The Ultimate Irony of Ibragimov-Holyfield

[Sweet Scientist]

Is that when you had a meaningful fight that would have been good for the sport and great for the division both HBO and Showtime pissed all over it.

Now there's a real chance that someone might try to pick this joke fight up for broadcast in the USA, where there's a real chance for boxing to get another black eye because an old guy is likely to get himself hurt.

Hate to repeat the phrase, but this is what's wrong with boxing.

[magnificentdave]

Holyfield is not going to get killed in this fight or go braindead, it's getting annoying listening to everyone talk about how Holyfield shouldn't be fighting because he's too old, too past it, it's traditional for a real champ to make one last run, and it's his damn decision.

[joeboxer]

Holyfield is not going to get killed in this fight or go braindead, it's getting annoying listening to everyone talk about how Holyfield shouldn't be fighting because he's too old, too past it, it's traditional for a real champ to make one last run, and it's his damn decision.he's a cheater and he sure as hell hasn't earned a title shot.

[Mrboogie23]

whats wrong with boxing, is not that holyfield will get hurt(who really cares about that), its the fact that sultan-holyfield will get more attention than a unfication bout.



That is exactly correct. This fight will get more media attention and hype then the HW unification fight would.

Bullshit.

[Jose FM]

He might as well fight for a title now cause he wasnt gonna stop until: 1. he got a title shot 2. Someone put him outta his misery and killed him already, so choice 1 is better than 2, no?

[JETSKI]

He might as well fight for a title now cause he wasnt gonna stop until: 1. he got a title shot 2. Someone put him outta his misery and killed him already, so choice 1 is better than 2, no?

Thats his mentality for sure. But showthing tells me Holy will not be denied!

Damn it!!!:fire

[Dempsey1238]

Holyfiled 5 time heavyweight champ lol.

[Sloan299]

Pulling out of this fight because of some kind of stomach problem is suspicious to say the least. Maybe there is something big going on behind the scenes; I'm thinking of a possible Klitschko - Chagaev unification.

[Heavyrighthand]

[quote=magnificentdave]it's getting annoying listening to everyone talk about how Holyfield shouldn't be fighting because he's too old, too past it, quote]

:good

Holy is no more at risk of getting hurt than anyone else. The man is in fantastic physical condition, and is always well prepared and ready to fight.

These he's gonna get hurt and give boxing a black eye type posts are rediculous.

[Sweet Scientist]

Are they? How do people see Wlad vs Holyfield playing out? Does anyone seriously believe that Holyfield could take a beating like Brewster did and not become a PR nightmare for the sport?

Maybe Ibragimov won't be the one to send him drinking his food through a straw, but Holyfield needs a reality check. He hasn't done anything to earn this title shot, but then again, what's new in boxing?

[2ironmt]

Are they? How do people see Wlad vs Holyfield playing out? Does anyone seriously believe that Holyfield could take a beating like Brewster did and not become a PR nightmare for the sport?

Maybe Ibragimov won't be the one to send him drinking his food through a straw, but Holyfield needs a reality check. He hasn't done anything to earn this title shot, but then again, what's new in boxing? agreed wlad would hurt holy, but again wlad could hurt any hw. sultan can't hurt holy though, outwork him possibly.

[Unforgiven]

Wladimir Klitschko's been stopped more times than Holyfield has, so that tells you what level of BULLSHIT is being spewed about Holyfield getting hurt.

Holyfield can take care of himself.

[sues2nd]

Is that when you had a meaningful fight that would have been good for the sport and great for the division both HBO and Showtime pissed all over it.

Now there's a real chance that someone might try to pick this joke fight up for broadcast in the USA, where there's a real chance for boxing to get another black eye because an old guy is likely to get himself hurt.

Hate to repeat the phrase, but this is what's wrong with boxing.

Dont count the old man out just yet. Sultan, has good skills and decent power, but Evander does also. If Sultan comes in unprepared (like he did vs Austin), Evander is likley to take this one.

