Holyfield: ''Haye would be a simple fight''

Boxing: 'I'm old school, Haye would be a simple fight,' says Holyfield - Others, More Sports - The Independent

At 47, 'The Real Deal' is a world title-holder again – but is the last of America's great heavyweights heading for a tragic ending? Steve Bunce on how a die-hard boxer is finally losing his public

It was the most disturbing and remarkable win in a career that has never been short of "did that just happen?" moments. On Saturday night, at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Evander Holyfield recorded his 43rd win as a professional boxer to claim the WBF heavyweight title. And so the man who famously fought with Mike Tyson twice (his opponent taking a bite out of his ear in the second bout), and Lennox Lewis another two times, became a world champion at 47 years of age.

Holyfield refuses to throw in the towel and take up a position behind a microphone. It was a simple victory, over fellow veteran South Africa's Frans Botha, himself 41, fighting on "the retirement circuit". But there is no safe retreat in the brutal business of boxing for old men – no veterans' "friendlies". Instead, the latest turn in the story of Holyfield, who first won the world heavyweight title in 1990, has confirmed his place at the top of a tragic and often tainted heap of recent American heavyweights.

"I'm back, back in the heavyweight business and ready to fight any of the champions," said Holyfield, whose visits to hospital in victory and defeat have become legend. "I look at the champions and I know ways to beat them. I'm from the old school and they are not. David Haye would be a simple fight for me." It is possible, incredibly, that the two may yet fight.

Holyfield is the only active boxer to have fought the old 15-round distance, which he had to do in his first world title fight back in 1986. For the record he was just 23 and having his 12th fight when he won a split a decision over Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the World Boxing Association cruiserweight title. It was a brutal fight and both boxers ended up in hospital needing time to recover from the savagery.

At present it is possible to argue with some force that there are just three Americans in the top 20 heavyweights and the trio are not much to write home about. There is Tony "Tiger" Thompson, Chris Arreola and "Fast" Eddie Chambers and they have all been knocked out by one of the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali. Thompson lost every round against Vitali before jumping on the floor in the 11th round in 2008, Chambers never threw a punch at Wladimir and collapsed in the 12th a few months ago, and Arreola survived 10 against Vitali but never won a round last year.

Yet the truth is that Holyfield is more marketable at his age because there is no talent coming through in America. But even now, in the American media following the fight at the weekend, there are growing calls for him to stop. "Holyfield once was a true warrior and champion," said Colin Linneweber of the website Bleacher Report. "Now, 'The Real Deal' is everything that is wrong with boxing and he is making a mockery out of his legacy." The Las Vegas Review-Journal called Saturday's fight "a geriatric wrestling match".

Holyfield has never really been far from the top during the last 20 years and in late 2008 he travelled to Switzerland to fight Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title. He came close, dropping a majority decision; less than 12 months later Haye beat Valuev by split decision to win the title. Holyfield, in many ways, showed Haye how to beat the Russian giant. The Briton admitted as much after his safety-first victory.

Holyfield has been involved in a world heavyweight fight in 14 of the last 20 years and some of his 19 title fights are recognised as the best of all generations of heavyweights. His trio with Riddick Bowe in the early 1990s, which included the night in Las Vegas when the "Fan Man" parachuted into the ring and was knocked unconscious by Bowe's henchmen, is the best triple in history. The final Bowe fight was particularly brutal, with both on the floor before Bowe won in round five. A few years later Bowe was made to retire because of brain damage he was meant to have suffered. After the Bowe hat-trick Holyfield was winning and losing world titles in epic scraps with Tyson and Lewis when Bowe had long since retired.

"I knew that I could beat Tyson," Holyfield said again and again. "Lennox was much harder." Holyfield and Tyson had come close to blows during an amateur training camp before the 1984 Olympics when it is claimed that Holyfield got in Tyson's face and forced the bully to back down. In the ring 12 years later Holyfield did the same thing and broke Tyson's heart in the first fight. In the rematch, known forever now as "The Bite of the Century", Holyfield took more than Tyson's heart, he took his dignity and forced him to foul his way to permanent ignominy. Holyfield was back in hospital, $30m (£19.5m) richer and part of his severed ear was stuffed in ice. I saw the pair embrace a few years ago and remember catching Tyson eyeing the gap in Holyfield's ear. Tyson insists that Holyfield was the best man he ever fought. Holyfield, a sometime Christian preacher, refuses to accuse.

