BoxRec

Is everyone going Sue Barker-ing mad or what?

Holyfield should of hung them up years ago, now is far too LATE he's just making me IRATE, may be too much on his PLATE but it's his FATE

If holy loses here he needs to hold his forehand up and admit he's done. He's having a Graf if he thinks he should continue. No doubt there will be backhanded compliments from HBO should he win, but this is bad no matter how you slice it. They shouldn't LET this happen, many are at FAULT. even if holy was DEUCED up he will be knocked OUT before long, there is no ADVANTAGE to this comeback

lvlarc_uk wrote:Holyfield should of hung them up years ago, now is far too LATE he's just making me IRATE, may be too much on his PLATE but it's his FATE

I didn't realise Frosties boy was lurking on these forums....

http://www.gr8pr.net/images/frosties-tiger2.gif

I recently watched some of Holyfields first professional fights on DVD the same fire, determination and never say die atitude he had then, the thing that made him such a great fighter is now in danger of destroying him.

Holyfield is as shot as Jerry Quarry was 1977 and we all know what happened to that brave warrior.

I wish Holyfield well.

Twenty years ago, Evander Holyfield slugged it out with Dwight Qawi for 15 breathtaking rounds to become the first of a celebrated group of American Los Angeles Olympians to win a world title. He went on to prove himself arguably the greatest cruiserweight of all time, before making his way up to heavyweight and surviving a notable war with Mike "Dynamite" Dokes on the way to the richest prize in sport in 1990.
Since then, the wars have continued for the remarkable Georgia warrior, who tomorrow night takes on Jeremy Bates in a 10-rounder in Dallas.
British fans could be forgiven for thinking Evander is taking on a tennis player, Bates is so unknown as a fighter. Last time out, the 32-year-old Kentuckian, laughably nicknamed "The Beast", was stopped in two by perennial fringe contender Ray Austin in Cleveland in April. He was also stopped in two by Kirk Johnson. In fact, he's been stopped every time he's stepped up. If this was a last hurrah for Evander, the small, aggressive, wide-open Bates would fit the bill perfectly. Regrettably, Evander sees this as a tune up for something bigger and we have to judge his display in lieu of a murky future.
Holyfield is old - so old one of his former opponents recently died of a heart attack. Banned from boxing in New York for his own safety, Holyfield is convinced he can still make it in a heavyweight division that has changed beyond all comprehension from his 90's heyday. Today you have to be European to succeed. Holyfield is just one of a dire collection of American heavies, possessing baggage that wouldn't get him through an airport's doors let alone on a plane.
David Haye reckoned the ex-champion's speech was deteriorating in a trashy piece in The Sun - a man hoping to tread the Holyfield path (hoping, indeed). Bernard Hopkins also advised Holyfield to quit - the ultimate role model for boxers over 40 (Holyfield is 43). It's a tricky business. For every Tunney, you have have a million Holyfields.
Nobody is convinced against their will.
Evander hasn't fought since Larry Donald comprehensively outscored him in a 12-rounder at Madison Square Garden in November 2004. Before that, he was outclassed and stopped in nine by the trash-talking, quick-tempered James Toney. And he shrugged off the pain of a torn rotator cuff to last 12 rounds with slippery Chris Byrd in a crack at the IBF heavyweight title in December 2002.
He hasn't won a fight since he butted Hasim Rahman out of their June 2002 encounter.
This at least defines his clash with Bates. Holyfield has been losing but losing to the best (cough, cough). But if he loses or simply looks bad against the hapless Bates tomorrow, there can be no excuses for the man who has fought more world champions than any other (Qawi, Tyrone Booze, Ricky Parkey, Ossie Ocasio, Carlos DeLeon, Pinklon Thomas, Dokes, James Douglas, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, Ray Mercer, Bobby Czyz, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, John Ruiz, Rahman, Byrd and Toney).
Putting it simply: the ultimate overachiever will have underachieved against a nobody.
Bates has a reasonable 21-11-1 [18] record but hails from America's Midwest, an area notorious for gas station attendants, night watchmen and janitors, all of whom happen to box. Oklahoma's Jerry "Wimpy" Halstead retired in 1997 with a record 83-19-1 (63) but was hammered in four by Herbie Hide in Norwich in 1993. Missouri's Rob Calloway has a record of 58-7-1 (45) but had his jaw broken by non-punching Audley Harrison at Brentford in 2003.
So there's no telling how bad Bates will be tomorrow. Expect Holyfield to do a number on him, just as the faded Roy Jones did a number on Prince Badi Ajamu last month. But we all know Jones and Holyfield are finished in top flight.

bennie wrote:Twenty years ago, Evander Holyfield slugged it out with Dwight Qawi for 15 breathtaking rounds to become the first of a celebrated group of American Los Angeles Olympians to win a world title..

That was a brutal war indeed. I seem to recall Holyfield was taken to hospital after that fight with dehydration, at one point the doctors were worried he may have damaged his kidneys.

bennie wrote:Holyfield is old - so old one of his former opponents recently died of a heart attack..

