank you, even though Valuev hardly strikes fear in opponents. Holyfield has had one amazing career when it is put in perspective and let hope it is over for his sake. My message is one of gratitude from a boxing fan/writer and I only hope a young fighter will emerge that has the heart and will to fight anyone and fight hard for 24 years. He was also fighter of the year 3 times and he is the one and only 4 time Heavyweight Champ. Thanks Evander, don’t sweat the loss, you won, and start preparations for your Hall of Fame speech. You truly are the Real Deal.
Photo by DEAN TREML
Great article. I hope Holyfield retires.
I agree 100%, It was one of the most boring fights I have ever seen, I had Holyfield winning 11 of 12 rounds, just by landing a few shots every round, compared to the giant who probably landed 4 shots the hole fight, The read dead didn’t diserve to win the belt base on his performance, but Valuev gave a performance worst that most amateurs, so if you have to give points and rounds to the fighter who did more than the other one, sadly Holyfield won that fight, so yes he got rob, but at the same time I’m glad he didn’t because I still think the performance of Forman, the shot he took and the way he won the fight was truly inspirational and Holyfield would have top him by doing NOTHING. So it’s all good, we know he won this fight, but wasn’t a performance of a champion.
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