The two Lewis fights were simple toe-to-toe encounters and both results divided the fans. The first was a draw in Madison Square Garden and when we sat for the return eight months later in Las Vegas I was reminded of just how big a world heavyweight championship fight could and should be. America was watching, Vegas stopped and the two walked to the centre of the ring. It was 1999 and the old magic was back; it was a fight for the history boys and it was also the last really great heavyweight title fight to take place involving an American in America.

Holyfield is still flying that damaged American flag and there is nobody on the American boxing horizon to take it from his clenched fists.

oh dear 1st he calls out the klitschkos and now this:(

Does evander actually want to sit out the rest of his days in a wheelchair??

One time great, but now his boxing career is a pantomime.
Just give up Evander, and let us remember you for the good times.

Haye would have been a simple fight for the 1995 version of Holyfield....Today he not just beats but embarrasses the poor man....Evander has no idea what he speaks of

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Haye would have been a simple fight for the 1995 version of Holyfield....Today he not just beats but embarrasses the poor man....Evander has no idea what he speaks of

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I think Holyfield knows exactly how to pick apart Haye wear him down and take it to him. However, I don't think he has the physical ability to actually execute his plan. Fighting Haye or either of the Klits is simply a grab at a last great payday. He fights any of those three and he gets hurt badly.

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Haye would have been a simple fight for the 1995 version of Holyfield....Today he not just beats but embarrasses the poor man....Evander has no idea what he speaks of

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perhaps....is this version of Holyfield a better opponent than Ruiz? He's certainly durable and swifter...:cool:

Holyfield is one of my all time idols.....but he is becoming annoying in his old age.....Holyfield is a dribbling damaged wreck and he needs to be careful cause hes on the verge of becoming a dribbling vegatable...the powers above should take his license taken away...I don't know how they can let him fight any more...its embarrassing and very very sad


Job Biscuit (Very sad)!!!


eh eh!!

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Haye would have been a simple fight for the 1995 version of Holyfield....Today he not just beats but embarrasses the poor man....Evander has no idea what he speaks of

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dont quite know about that

a prime holyfield would probably get haye out of there very early on

Surprised by Bunce's mistakes in that article.

Holyfield stopped in 5 by Bowe
Haye wins a SD over Valuev

And what's with calling Holyfield world champion without showing any contempt for the WBF title?

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Surprised by Bunce's mistakes in that article.

Holyfield stopped in 5 by Bowe
Haye wins a SD over Valuev

And what's with calling Holyfield world champion without showing any contempt for the WBF title?

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Yeah sorry mate, there was a little section I missed off regarding the belts... Its there in the link though.

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Originally Posted by Jimboogie

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Surprised by Bunce's mistakes in that article.

Holyfield stopped in 5 by Bowe
Haye wins a SD over Valuev

And what's with calling Holyfield world champion without showing any contempt for the WBF title?

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Yeah sorry mate, there was a little section I missed off regarding the belts... Its there in the link though.

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It deserves more derision than "lightly-regarded" but i'll let him off. Just.

Favourite quote:
;D ''Sheldon Hinton The Canadian, holder of the minor WBB strap is currently ranked 204th in the world''

I reckon I fancy my chances.

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Originally Posted by Jimboogie

Favourite quote:
;D ''Sheldon Hinton The Canadian, holder of the minor WBB strap is currently ranked 204th in the world''

I reckon I fancy my chances.

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:lolhaha::lolhaha::lolhaha:

thats twice today youve had me LOL, you on some sort of comedy course boogie??