Who was this? Have I missed something?

KOJOE90 wrote:

bennie wrote:Twenty years ago, Evander Holyfield slugged it out with Dwight Qawi for 15 breathtaking rounds to become the first of a celebrated group of American Los Angeles Olympians to win a world title..

That was a brutal war indeed. I seem to recall Holyfield was taken to hospital after that fight with dehydration, at one point the doctors were worried he may have damaged his kidneys.

bennie wrote:Holyfield is old - so old one of his former opponents recently died of a heart attack..

Who was this? Have I missed something?

Tee Jay.

bennie wrote:Tee Jay.

Yes, of course.


It's been a long day.

Holyfield has come in the lightest he has weight for EIGHTEEN, yes EIGHTEEN years.

He is actually on the Cruiserweight limit of 200 lbs. I actually thought the Toney and Byrd fights he was a little heavy (by about 5 lbs) but his weight last time, vs Donald, was good (if nothing else). This is taking it to extreme.

Good pic of him over at Fightnews. Looks old.

http://www.fightnews.com/holyfield_hughes2.jpg

Jeesus will smiths's looking rough as!

stujones wrote:Holyfield has come in the lightest he has weight for EIGHTEEN, yes EIGHTEEN years.

He is actually on the Cruiserweight limit of 200 lbs.

Holyfield is actually 220.

Yeah, where'd you get your info stu, he's 220!

In stu's defence, fightnews originally posted his weight as 200lb's last night.

Holyfields weight is the least of his problems, mind.

I got my info all from fightnews - never seen them quite so inacurate before.

Sorry guys, 220 is a little heavy for Holyfield.

Seriously though Holifield should win against Bates, if he doesnt you have to worry for his health as it would indicate an extreme deminishing of his abilities beyond mere age... this guy would probably have been barely good enough to have been Evanders sparring partner 15 years ago... win or lose you get the feeling its all going to end in tears for Evander...

Very classy of Haye to put forth his views in the Sun... the guy goes further down in my estimation by the week!... how long till he's showing up on 'celeb' Big Brother or that get me into the jungle tosh with his mate with the banana nose and plastic tits Jodie!??

silkov wrote: Very classy of Haye to put forth his views in the Sun... the guy goes further down in my estimation by the week!... how long till he's showing up on 'celeb' Big Brother or that get me into the jungle tosh with his mate with the banana nose and plastic tits Jodie!??

Fill us in..

That's what Jodie said.....

She said the same thing to Gary Delaney, he must have misunderstood what she meant.

I was going to make that remark, but considered it in poor taste, thanks for stepping into the fray.

Yeh but shes just such a trollop, can't help thinking that our boy Haye could do a bit better for himself!... shes got a nose like she's done 100 rounds sparring with him!!

From Fightnews.

Four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (39-8-2, 25 KOs) scored an easy second round stoppage of Jeremy Bates (21-12-1, 18 KOs) in front of a crowd of 10,000+ at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Holyfield, coming back from a 21-month layoff and three stright losses, connected easily and often in round one with Bates offering little in return. The 43-year-old Holyfield trapped Bates on the ropes in round two and unleashed a barrage of unanswered punches prompting referee Rafael Ramos to stop the fight at 2:56. It was the third straight loss for Bates.

I still think he is a spent force at World level even considering todays current crop of Heavyweight Title holders. Holyfield beating a semi-retired journeyman means very little in my eyes, with respect to both fighters.

Holyfield has stated that he wants a title shot by 2007 and by the next Olympics in 2008 he wants to be the undisputated Champion of the World again.

I wish the guy well but I have a horrible feeling about this once fine warriors comeback.

KOJOE90 wrote:From Fightnews.

Four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (39-8-2, 25 KOs) scored an easy second round stoppage of Jeremy Bates (21-12-1, 18 KOs) in front of a crowd of 10,000+ at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Holyfield, coming back from a 21-month layoff and three stright losses, connected easily and often in round one with Bates offering little in return. The 43-year-old Holyfield trapped Bates on the ropes in round two and unleashed a barrage of unanswered punches prompting referee Rafael Ramos to stop the fight at 2:56. It was the third straight loss for Bates.

I still think he is a spent force at World level even considering todays current crop of Heavyweight Title holders. Holyfield beating a semi-retired journeyman means very little in my eyes, with respect to both fighters.

Holyfield has stated that he wants a title shot by 2007 and by the next Olympics in 2008 he wants to be the undisputated Champion of the World again.

I wish the guy well but I have a horrible feeling about this once fine warriors comeback.

Evanders been saying the same thing about being undisputed champion again since the Lewis fights, its sad how deluded he is... I think he'll only stop for good when noone will promote his fights anymore so the future for him is probably a grim one...

I was actually quite impressed with Evander. Did not look like a 43 year old in there. Looked no different to a B/C class fighter, like Skelton. I know his opp was a stiff, and it's hard to judge on less that 6 mins of action.

I think it will end in tears for him though.