The Never Ending Story: Holyfield Still Fighting
On November 5, 2010 four-time heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield (43-10, 28KOs) will be facing journeyman Sherman Williams (34-11, 19KOs) in another contest as he builds up towards what he hopes is another title shot. Holyfield, who will be 48 upon entering the ring, still clings to the hope of winning the heavyweight crown for a fifth time. Skeptics scoff at Holyfield’s seemingly unattainable goal, but can it be said that Holyfield’s decision to continue to fight is really that crazy?
After losing a controversial decision to Nikolay Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title, Holyfield earned a victory against Francois Botha in April. Those results do not warrant boxing commissions the right to refuse him a license assuming he passes his medical exams. Holyfield nearly attained his goal of winning the crown in that fight, and would have ceased fighting if he had. Unfortunately he now fights on, and perhaps there are both title hopes and financial burdens on his mind as he does.
Holyfield is the latest boxer to fall victim to a host of financial problems including foreclosure of his $10 million estate, lawsuits from a number of companies for lack of payments, and failure to provide child support. The man who once made $35 million in a rematch with Mike Tyson is now effectively broke. So while some may say it is time for the man to retire, I say let him fight on.
To say that it is acceptable for Holyfield to continue to fight is not to say put him in the ring with the Klitschko brothers or David Haye, although make no mistake about it, that is his goal. However, if Holyfield wishes to continue to fight second tier competition in order to ease his financial burdens, I have a hard time coming up with a reason why he should not be allowed.
With that said, one hopes that it does not take a brutal beating at the hand of one of the Klitschkos in order to convince the Real Deal to finally hang up the gloves. A title winning effort against the relatively harmless Valuev would have been the perfect way to go out for everyone involved, including Holyfield, the commissions, sanctioning bodies and promoters all acting as go betweens, and the many millions of people around the world who still picture him as the indomitable fighter he was 15 to 20 years ago.
The story of rags to riches to rags is all too familiar in boxing, and Holyfield is simply the latest victim. He is 48, in financial straits, yet still has a passion for boxing. As long as he remains competitive and in shape, passing his medical exams, I say why not give the former champ a chance at redemption.
