Holyfield getting the title shot is better for everybody!

[diamondDave]

Holyfield is still a big name not just in boxing but in mainstream American sports. When it was announced that he would be replacing Chagaev, it made the front page of ESPN's news stories. This fight will establish Ibragimov more than anything else he has done in his career up to this point. And after he defeats Holyfield, there will be a lot more interest in Ibragimov-Chagaev unification. That fight will now almost certainly be on one of the major American networks and both fighters will cash in.

Holyfield will get his shot and hopefully retire.

Ibragimov will establish himself as more of a name.

Ibragimov-Chagaev will be much bigger with Ibragimov's enhanced status!

[rendog67]

im not sure i think we will all know after the fight if it was better for boxing

[DamonD]

Sultan will get little attention before, during and after this fight from the US media, don't expect that this will be some kind of springboard to US popularity for Sultan.

He beats Holyfield up, he's just beaten a 44-year old shot guy. He loses, he's a no-good bum and won't be remembered anyway. That's the kind of extremist opinion you can expect from your local ESPNs and all about this whole thing.

Bloody sad, but true.

[AJAX]

besides getting a decent paycheck and a little more exposure the fight itself is a no-win situation for him....like what was said above. I just hope this is Holy's last hoorah and then rides off into the sunset.

[chewy 22]

i think holyfield gets absolutley destroyed, his power is gone, he never had much anyway, and if the powers gone, retire

[Stinky gloves]

Finaly Holyfield sceptics will have his day or bad night.

[Zakman]

I'm not sold on Sultan, AT ALL. Anybody who gets knocked down and draws with someone as mediocre as Ray Austin can be beaten, even by today's Holyfield. This is Holyfield's best shot at a title, imo, and he could win this - Sultan is really not that good, so far as I can see.

[hobgoblin]

I'm not sold on Sultan, AT ALL. Anybody who gets knocked down and draws with someone as mediocre as Ray Austin can be beaten, even by today's Holyfield. This is Holyfield's best shot at a title, imo, and he could win this - Sultan is really not that good, so far as I can see.

Holyfield should wait for one of these belt holders to somehow unify them all (2 fights). Then hopefully it goes into the hands of someone that is suited for Holyfield - and THEN Holy fights that guy tries to win the crown. You say that anyone who unifies the titles is gonna be tough to beat - not really, it is also a matter of those guys JUST simply facing each other. Hopefully for Holy, the belt doesn't go into the hands of the Klits or else that'd be a problem. Think George Foreman - he could have never beaten young Holy at that age for the crown - so he waited with luck for Moorer to get the title - his average chin and Foreman's power was a perfect match for Foreman - so Foreman won the 3 titles with a single blow - EASIEST road for Holy's goal.

[Zakman]

Holyfield should wait for one of these belt holders to somehow unify them all (2 fights). Then hopefully it goes into the hands of someone that is suited for Holyfield - and THEN Holy fights that guy tries to win the crown. You say that anyone who unifies the titles is gonna be tough to beat - not really, it is also a matter of those guys JUST simply facing each other. Hopefully for Holy, the belt doesn't go into the hands of the Klits or else that'd be a problem. Think George Foreman - he could have never beaten young Holy at that age for the crown - so he waited with luck for Moorer to get the title - his average chin and Foreman's power was a perfect match for Foreman - so Foreman won the 3 titles with a single blow - EASIEST road for Holy's goal.
Very logical - and I agree. Unfortunately, it doesn't account for the role of money ("bird in hand"), and that Holyfield doesn't have Foreman's equalizer of power, and his likelihood of winning is more likely to decrease the longer he waits. I am sure these are two KEY reasons why he jumped at the first shot, even if your proposal makes more sense from a logical/historical perspective.

[ChrisPontius]

Sultan will get little attention before, during and after this fight from the US media, don't expect that this will be some kind of springboard to US popularity for Sultan.

He beats Holyfield up, he's just beaten a 44-year old shot guy. He loses, he's a no-good bum and won't be remembered anyway. That's the kind of extremist opinion you can expect from your local ESPNs and all about this whole thing.