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Haye would have been a simple fight for the 1995 version of Holyfield....Today he not just beats but embarrasses the poor man....Evander has no idea what he speaks of

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dont quite know about that

a prime holyfield would probably get haye out of there very early on

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pretty sure he's saying that too ;)

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Originally Posted by AdamGB

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Haye would have been a simple fight for the 1995 version of Holyfield....Today he not just beats but embarrasses the poor man....Evander has no idea what he speaks of

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dont quite know about that

a prime holyfield would probably get haye out of there very early on

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pretty sure he's saying that too ;)

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Thanks because for a second I had to reread my post...

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Originally Posted by killersheep

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Haye would have been a simple fight for the 1995 version of Holyfield....Today he not just beats but embarrasses the poor man....Evander has no idea what he speaks of

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I think Holyfield knows exactly how to pick apart Haye wear him down and take it to him. However, I don't think he has the physical ability to actually execute his plan. Fighting Haye or either of the Klits is simply a grab at a last great payday. He fights any of those three and he gets hurt badly.

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I am sure...The man is a legend..Great fighter who knew what it nook in there...Like I said today's of Evander not only gets beaten but Embarrassed by Haye...No reflexes anymore...Haye would have open season with his speed advantage...

I don't see Haye going to war with the Holyfield of the early and mid 90's...Too much pressure, to much skill, too much heart, endless stamina....Not too mention Holyfield had a granite chin...

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

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Originally Posted by killersheep

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Haye would have been a simple fight for the 1995 version of Holyfield....Today he not just beats but embarrasses the poor man....Evander has no idea what he speaks of

---

I think Holyfield knows exactly how to pick apart Haye wear him down and take it to him. However, I don't think he has the physical ability to actually execute his plan. Fighting Haye or either of the Klits is simply a grab at a last great payday. He fights any of those three and he gets hurt badly.

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I am sure...The man is a legend..Great fighter who knew what it nook in there...Like I said today's of Evander not only gets beaten but Embarrassed by Haye...No reflexes anymore...Haye would have open season with his speed advantage...

I don't see Haye going to war with the Holyfield of the early and mid 90's...Too much pressure, to much skill, too much heart, endless stamina....Not too mention Holyfield had a granite chin...

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totally agree with u! haye would of been lucky to last 3 rds (very lucky)

I lost count of the mistakes in that article. Alot of the detail was false/incorrect/lies

My God Learn to stop Old man :/ He evan beating on his wife now isnt he? Shame Such a legacy going to waste

He might have won more rounds from Valuev then Haye did lol.

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Originally Posted by amat

He might have won more rounds from Valuev then Haye did lol.

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True point, aside from that damaging last round blow Haye's performance over Valuev was less impressive than Chagaevs, and no more impressive than Ruiz in the first fight and Holyfield.

He won the belt but looked like mediocre to me. Against Ruiz he didn't look like a world beater either.

I don't think he would beat many of the current top 10.

I'd fancy both Klitschko's, Thompson, Arreola, Chambers, Povetkin, Solis and Juan Carlos Gomez to cause him all kinds of trouble.

Even guys like Adamek and Kevin Johnson might be able to get to him.

He's a legit belt holder and so deserves his spot as the number 1 contender, but he's not beaten a top 10 heavyweight yet.

Valuev had already been beaten 3 times every time he stepped up.

if i remember i think i had valuev winning against haye. lennox lewis wouldnt even give john ruiz a title shot cos it wouldnt motivate him & no one wanted to see a 90 second fight obliviation of ruiz.

if haye dont fight one of the K's next then who gives a fk abt haye!

only people who go on & on abt haye generally are people in the pub who have never even seen the K's fight b4.

Which despite all the things that Haye lacks is a good thing... people who weren't die hard boxing fans or even boxing fans used to at least know and occasionally talking about the Heavyweight Champion of the world.

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Originally Posted by AdamGB

Which despite all the things that Haye lacks is a good thing... people who weren't die hard boxing fans or even boxing fans used to at least know and occasionally talking about the Heavyweight Champion of the world.

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yeah i suppose so but they know abt one fighter just like most of the ricky hatton fans, then they get confused when they lose

His reflexes are beyond shot, Haye would beat him to shit.

He can still bounce around on his toes for 12 rounds though, that's pretty impressive. He also looks in such great condition in the ring.

