October 14, 2007 – Evander Holyfield is the only heavyweight boxer who won the world heavyweight boxing crown four times. But his ring career was suspended by reason of poor performance by the New York Athletic Commission in 2004 after four consecutive losses in which he hardly showed resistance to prove his championship caliber. His suspension by the New York Athletic Commission means that Holyfield could not fight in all fifty states in the United States.
After passing the required medical tests, the legendary Evander Holyfield finally got a chance to fight WBO’s reigning heavyweight king Sultan Ibragimov. The bout is held in Khodynka Arena, Moscow, Russia, October 12, 2007, and it’s just concluded.
Despite his age and previous record of poor performance, Holyfield fought a closely contested fight. Ibragimov on the other hand, at 32 years old is obviously the more agile with good lateral movements and great hand speed. Ibragimov could have hit Holyfield more had he not opted for a wider distance between him and his opponent as his strategy not to get hit. His game plan was focused on wearing the older Holyfield out and defeating him on points rather than knocking the latter out, maybe he knows that he doesn’t have a very overwhelming power of a punch that could put Holyfield to rest. He also knew that Holyfield, despite his age, still has that knock out punch that got him at times. Had it not been for his durability and superb condition, Ibragimov could have been knocked out by the strong right straights and hooks unleashed by Holyfield in the fourth, eighth and eleventh rounds. Although more superior in punching speed, Ibragimov was still correct in maintaining the distance as a sort of avoidance from a possible lucky punch from Holyfield. In that case, Holyfield must have been the one to take the initiative of closing in on Ibragimov in order to increase his winning chances.
The fight was concluded by a 12-round unanimous decision in favor of Sultan Ibragimov.
Holyfield will turn 45 years old in 2 weeks. After all that he has earned in his entire career, it’s time for him to hang up his gloves for good. Boxing, like most sports, is a game of youth, agility, speed and strength. Holyfield had his share of glory in his younger days that an aging man could not re-prove.
Ibragimov on the other hand, is still the reigning WBO heavyweight king. A possible unifying match between him and the WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is coming. But does he (Ibragimov) have the attributes that will make him worth the fighter to take on Klitschko? Klitschko is a giant, flat-footed, awkward heavyweight with long arms and tremendous hand speed that could send Ibragimov to sleep within the first 10 minutes of their fight.
Due to a virtual drought of heavyweight talents at present, Klitschko is undoubtedly the best heavyweight boxer today.
The legendary Evander Holyfield? He had his time, he has the money, his name is on the records. What more can he want? Let him have his rest.
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