04/19/24
August 11, 2006
Evander Holyfield: is returning to make a run at a record 5th World Heavyweight Championship.
posted by kidrayter2005 to boxing at 11:24 PM - 31 comments
He was so great. He should have called it quits a few years back. Hopefully someone or something will interject to save his life.
posted by ggermanctl@sbcglobal at 11:50 PM on August 11, 2006
Kidrayter2005, anytime you see some good boxing news post it. I'd like to read it and so do others on the Filter. Thanks again.
posted by T$PORT4lawschool at 11:51 PM on August 11, 2006
I gotta admit, my first thought is: God, please, no.
posted by chicobangs at 11:56 PM on August 11, 2006
Yes, bring on the boxing!
posted by Drood at 11:56 PM on August 11, 2006
My first thought was to wonder what happened to all his money? And then it was that this is sort of sad. Sort of like Ken Shamrock wanting oh so badly to beat Tito Ortiz and its just not ever going to happen. Tough pill for the guy to swallow.
posted by fenriq at 12:27 AM on August 12, 2006
Yes, bring on the......... Brain damage. It is past time for retirement to be taken seriously. I said it before on this topic, and I'll say it again. This is ridiculous, a 43 year old man staging a "come back." This does zero for the sport. He either gets to be punch drunk after a short period of time(due to the long prior period in boxing). Or he comes in and wins, and that shows how shitty the heavyweight division really is.
posted by jojomfd1 at 01:08 AM on August 12, 2006
Tickets for the event, which is being promoted by Holyfield’s, Real Deal Events, are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, plus convenience charges. Good luck with all that. If this fight draws 10k, I'll be surprised. Obviously, the AAC has little else going on from a day to day basis while the Mavs and Stars are off-season, but coming close to selling it out is a long stretch.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:25 AM on August 12, 2006
How about a grudge match between him and George Foremen. They could beat each other with their walkers and the Rollings Stones could do a few songs between rounds. Seriously I hate to see older boxers try to come bacl and make fools out of themselves.
posted by commander cody at 02:13 AM on August 12, 2006
before holyfield fought james toney he said that he would retire if anybody ever embaressed him in the ring.james toney not only fought toe to toe with him he also beat him so bad that,that fight was the first time in his career that his corner had to throw in the towel to keep him from getting seriously hurt.i think he was between the age of 38 and 41 when they fought.
posted by 2005bmw at 02:13 AM on August 12, 2006
It's a sad day for boxing. There has been many sad days such as: George Foreman climbing back in the ring at 45, Mike Tyson bitting Holyfield's ear off and Don King owning about every boxer. There is no way that a 40 plus year old man should be in the ring, not alone one with brain damage. Sad day's indeed.
posted by calvinobass at 07:28 AM on August 12, 2006
I wouldn't say Foreman's decision to climb back into the ring was a bad one. When he came back he was still under 40. He kept chuggin away and when he was 45, he knocked out Michael Moorer and won the WBA and IBF titles. Not only does he still have his wits about him, but the guy is a multi-millionaire. How is that sad?
posted by forrestv at 08:50 AM on August 12, 2006
Boxing fiasco's like this give the UFC all the more power.
posted by Desert Dog at 09:49 AM on August 12, 2006
holyfield's been washed up . he's going to end up like ali, dead man walking. Next thing we'll read is that sugar ray leonard and marvin hagler are having a rematch. Boxing has been on a downhill slide for 10 years. When i was a kid i used to love watching Friday Nite Boxing and Fight of the Century. Damn shame.
posted by ptluigi at 09:57 AM on August 12, 2006
anybody who can barely beat John Ruiz should not be fighting at all.Evander is one of my favorites,but he is severely dillusional if he thinks he is going to be champion again.even though heavyweight boxing is garbage right now,Holyfield is not a contender.he should retire while he has what little sense he has left.
posted by mars1 at 11:04 AM on August 12, 2006
You're a fool if you think boxing is on a downhill slide.
posted by ggermanctl@sbcglobal at 11:05 AM on August 12, 2006
You can cut the anticipation for this fight with a knife. Not since DeLaHoya/Vargas. Ali/Foreman, has there been this much hype for a boxing match. I'm counting down the seconds to this War.......Who's fighting again?
posted by dmontez1392 at 12:11 PM on August 12, 2006
These clowns make the WWE look legitimate.
posted by joromu at 01:43 PM on August 12, 2006
Sort of like Ken Shamrock wanting oh so badly to beat Tito Ortiz and its just not ever going to happen. Tough pill for the guy to swallow. Good one fenriq. Let it go, Champ.....(dramatic pause)...Let it go!
