Thread: holyfield just wont let it go

Published April 7, 2006

George Diaz, orlandosentinel.com

The saddest thing about boxers is that they invariably lose their way.

A strange disconnect with reality happens, and somehow they ignore the memo on the dangers of getting your skull pounded by another man's fist when you cannot defend yourself properly.

Evander Holyfield looks in the mirror and sees a guy we knew a decade ago; the guy who stood up to boorish bully Mike Tyson in 1996 and '97 and fought hard against Lennox Lewis in 1999; the former heavyweight champion who earned the nickname "Warrior" through sweat, sacrifice and blood.

Problem is, the man in the mirror can't fight any more. Too many battles and the natural encroachment of age make him vulnerable in a sport where a split-second hesitation can zap you senseless.

"The best has yet to come," he said while making an appearance at a sports trade show in Orlando recently. "I'm old in one sense but I'm brand new in another sense. My better days ain't yet come yet."

At 43, his greatest battles are staged outside the ring against a boxing community that no longer views him as a marketable commodity. He filed a federal lawsuit against Don King Productions Inc., Monday, accusing the DKP of failing to secure two fights per year as promised under a three-year contract.

Holyfield said King breached the contract because he "is in poor health and is unable to promote (Holyfield) in the manner set forth in the agreement."

Don will never be the King of compassion, but he knows -- along with the rest of the world -- that Holyfield simply can't fight any more.

Holyfield has lost five of his last eight fights, including the last three. He has not stepped into the ring since November of 2004, when he lost a unanimous decision to journeyman Larry Donald. He had lost to James Toney and Chris Byrd in previous fights.

Although the heavyweight division continues to be in shambles, Holyfield isn't even in that mix of mediocre pretenders.

He embarrasses himself with convenient excuses of why he hasn't fought in 16 months, declaring in the lawsuit that he "suffered an incapacity" against Donald that lasted until June 2005.

In a sport where men are often viewed as slabs of meat, boxing's shaky moral compass can't even help Holyfield find his way back. He was suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission after losing to Donald, and has yet to find work anywhere else in the other 49 states.

Recent published reports indicate that Holyfield could join Roy Jones Jr. -- different fighter, similar circumstances -- in a fight card this summer in Boise, Idaho. Other potential sites include Fargo, ND; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Acapulco, Mexico; and Ixtapa, Mexico.

Perhaps he assumes that if he traveled far enough away, his history wouldn't catch up with him.

Trainers, business associates and even friends have cut ties with Holyfield because he can't see straight, and they care too much to embrace this sad masquerade.

"I have a whole new team," Holyfield said. "I'm at the end of the rainbow. I'm fresh, willing to take this thing or the end."

Read your history books, Evander. Final chapters in boxing are rarely a pleasant read. Muhammad Ali, Greg Page, and Wilfred Benitez are among boxing's discarded souls.

Benitez, diagnosed with boxing dementia, lives in a special-needs facility in Puerto Rico with eight other patients suffering from mental disabilities. Benitez has significant short-term memory loss and needs help with basic chores, including using the restroom.

The end of the rainbow is nowhere in sight

depressing but not surprising

so stubborn, that's what helped him to be a great fighter but he's physically overmatched these days

there's no reason in people telling him to stop, he won't

the guy is obviously seriously deluded....does he really believe his best days are yet to come? at 43 and beyond....he might havew better days, but they will not be in the boxing ring...

his ego is so big that he has this belief that him and God will become heavyweight champion again, that's the truth according to Lennox Lewis's biography

There are some fights where nobody can win, i.e. against father time. Its a pity that such a great fighter will be remembered in this way. I remember people who only watched Ali's last fights and asked what all the hype was about

As Oumafan suggests, that single minded determination that got him though wars with the likes of Qawi, Dokes, Stewart, Bowe and Tyson now seriously work against him in boxing.

Originally Posted by Britkid

As Oumafan suggests, that single minded determination that got him though wars with the likes of Qawi, Dokes, Stewart, Bowe and Tyson now seriously work against him in boxing.

dead right - cc

Holyfield must have been hit so much he now thinks he's George Foreman, a man who could still fight and win the title in his mid 40s.

Anyone know what Holyfield's financial situation is?

He had TONS of money, but maybe all of those paternity suits, and child support payments drained him out

He just cant let go, he should have walked away after tyson, he cant let go I have to say i always admired holyfield and I can understand him and his idea of overcoming with God but now it may be about ego, evander wants to be champ it has nothing to do with God I think

ITS HARD FOR GREAT ONES IN ANY SPORT TO LET IT GO...ITS ALL THEY KNOW... LOOK @ JORDAN... LOOK @ ALOT OF THEM. ITS DIFFERENT FOR BOXERS, THOUGH CUZ THEYRE TAKING THERE LIVES IN THERE HANDS. LOOK @ HEARNS... HANG IT UP, BOYS, YOU'RE ALREADY GREAT. GO OUT ON TOP. WHEN YOUR AT THE TOP YOU CANT DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT GO DOWN.

I DEF THINK HEARNS, THOUGH WINNING, SHOULD CALL IT QUITS

Originally Posted by Britkid

As Oumafan suggests, that single minded determination that got him though wars with the likes of Qawi, Dokes, Stewart, Bowe and Tyson now seriously work against him in boxing.

You've got it bang on. The trouble is I guess that to really excel in life you have to have an unflappable self belief and a will to win that most of us mere mortals could never truly appreciate.

It must be very hard to then switch that mindset off and accept that although you reached the top of the mountain, it's time to climb back down.

In his mind I'm sure Holyfield feels the same as did 15 years ago, but the body just isn't willing any more. Boxing more than any other sport is a dangerous place for the old veterans, there is no Masters in boxing.

Hopefully Evander will be able to divert his energy into something else.

Actually the guy who I think has best handled the various phases of his life is Arnold Schwarzenegger, he walked away from Bodybuilding at the very top and concentrated on being a movie star, walked away from movies as soon as he saw his popularity was on the wane, and now is throwing everything into a political career.

It's a shame that Evander can't see himself as still being a success and a warrior but in a different field..........

well said, trhe end came for arnld as he got soft, last action hero arnold strted to play pussy roles

The only fighters that Holyfield should fight are other older heavyweights such as himself. Maybe there should be a "seniors" division in boxing, like we see in tennis for example. Watching Holyfield against James Toney and then Larry Donald wasn't a pleasant sight. He couldn't pull the trigger on his punches, typical for a washed-up fighter.