BoxRec

Chagaev has pulled out of his proposed unification bout with Ibragimov. Holyfield has quickly (a little too quickly for my liking) stepped in.

From fightnews:

"After the sudden withdrawal of WBA Heavyweight Champion Ruslan Chagaev from his October 13th unification bout with WBO Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov due to undisclosed medical reasons, Seminole Warriors Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, Main Events and Golden Grain Promotions, in association with Sampson Lewkowicz and Yuri Federov’s Sports Lab, have announced that stepping up to the plate in an attempt to win the heavyweight championship of the world for a fifth time is Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield. Ibragimov-Holyfield sponsored by Nafta Moskva, will take place on the original date of Ibragimov-Chagaev, Saturday, October 13, at the state of the art Khodynka Arena in Moscow, Russia. Broadcast plans for the bout will be announced once they are secured."

I can see this ending badly for Evander. Ibragimov ain't great, but he's a shitload better than a 78 year old Lou Savarese.

Yes, he's shot, yes, he's likely to be beaten conclusively, and no, he shouldn't be fighting at all.

BUT just in case he somehow pulls it off, I really hope this is on British TV so I can say I watched history unfold.

I'm rooting for him big time, despite having called for his retirement many times since long ago. What a fairytale it would be.

I am too

I've been calling for him to retire for four or more years now, and have written numerous articles on it. However, if he is going to fight then at least I'd like to see him win, and then hopefully retire.

At least Ibragimov isn't a monstrous puncher like Wlad K, could be worse.

You really think he'll retire if he wins it? Even if he gets knocked out I doubt he'd retire!

due to undisclosed medical reasons

There's a severe case of cold feet going about, maybe it's that.

Well at least Evander will be going in against arguably the weakest of the belt holders, and softest puncher. Best that happens is that he loses on a not too one-sided points decision, and retires, for ever, with dignity, and the realisation that he's not going to get back to the top.

in B Monthly he says he will retire once he has unified......

Undisclosed medical problems? Hope it's not steroids hes flushing out. Not that I'm insinuating.

Ibrag is easily the weakest champ. He drew with Ray Austin. Wlad beat Austin with one arm. But he's the most nimble of the heavyweights, and being a southpaw with fast hands, he will make Evander look like hell.

Evander's balance was bad vs Savarese. He can annihilate a Jeremy Bates any day of the weak but anything above that level is a tall order.

I give Holyfield our chance as I dont rate Ibgramivov.

God, much as when he announced a comeback, I had a sick feeling in my belly, I might just go to see this.

There have been a few heavyweight title fights touted for here in Moscow, only to be changed back to the States later in the promotional process, but if this one comes off, I'll be there. To have a chance of seeing Holyfield do it would be worth it.

Since we've talked about boxrec trips to Vegas, London, Paris -- and Vienna and StTropez, for all I know -- maybe a trip to Eastern Europe's sin city would be worth a shout.

200 or so quid for a flight, seeing a living legend, and unbelievable -- and oh-so-available -- women would be quite a booze up.

I think Ibragimov has very nice skills, workrate and some pop (not much but some). Hes actually a little bit like a big poor mans barrera for me. Holyfield will probably be the best fighter hes been in with. It could be interesting and Holy may just pull it off but he'll probably be too immobile.

Ibragimov is the only champion who I give Holyfield a chance with. He is usually quiet a come forward fighter, which Holyfield will like.

I like what i see with Ibragimov and i see him peppering a sluggish Holyfield and taking a decision. However i can't get past Ibragimov's struggle and draw with Ray Austin. Austin was a low level opponent and Klitschko exposed him big time yet Ibragimov was rocked and dropped by this man. It gives Holyfield a chance, but a slim one. I back Ibragimov.

All said and done i'm annoyed that Chagaev pulled out, we really needed this unification for the health of the division. And with Holyfield stepping in it just gets even unhealthier.

Seminole Warriors Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, Main Events and Golden Grain Promotions, Sampson Lewkowicz and Yuri Federov’s Sports Lab.

A pathetic match and all the parties involved should have a hard look at themselves.

If Holyfield-Ibragimov is the best fight that six parties can come up with (including the boxing behemoths GBP and ME) no wonder this sport is in trouble.

Anyone got the UFC ticketline?

What's the highest average age age of a contested world title bout? If Holyfield gets through this you might see Holyfield Vs McCall

Cannibal wrote:What's the highest average age age of a contested world title bout? If Holyfield gets through this you might see Holyfield Vs McCall

Well, technically its Bugner vs Bonecrusher Smith.

~ MIKEE ~ wrote:in B Monthly he says he will retire once he has unified......

Because he thinks God wants him to unify the titles again!

At least he's getting a shot at one of the weaker champs.
I'd hate to see him in against Klitschko.

does he hear voices inside his head - thats certifiable in my book

car crash t.v

Holyfield is doomed.

Was reading the Holyfield in piece in Boxing Monthly yesterday, he's nuts.

Goz wrote:Was reading the Holyfield in piece in Boxing Monthly yesterday, he's nuts.

He was happy in his retirement... didn't even think about fighting again... until some kids asked him if he would... he was about to say no... and then, for some unexplicable reason, he mouthed the word 'yes' instead... his only explanation was that it was God who put the word in his mouth.

What retirement was this Oliver, I didn't think Evander EVER officially retired. He was forced out of the game briefly twice, but can never remember him saying "thats it".

So when was he happy in retirement? Was it immediately post Moorer 1.

stujones wrote:What retirement was this Oliver, I didn't think Evander EVER officially retired. He was forced out of the game briefly twice, but can never remember him saying "thats it".

So when was he happy in retirement? Was it immediately post Moorer 1.

Yes, that's right. He didn't VOLUNTARILY retire, but he was OFFICIALLY retired, and he claims he was more than happy to be. It was only because God wanted him to that he came back...

What a delusional twat holyfield is.

I admire him as a fighter, but as a human being, he's a bit of a prick. All this bollocks about religion, the guys had more kids out of wedlock than a sperm donor for christ's sake!

I thought it very crass of him when he started banging on about how his god have overcome Tyson's god after beating him the first time, or some such bullshit.

That's right, I'm sure that if there is some sort of sky god sitting in the depths of space somewhere, that he is really concerned about whether or not Holyfield chooses to fight on, because boxing is SO important to the fate of the world and the cosmos in general, such incredible arrogance. It's enabled him to rampantly overachieve, but it's also leading him towards a beating and a bad one somewhere down the line.

If Holyfield said that a giant spaghetti monster from outer space had been telling him he had to fight on, they'd have the fook sectioned, but because he belives god is using him as a conduit and speaking through him it's alright.

Religious zealots, what a bunch of idiots they are.

Maybe god can help him change his nappies when he's in a wheelchair in 10 years time. Or maybe it will be god actually pushing the turds through his asshole into his bumcrack, or making the squelching sound as shit rasps from his ass.

Evander, you've gone completely mental!