Bloody sad, but true.

The irony of the thing is, Holyfield was in exactly the same situation 15 years ago, against old Foremand and an old Holmes. I suspect this upcoming fight to look like that one, by the way.

[Imperial1]

The sad reality is that Holyfield is the only American Heavy Weight thatc can save the division ..

[Heavyrighthand]

I don't think Holy at his age is the draw some think he is.


And beating Ibragimov won't mean much of anything as the name *Ibragomov* is not really known at all by anyone. Even Jim Lampley, a guy who makes his living commentating fights, didnt' know his name. LOL

But, I guess we shall see. I may be wrong and it may sell well, but I don't think it will.

[bigG]

..the sad reality is that i firmly believe holyfield has ever chance of winning this fight........and that speaks volumes for sultan......and, perhaps, paints a rather bleak picture of the heavyweight picture.....hell, il be rooting for the old geezer......

[Rock0052]

Part of me doesn't want Holy to win because once he does, inevitably the next fight will be against Wlad. And, while I like busting the balls of Holyfield fans from time to time, I don't dislike the guy- especially not that much.

But, if Holyfield does win, a unification fight is much, much more likely. Decisions, decisions...:think

[emanuel_augustus]

I'm not sold on Sultan, AT ALL. Anybody who gets knocked down and draws with someone as mediocre as Ray Austin can be beaten, even by today's Holyfield. This is Holyfield's best shot at a title, imo, and he could win this - Sultan is really not that good, so far as I can see.
Do you just base your opinions of fighters off of one bad performance? He was 10 pounds overweight for the Austin fight and seriously lacking mobility. At 218-220, Ibragimov has a chance against anyone.

See his fight against Lance Whitaker for the blueprint on how good Ibragimov can be. I think he stands a good chance to beat any heavyweight other than Wlad.

[emanuel_augustus]

Think George Foreman - he could have never beaten young Holy at that age for the crown - so he waited with luck for Moorer to get the title - his average chin and Foreman's power was a perfect match for Foreman - so Foreman won the 3 titles with a single blow - EASIEST road for Holy's goal.

I seem to remember Foreman fighting Holyfield in '91 and performing pretty well.

[FiveStoneFists]

Why is this fight happening?

[AJAX]

Sultan is not Bates, Manndalone, "Hands of cotton" Oquendo or the great Lou
Saverse. Sultan isn't the greatest but he is a big step up from the Tomato Can isle in the grocery store.Holy will loose this fight.

[Heavyrighthand]

"Hands of cotton" .........................Tomato Can isle in the grocery store..

:lol: Two good phrases one one post. :good

[2ironmt]

Sultan is not Bates, Manndalone, "Hands of cotton" Oquendo or the great Lou
Saverse. Sultan isn't the greatest but he is a big step up from the Tomato Can isle in the grocery store.Holy will loose this fight. oquendo's a good hw and would give anybody save wlad a good fight and could beat lots of guys including sultan.

[Scar]

If Holyfield wins then there is no way in hell he'll retire, you might want to wish he loses so he can retire. Another shocking fact, if Holyfield wins don't be surprised if he calls out Wladimir. :lol:

[aliwasthegreatest]

yea i can see it too

[Heavyrighthand]

yea i can see it too

Me three. I think if Holy does manage to beat Sultan, he will be full of confidence that he can complete his mission, and he'll start calling out Chag and/or Wlad, right off the bat.

Count on it. :good

I am not sure how they'll respond, but we'll see. I think seeing as how Wlad is also on a unification mission (funny how that works) he will probably take Evander up on it.

But I hope that Evander stays the HELL away from Don King, as that'll f*ck things up, real quick.

[diamondDave]

Sultan is not Bates, Manndalone, "Hands of cotton" Oquendo or the great Lou
Saverse. Sultan isn't the greatest but he is a big step up from the Tomato Can isle in the grocery store.Holy will loose this fight.


I have to say that I agree almost 100%....Holy didn't deserve to beat Oquendo though.

