Valuev v Holyfield 20 December

[salvador]

BBC have confirmed Nikolai Valuev v Evander Holyfield will be taking place on 20 December in Zurich, Switzerland (Hallstadion). Holyfield will beat George Foreman's record and become the oldest heavyweight world champion if he wins.

[THEBUTCH]

Jees! How many times can they keep recycling Holyfield ?

[doctorboxing]

I know its a joke and that Holyfield will struggle to get close to Valuev but I still want to see it.

Only problem is that im getting married that day and I doubt my wife would be all that pleased if I suggested watching two topless guys maul each other for 12 rounds on our wedding night!

Prediction: Valuev KO inside the distance.

Would be amazing if Evander could pull off a shock but after seeing Jones Jr destroyed by Calzaghe it demonstrates past brilliance just doesnt count!

[Hagler2002]

Fancy Holyfield will see the final bell.

[chinny]

I managed to shake Holys hand like a complete fanboy from ringside at the JC v RJJ fight last week. I was shocked at how relatively small he seemed.

I don't want to see this.

So Valuevs word means nothing then.

[bennie]

Russian giant Nikolai Valuev defends his WBA heavyweight title against American veteran Evander Holyfield in Switzerland on December 20, a match almost guaranteed to dampen the Christmas cheer - a mismatch.
Holyfield goes in with the 23 stone, 7ft tall Valuev who, by his very size is a punishing opponent, and he goes in with him at the age of 46 after 24 punishing, draining years as a pro. Holyfield is a worn-out fighter, and Valuev is not the kind of opponent to 'move' to a decision: he rumbles forward and whacks his opponents hard and often in a robotic, uncaring, seemingly unthinking fashion, a literal monster of a man, a monster of a fighter.
The Mummy.
Valuev won the WBA title with a unanimous decision over Puerto Rico's John Ruiz last time out in August in Germany and has lost only to slick Uzbekistani Ruslan Chagaev in 51 fights. Some record. Southpaw Chagaev outmanoeuvred and outpointed him (narrowly) for the same WBA belt in April 2007 but seems none too keen to face him again and vacated the title, officially on an injury, and Valuev licked Ruiz in turn. The Beast from the East has won three on the spin since the Chagaev setback and shown real boxing improvement under new trainer Alexander Zimin, who coached the old Soviet Union amateur boxing team, weakening his opponents with a thumping jab before unloading the heavier stuff. All the time, his sheer size and weight also grinds down the opposition.
By way of contrast Holyfield, "The Real Deal", dealt his last ace a long, long time ago and was comprehensively outscored by another Russian, Sultan Ibragimov - a comparitive dwarf by Valuev standards at 6ft 2ins - over 12 rounds in his last outing 14 months ago in Moscow. Holyfield never looked like winning and was lucky in that southpaw Ibragimov is a boxer. Loose and relaxed, Ibragimov was content to outbox Holyfield, who showed fitness and guts but none of the quickness and sharpness to remind us of all his glory years, all his glory fights with Tyson, Bowe, Lewis, Cooper, Toney, Dokes and Qawi. He took part in a gut-wrenching 15-rounder with Qawi to first win a world title back in 1986 and has been slugging it out - fight in, fight out - seemingly ever since. Evander was always a 'smart' boxer - but a 'smart' man? His refusal to recognise his waning talents, and his age, in the belief he can win a world title yet again smacks of denial, at best, and sheer stupidity, at worst, which are harsh things to say about a brave, brave man but we already have to endure little Manny Pacquiao against Oscar De La Hoya in the same month and boxing does not need two 'risky' fights like this in the space of a few weeks.
It is a worry.

[Old bones Ian]

Yeah i met Holyfield at the Sydney olympics , and he isn't that big, surprising really

[Dioufy]

This fight shouldn't happen. I mean surely there's better out the for Valuev?

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

Great fight in my eyes, boxing is, essentially a romantic sport, all about the great moments and amazing comebacks and what would be more amazing than Holyfeild, one of the all time greats wining back the title at 46?


Or you could igonre this fight and stay in your bedroom watching Mexican Super Bantamweight fights on a 4 inch viewing window, safe in the knowledge you are truly a connoisseur...

[Dioufy]

Valuev's jab alone will probably stop Holyfield.

[Lenny]

I don't think you're usually too far off the mark KG but are you saying this is better than Marquez v Vasquez? An old Holyfield who is going to take far too much punishment from a fighter who has none of his skill?

You old romantic you

[overhand_right]

Holyfield will lose on points, too old to deal with his size, beat some big men who were infinitely better equipped than Valuev in his day, but at this point hes just too old.

[zojo]

Has Holyfield ever fought this far above seas level before? I mean, fighting in Switzerland has to take its toll on you no matter how old you are. Valeuv has fought there before, but this is just one more obstical for Evander.