A prime Holyfield would be Hayes worst nightmare. I still think he'd probably even be the best Haye has fought at heavyweight so far even aged 47.

Thought for sure they would have tried to patch and Frankenstein this match together at one point,maybe earlier on.All the parallels drawn to Hayes cruiser achievements,the Holyfield story and name.maybe for the better it did not come off.Think Sheep nailed it.Holyfield can see what to do,right the blueprint to a victory but the man is fighting on memory,ego and a scary stubborn streak right now.

At his best Holyfield would just be far too much for the best Haye.Holyfield would wreck him with combination punching and was way to 'thick' for Haye.Haye would have gone splat!

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Originally Posted by Kel

His reflexes are beyond shot, Haye would beat him to shit.

He can still bounce around on his toes for 12 rounds though, that's pretty impressive. He also looks in such great condition in the ring.

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...see my earlier post where I said Holyfield is as durable as Ruiz AND has better foot and hand speed...if Ruiz can land a clean jab on Haye then surely Holyfield can do the same? :detective:

A prime Holyfield would be "undisputed" HW champ now hands down for me, he would batter all 3 title holders to a bloody mess, BUT that man was 20 years ago and as someone touched on earlier, he will still have the ability to draw up the fight plan but when it came to executing it on any of the title holders that are around now he would unfortunatley at almost 50 fail. Yes George Foreman wasn't much younger but his one punch power gave him a chance with anyone, Holyfield has power but not like that, he drained his opponent with well put together combos and his workrate and then KO'd them and as me and Lyle agreed on a couple of weeks ago, he hasn't been able to do that effectively since the second Moorer fight.

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Surprised by Bunce's mistakes in that article.

Holyfield stopped in 5 by Bowe
Haye wins a SD over Valuev

And what's with calling Holyfield world champion without showing any contempt for the WBF title?

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....really? He was the guy who said Wladimir was down "like 5 times in his last 3 fights" and this was during the build up to the Chagaev fight so the last time Wlad was even hurt in a fight was vs Sam Peter which was long ago. The guy is a promoter of British "talent" that is all....beyond that he's an ignorant asshole

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Originally Posted by Lyle

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Surprised by Bunce's mistakes in that article.

Holyfield stopped in 5 by Bowe
Haye wins a SD over Valuev

And what's with calling Holyfield world champion without showing any contempt for the WBF title?

---

....really? He was the guy who said Wladimir was down "like 5 times in his last 3 fights" and this was during the build up to the Chagaev fight so the last time Wlad was even hurt in a fight was vs Sam Peter which was long ago. The guy is a promoter of British "talent" that is all....beyond that he's an ignorant asshole

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I'll agree with you on him being a promoter of british talent. He does seem very blinded by all things British. It was actually going into the Chagaev vs Skelton fight he said that about Wlad though. He also said that Povetkin was clearly the best HW out there then too. Based on what exactly I have no idea.

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Originally Posted by Lyle

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Surprised by Bunce's mistakes in that article.

Holyfield stopped in 5 by Bowe
Haye wins a SD over Valuev

And what's with calling Holyfield world champion without showing any contempt for the WBF title?

---

....really? He was the guy who said Wladimir was down "like 5 times in his last 3 fights" and this was during the build up to the Chagaev fight so the last time Wlad was even hurt in a fight was vs Sam Peter which was long ago. The guy is a promoter of British "talent" that is all....beyond that he's an ignorant asshole

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That was verbally. He was just letting the audience know that Wlad is chinny, hence the possibilty of a KO upset, which helps to sell the fight.

In print trivial mistakes are more surprising.

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Originally Posted by Fenster

That was verbally. He was just letting the audience know that Wlad is chinny, hence the possibilty of a KO upset, which helps to sell the fight.

In print trivial mistakes are more surprising.

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....he's full of shit end of story

I admire Bunce's enthusiasm. I think its kinda good he trys to promote his fellow countrymen. But the day he picked Jennings to upset Cotto he lost me. Haha.

it would be simple, holyfield would simply lose, love him, but hes old man