[Motor City Sam]

Holyfield should wait for one of these belt holders to somehow unify them all (2 fights). Then hopefully it goes into the hands of someone that is suited for Holyfield - and THEN Holy fights that guy tries to win the crown. You say that anyone who unifies the titles is gonna be tough to beat - not really, it is also a matter of those guys JUST simply facing each other. Hopefully for Holy, the belt doesn't go into the hands of the Klits or else that'd be a problem. Think George Foreman - he could have never beaten young Holy at that age for the crown - so he waited with luck for Moorer to get the title - his average chin and Foreman's power was a perfect match for Foreman - so Foreman won the 3 titles with a single blow - EASIEST road for Holy's goal.

Interesting thought, but I don't think at his age and current ability Holyfield can wait for a unified title shot that might or might not come. He is actually fortunate that things worked out the way they did and he's right to take his shot at Sultan now. I'm not saying he will beat Sultan, but he's got a better shot at him than at Wlad or the winner of Oleg/Peter, IMO.

[sst]

I'm not sold on Sultan, AT ALL. Anybody who gets knocked down and draws with someone as mediocre as Ray Austin can be beaten, even by today's Holyfield. This is Holyfield's best shot at a title, imo, and he could win this - Sultan is really not that good, so far as I can see.
Holyfeld is a chump who has no busness fighting for a title. No Sultan is not that good but at least he fought someone for his belt. Holyfeld is nothing but a poster boy for HGH. These ancient American fighters are a joke with Holyfeld being the worst of a bad lot. He lost to Toney ktfo and that pretty well says it all. Larry Donald had him out on his feet and let the old man off the hook. Put that in context. Larry Donald just lost to a beginner. Get rid of the bum Holyfeld and replace him with the kid who just shut out Donald. I am sick of these wahsed up pretenders looking for a paycheck. They are a insult to the sport. Why not let Ruiz fight Sultan he owns Holyfeld and is still active.

[youthmann]

He knocked Oquendo down then Oquendo ran all night. Holy beat him.

:thumbsup That is so correctly said - holy beat him, how can anybody say else???? Maybe they did'nt see the fight?

[youthmann]

Holyfeld is a chump who has no busness fighting for a title. No Sultan is not that good but at least he fought someone for his belt. Holyfeld is nothing but a poster boy for HGH. These ancient American fighters are a joke with Holyfeld being the worst of a bad lot. He lost to Toney ktfo and that pretty well says it all. Larry Donald had him out on his feet and let the old man off the hook. Put that in context. Larry Donald just lost to a beginner. Get rid of the bum Holyfeld and replace him with the kid who just shut out Donald. I am sick of these wahsed up pretenders looking for a paycheck. They are a insult to the sport. Why not let Ruiz fight Sultan he owns Holyfeld and is still active.

First of all holyfield is not in for the paycheck - at least that you should know. Maybe, his has not earned a title shot but it is happening now - anyway. Please mention an other contender that you would prefer insteed.
Boxing is a sport where people lose and win - some people stop fighting when they get their first big defeat - some DO NOT. People did also talk about wlad to stop fighting after being ko'ed twice. But what happens now, everybody cheers for wlad and compares him with the best HW during time. If Holy meat Larry Donald or Toney today he would probably beat the hell out of them.
Maybe holy is past his best days, but the guy still got some left. He is looking better each time.
Remember the man is a former 4 time HW champ and undisputed CW champ - he is the real deal.
Holy don't care about if he meets Ruslan, Wlad, Peter or Sultan - he believes he have a good chance to beat them all - be sure of that. Holy have never ducked anybody, he has always fought the best and that what he want's to keep doing - try to understand that. If holy wins (okay the chances are maybe only 20-35%) I'll bet that we have an unification fight with another belt holder quicker than we do believe. That is something that earns boxing and not some shit were the champs keep away from each other because they don't wan't to take any unneccesary chances. We need more - real deal - attitude, and that is why we should appriciate (even old) guys like Evander Holyfield.

- If he loses he loses, but at least he tried to go for his dream. Who dares, who wins. Try to be more positive - mate / it honors both the boxers and the sport.