Boxing Press Conference: Sultan Ibragimov – Evander Holyfield

Click for larger image © Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing

This week at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City, Seminole Warriors Boxing announced the WBO Heavyweight Championship fight between Sultan Ibragimov, 21-0-1 (17), and four time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield, 42-8-2 (27), which will take place from Moscow, Russia on October 13, 2007.

Ibragimov, the WBO Champion, was originally scheduled to face WBA Champion Ruslan Chagaev in a unification match, but Chagaev was forced to pull out of the fight due to a chronic stomach illness. “I felt mad that Chagaev could not fight, then the second day we signed Holyfield and I was happy,” said Ibragimov.

Ibragimov is not taking the aging former champion lightly, “he is looking very good, nobody would think he is 44 years of age, I will have to be ready.” The undefeated WBO Champion is preparing to meet the Holyfield that defeated Riddick Bowe and Mike Tyson, “I have to be ready for everything, I will be facing a great warrior.”

The “Real Deal” is now nearly 45 years old and has the chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a five time heavyweight champion. The NY State Athletic Commission suspended his boxing license for health reasons after his poor 2004 performance against Larry Donald, even after he passed all medical tests.

When Holyfield returned to boxing in 2006, he was met with harsh criticism from the media that he should retire and that he needed to be protected from himself and stay out of the ring. His dream is one that only he felt could be done.

“The most important thing in life is only what you have faith in,” said Holyfield about his boxing career. “I have faith in myself but most of all I have faith in the word of God which is what drives me and allows me to be who I am today.

“All the people say I am too old, I don’t know anybody who lives and does not get old,” replied Holyfield when asked about pursuing his dream. “I control my own destiny, nobody controls my destiny. I am willing to pay the price that is necessary.”

Even after winning his last four fights since his return to the ring, many feel Holyfield is still putting himself at risk. To that he replied, “I don’t know anyone successful who doesn’t take risks, you have to take risks, and you take calculated risks. I love what I am doing. I am the best at what I am doing so that’s the reason why I take risks.”

To Holyfield, the risk is worth the reward and regardless of what the general public thinks he may be in a better place than a lot of us. There are not many people who enjoy what they do for a living, let alone appreciate what they have but when you ask Holyfield he’ll tell you, “I love what I do, I love boxing, my goal has always been to be the very best that I can be and I thank God for giving me that opportunity.”

Click for larger image © Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing