Pac man would be giving mayweather a good 5 inches in the height departmnt I would say…Add to his great defense and a decent jab and Pac would struggle in my book…
Holyfield returns to the Ring at 46
Evander Holyfield has spent close to an entire day inside a boxing ring taking the heat of the professional fight game over the years. When he faces Nikolay Valuev, the 7ft Russian who is 11 years his junior, for the WBA heavyweight title on Saturday, the former champion will be starting a staggering 406th round.
That figure equates to 1,215 minutes or more than 20 hours of fighting since Holyfield turned professional 24 years ago. While those are impressive numbers, they are also a cause for concern.The man considered a warrior by the boxing fraternity, one who famously reduced Mike Tyson to ear-biting disgrace during their second world title fight in 1997, is now an old man of 46 anticipating a 54th career bout.
Holyfield once had a fortune estimated at more than $100m (65m). But he has financial troubles that have prompted the recent auction of a $10m, 109-room estate in Atlanta and 11 children to support. Now, there is concern from within the sport that he may be fighting on and on for the wrong reasons.
“Holyfield’s taken too many punches he should actually be a punch bag,” says the world-leading trainer Floyd Mayweather senior, who guided Ricky Hatton to an easy 11th-round stoppage of Paulie Malignaggi last month. "He’s 46, 47 right? He’s got to give it up. I can’t see Holyfield winning this.
"He ain’t got no chance, he just hits and grabs, hits and grabs which is the only way he can survive, he ain’t going to win that way. You gotta remember any guy, if he’s fighting at over 40 he’s messed his money up and is taking the chance of messing his head up. Holyfield had a lot of money. He should be finished with boxing he doesn’t like boxing that damn well!
“And Valuev’s 12 years younger?! Oh shit, that’s even worse. Let’s be real he’s fighting a man who is a giant and is 12 years younger, he shouldn’t be allowed to fight. In my time, nobody was good over 40.”
“Look at George Foreman. He was getting his ass whupped when he got lucky he had a once in a lifetime shot,” Mayweather adds of the knockout blow with which the 45-year-old Foreman stopped Michael Moorer to regain the world heavyweight title in 1994.
Holyfield has constantly been asked about his age ahead of the fight against Valuev. But, as fighters do, he has refused to acknowledge he may be in real peril from a man who may also start more than 7st heavier on the night.
“I honestly do not think that size really matters. It is about how each individual fights,” says Holyfield, who last year strenuously denied allegations that linked him with steroid use, which can also place strain on the body. “I know I have more experience so I’m just looking forward to showing my talents in the ring.”
Mayweather’s verdict, though, is backed by medical opinion. “Boxers can suffer head injuries after each bout,” says Andrew Curran, a neurologist at Liverpool’s Alder Hey hospital who specialises in head injuries. “At the end of each round a lot of boxers are refocusing and getting the brain back when they sit on the stool they’re really not there. The trainer has to talk them back.”
So how significant is Holyfield’s long time in the ring? "If a fighter keeps on getting battered subtle cognitive problems can occur. If they have one it might not matter, but two, and if they’re inter-related, could start to be an issue.
"The hippocampus, of which there are two in each of the brain’s hemispheres, is the most susceptible to punches. It’s part of the emotional brain and is important for short-term memory, the recall of events during the past 15 years and the ability to process geographical information.
“But Holyfield might say, ‘I don’t care, I earned all this money, had this career.’ And that’s up to him.”
Yet what Holyfield is saying may come back to haunt him. “This world is not run just by big people or small people,” he said when asked again about Valuev’s size. “It’s run by the people who make the right decisions at the right time.”
On Saturday Holyfield may find out the hardest way if he has chosen correctly.
Does anyone know if Darren Sutherland’s fight is on TV tonight ?
It’s on Sky Sports 1. The program has started but not sure what time Sutherland is fighting.
are there any open boxing tournaments?
i.e. no weight restrictions.
so heavyweight vs featherweight etc
Sutherland on now live from the DCU sports hall
Sutherlands fight is over!
Did he win?
Yep, knocked yer man out with 30 seconds or so left in first round. Impressive but he was fighting a nobody. He was 1/100 to win.
The Clones Cyclone said on the radio today that it was a ridiculously easy first pro fight for him. I suppose Peters (I’m assuming that who’s promoting him) needs a new poster boy to hawk to the public as the next big thing.
His promoter is some lad called Frank Maloney. Says that Sutherland is the best boxer he’s had since Lennox Lewis or something.
Never heard of either of them
Wouldnt have expected you too Sledge, don’t lose any sleep over it.
Someone with an accent as fucked up as that will never win anything.
Its his eyebrow I’d be worried about
Frank Maloney’s a big enough promoter across on the mainland. As Mac says, he had Lennox Lewis on his books for years.
[quote=“nlgbbbblth”]are there any open boxing tournaments?
i.e. no weight restrictions.
so heavyweight vs featherweight etc[/quote]
Yes in places like Mullingar or Tullamore.
Didn’t knock yer man out-fight was stopped as the lad was getting pummeled (he was muck). Hard to judge Sutherland on it at all.
Tomato Tomato
Cabbage