AND, if that does happen, him winning the title again (dont forget how unbelievably popular he was in his prime) at this advanced age will do nothing but thrust boxing back into the mainstream sports media....probably bringing old fans back and new fans in. This could turn out to be a very good thing. (Remember how much exposure Foreman brought when he won it all in his comeback...)

That said, I dont know if he will win (Ill make up my mind soon lol). But I also dont see Sultan putting on a clinic as well.

-edit-

Just went to espn's website and its front page news...boxing doesnt get that kind of exposure normally on there.....Especially not a sub for a fight. This is definately a good thing in the short term, only negative I see is that it postpones a unification bout....but that is more Chagaev's fault as opposed to Evander's.

[barneyrub]

Its a shame Tyson cant leave the states just now or he might be in ibragamovs corner which would be ironic versus holyfield.

[emanuel_augustus]

it's getting annoying listening to everyone talk about how Holyfield shouldn't be fighting because he's too old, too past it, it's traditional for a real champ to make one last run, and it's his damn decision.

Holyfield is too old, too past it, and shouldn't be fighting anymore. He certainly shouldn't be fighting for a belt.

[Lampley]

I think this is terrible for boxing.

What casual sports fans will read into this is: 1) an old man can't stop taking punches to the face and 2) remains in the hunt for a HW title because the sport has fallen so far.

Definitely not the image the sport wants to project, especially considering there are so many great fights on the horizon. The more the Holy/Sultan fights nabs headlines away from the real action, the worse for the sport.

[El Bombasto]

Is that when you had a meaningful fight that would have been good for the sport and great for the division both HBO and Showtime pissed all over it.

Now there's a real chance that someone might try to pick this joke fight up for broadcast in the USA, where there's a real chance for boxing to get another black eye because an old guy is likely to get himself hurt.

Hate to repeat the phrase, but this is what's wrong with boxing.

I don't think Ibrag has the power to really damage Holyfield, but you're correct, this fight is a joke.

[Zakman]

I think this is terrible for boxing.

What casual sports fans will read into this is: 1) an old man can't stop taking punches to the face and 2) remains in the hunt for a HW title because the sport has fallen so far.

Definitely not the image the sport wants to project, especially considering there are so many great fights on the horizon. The more the Holy/Sultan fights nabs headlines away from the real action, the worse for the sport.\

Actually, I disagree. Because of Holyfield's fame, this fight is going to get much more attention for the sport than most other HW fights on the horizon would - even ones involving Wlad. And IF Holyfield wins it will be a BIG story.

There is certainly a risk, however - I do agree that if Holyfield loses badly it could be bad for the sport. I don't think it's gonna happen, though - I think he's gonna surprise alot of folks and beat the odds, winning a clear UD

[bigG]

Are they? How do people see Wlad vs Holyfield playing out? Does anyone seriously believe that Holyfield could take a beating like Brewster did and not become a PR nightmare for the sport?

Maybe Ibragimov won't be the one to send him drinking his food through a straw, but Holyfield needs a reality check. He hasn't done anything to earn this title shot, but then again, what's new in boxing?

his whole career has earned him his title shot...he's evander holyfield ferchrissakes.....the only irony for me is that i guess the russians can sell more seats with an ageing american in the mix than they could with two of their own boys.....i see this as a close fight and one that evander definitely has a chance of winning......sultan aint fighting briggs here, holy can still walk the walk....

[Sweet Scientist]

Thanks to BBC Sport keeping a list of historically related articles, let me sum up my problems with this fight for everyone again...

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[Lampley]

Thanks to BBC Sport keeping a list of historically related articles, let me sum up my problems with this fight for everyone again...

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

On point. People who haven't seen Holy fight since the 1990s are going to be like, "What the fuck?" He's so stiff now, and if someone in that condition can win a belt, it discredits the whole division.

[Cruiser1]

Holyfield actually has a chance in this fight. I don't care what anyone says. Workrate aside (Holy's is low), anybody that draws with Ray Austin is 100% beatable. 5-time world champion baby!

[Farmboxer]

Sultan Ibragimov will beat Holyfield, should be a mismatch, Vlad would knock them both out on the same night.