posted by BornIcon at 02:32 PM on August 12, 2006
You're a fool if you think boxing is on a downhill slide. Then I'm a fool.
posted by chicobangs at 03:43 PM on August 12, 2006
That's just sad.
posted by Fence at 03:47 PM on August 12, 2006
I will definately be watching the fight though. No matter how old he is. It could be the start of something special or it could just be a complete beat down by Bates. Either way it will be entertaining.
posted by kidrayter2005 at 04:08 PM on August 12, 2006
It could be the start of something special You can't be serious. Even if he does beat this stiff (Bates), it proves nothing. At one time, I respected Evander and his abilities, he was a warrior in every sense of the word. But, I think, as do many others, that Evander is either delusional or needs money. If he is willing to put his health and his legacy on the line, that is his decision, but, I think I speak for others when I say I hope he doesn't get hurt, and I wish he would just retire gracefully. You're a fool if you think boxing is on a downhill slide. You are a fool if you think that the heavyweight division is anywhere near as good as it was in the 1970's, or the middleweight division is as on half as strong as it was in the 80's.
posted by mjkredliner at 06:03 PM on August 12, 2006
Holyfield is one of the best fighters I have seen....In his prime!! It is sad to see these last few fights he has had, because he is no where near the fighter who beat up Tyson. I hate to see these great fighters be remembered for failed comebacks.
posted by nedshuck at 06:26 PM on August 12, 2006
You can't be serious Yeah, I am serious. I said it COULD be the start of something special. This is the first step and if he wins then he gets going and ready for his next fight and does it all again. If he loses then I think it is done and he should retire.
posted by kidrayter2005 at 07:13 PM on August 12, 2006
He's to old wish him luck though!
posted by luther70 at 08:10 PM on August 12, 2006
It won't be the start of anything special, unless by special you mean him eating through a straw for the rest of his life. If he lives. Is Evander Holyfield really that bad with money that he has to scramble what few brain cells he has left (not to mention his faulty heart) getting the tar beaten out of him by someone still in the meat of his career? I'm hoping he gets knocked out in the first round, so his punishment is as minimal as possible.
posted by chicobangs at 09:28 PM on August 12, 2006
Boxing isn't going uphill, that's for sure. I haven't watched a boxing match in years but I watch the UFC matches at least once every couple of weeks. BornIcon, thanks! Of course, I'm not stupid enough to think I could even lay a hand on Shamrock before he planted me.
posted by fenriq at 10:29 PM on August 12, 2006
This fight shouldn't happen, but I don't blame Evander. His spirit is getting the better of what's left of his mental processes. Anyone who's seen him interviewed early in his career and contrasted that to recent appearances can tell that he's already got problems. Even if he operates on instinct and manages to win, he's going to take some shots (which can only make things worse in the long run). He's gonna get hurt to some degree no matter what, and I can only blame the powers that be in the boxing world who could (and SHOULD!!) prevent it. Evander may not be in a position to know better, but they sure as hell are.
posted by ctal1999 at 12:59 AM on August 13, 2006
I refuse to watch. I know one persons boycott won't really help, but I still refuse to be even a spectator to this travesty.
posted by commander cody at 01:21 AM on August 13, 2006
I don't know if boxing is indeed going downhill, but at best, it's hit a plateau recently. The heavyweight division is a joke, and has been since the days of Leon Spinks. At one time, the heavyweight division was stocked with guys who could legitimately be called contenders, dangerous guys like Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, and others. The division saw a minor comeback with guys like Holyfield, Bowe, David Tua (granted, all style and little substance), and, of course, Mike Tyson, but is a cesspool of has beens (Holyfield) and never really was (Corrie Sanders, the Klitchsko brothers). The lighter weight classes are still where the real excitement is, but I don't think they'll ever reach the high water mark of the 80s again, when charismatic men like Leonard, Hearns, Hagler, Pryor, Arguello, McGuigan, and Bramble stormed into the ring and electrified the crowds.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 12:35 PM on August 13, 2006
Good opportunity for Bates; however, I would like to see Holyfield kick his ass. I know, people say Holyfield should quit. I think he probably should also especially with the suspected brain damage he's suffered much like Bowe. At the same time a fighter is a fighter. Some will say its bad for boxing when a guy keeps going like this and an acccident will happen. Same regards now with Baby Joe, Bowe, and Holyfield. But hey, a contract is a contract, and if a guy is approved to fight and wants to fight let him fight. Go Holyfield, but if you take a beating, please for your fans, no more abuse. Thanks for the post kidrayter2005. It seems as though boxing get passed up on the filter too often. A post like this is great for me anytime, THANKS. overandout