[Dioufy]

Valuev's jab has certainly improved a lot in the last few years. I expect this to hit Evander's face so much that the referee could step in late on, possibly the 9th or 10th. I hope I am wrong though as I would love to see Evander become a world champion once again.

[Captain Hook]

Valuev will give him a good hiding, it's a sad state of affairs.

10 years ago he wouldn't have stood a chance.

A modern great against a freakshow - shame.

[overhand_right]

The Holyfield who boxed Rahman would box circles around Valuev, probably knock him out late.

[Captain Hook]

Are you mad? What are you watchin OR? You have just said that Skelton is good on another thread! You must be drunk..

Maybe 10 years ago pal but come on, Valuev is dire but Evander should have retired 5 years ago

[DavidPayne]

This isn't quite the mismatch its portrayed to be, however it remain a criminal match-up, a fact further underlined by Valuev's own ascertion in the summer that it would be a joke because of Holy's age.

It certainly has a Drago v Creed feel, which I know is a stupid parallel to draw but Holyfield has too good a chin for his own good and he could well be hot with some heavy shots for 12 rounds here.

I think this, short of Holyfield victory, is the final stop for Evander. I just hope he leaves this time.

If he wins, he should also retire, but if they can find someone Bowe can beat -w hich wouldn't be easy - then it has an air of inevitability about it.

[Rocky Balboa]

Fancy Holyfield will see the final bell.

Doubt this will be the case. Apparently, after earning well over $100,000,000 throughout his career, Evander is in financial difficulty. How he can be in such a predicament I don't know? Its madness what these boxers do with their money. I'm sure they must think they have so much money that they will never get through it, but quite clearly, that's not the case!

Anyway, if rumours are accurate, then Holyfield wil no choice but to box on for financial reasons, which would be a great shame. Its seems fighters fighting on for money has happened a lot in boxing over they years.

Holyfield has been shot for years & I fully expect Valuev to win quite easily, & that's not meant to be disrespectful to Evander, but he's fighting a losing battle. I hope he retires after this one, but I just can't see it I'm afraid.

[overhand_right]

Are you mad? What are you watchin OR? You have just said that Skelton is good on another thread! You must be drunk..

Maybe 10 years ago pal but come on, Valuev is dire but Evander should have retired 5 years ago

Ha!

Well i just meant it relatively -- if Skelton can beat Sprott and Williams and have a go v Chagaev, you obviously can't call him sh#t. He's gone further than most men who lace the gloves on go.

As for Holyfield... haven't you seen him against Rahman? He boxed well that night!

[DavidPayne]

That was 2003 wasn't it, and Rahman was pulled on a TD7?

[stujones]

I really did start to believe Holyfield wasn't quite as finished as people made out when he went on his little run post James Toney. Of course he wasn't near the fighter he was, but I thought he looked like recaputuring his Hasim Rahman form. Fres Oquendo was a decent win, and I did have him winning, every bit as good as what RJJ did to earn his shot at Calzaghe. However, he was truly dire against Ibragimov, who is possibly in the top 5 worst heavyweight champions in history, and this time there was no excuses - no shoulder problems (which I did believe), no stomach cramps, nothing.

He just couldn't get the punches off, and Ibragimov toyed with him. I can see him doing a little better vs Valuev, and you never know someone with the pure punch technique of Holyfield might give him one or two questions - but I'll be surprised he can pull the trigger enough to win more than 3 rounds on his way to a points defeat. Hope he does it mind.

Its a shame because 10 years ago, Holyfield had the perfect fighting style to embarres Valuev.

[stujones]

I managed to shake Holys hand like a complete fanboy from ringside at the JC v RJJ fight last week. I was shocked at how relatively small he seemed.

I don't want to see this.

So Valuevs word means nothing then.

Did Valuev a choice in the matter..... Golota helped the decision. Maybe it should have been Austin.

[oliverfennell]

I managed to shake Holys hand like a complete fanboy from ringside at the JC v RJJ fight last week. I was shocked at how relatively small he seemed.

I don't want to see this.

So Valuevs word means nothing then.

Did Valuev a choice in the matter..... Golota helped the decision. Maybe it should have been Austin.

Wasn't Kali Meehan supposed to be on the shortlist? No great shakes, but he would have been a better opponent than Holyfield and at least would have a puncher's chance. Holyfield has got NO chance.

[buster007]

[quote="Old bones Ian"][quote]Yeah i met Holyfield at the Sydney olympics , and he isn't that big, surprising really[/quote][/quote]
i happened to meet him as well in sydney and i was a little surprised he wasn't a bit bigger. he had the legs of a runner not a heavyweight boxing champ. but his head looks like a truck couldn't hurt him.

meehan was apparently told by valuevs team about a month ago that he was next to fight valuev, and valuev came out and said he was training to fight meehan. so i don't know what happened about that matchup.