Holyfield vs. Valuev -> 20. Dezember

Evander Holyfield (45) will's noch mal wissen!

Der Ex-Champ fordert Nikolai Valuev (35) heraus. Holyfield (insgesamt vier Mal Schwergewichts-Weltmeister) will Valuev den WBA-Titel entreißen. Dem „Box-Opa“ liegt ein Angebot von Valuevs Promoter Wilfried Sauerland vor

Holyfield gegen den Russen-Riesen.

Holyfield erklärte bereits gegenüber ESPN.com, dass er den Fight annehmen will! Der Kampf soll am 20. Dezember in Deutschland oder der Schweiz stattfinden. Im Winter wird der „Box-Opa“ 46 Jahre alt sein. Holt sich der Ami (Spitzname Warrior) gegen Valuev (2,13 Meter) den Gürtel, wäre er der älteste Schwergewichts-Champ aller Zeiten. Den bisherigen Opa-Rekord hält George Foreman, der 1994 im Alter von 45 Jahren noch einmal Weltmeister wurde.

Holyfield zum Comeback: „Es stört mich nicht, wenn die Leute meinen, ich sei zu alt. Ich habe einen Wunsch, und ich werde hart trainieren, um ihn zu verwirklichen.“

Der gläubige Kämpfer (Spitzname Warrior) und elffache Vater hatte im Oktober 2007 seinen bislang letzten Titelkampf gegen den Russen Sultan Ibragimow verloren. Sein vielleicht größter Fight: Im Skandal-Kampf von 1997 biss ihm Ex-Champ Mike Tyson ein Teil seines rechten Ohres ab.

Holyfields Billig-Comeback.

Der US-Amerikaner gab bekannt, dass er für den Kampf gegen Valuev die geringste Gage erhalte, die er je für einen Titel-Kampf bekommen habe. Die Summe soll weniger als 750 000 Euro betragen. Holyfield: „Nichtsdestotrotz fühle ich mich geehrt, diese Gelegenheit zu erhalten.“

Russen-Riese Valuev hatte sich Ende August mit einem Punktsieg gegen Ami John Ruiz (36) den Titel geholt. Die Börse des Russen: eine Million Euro


Quelle: bild

Evander Holyfield has accepted an offer to challenge Nikolai Valuev for his heavyweight world title, the former four-time champion told ESPN.com Wednesday night.

Holyfield (42-9-2, 27 KOs) said his attorney is reviewing a contract from Valuev promoter Sauerland Event for a fight that would take place Dec. 20 in either Germany or Switzerland.

"It's solid. They asked if I will take the fight for the offer they made and if everything is straight up, I will take that fight," Holyfield said. "My lawyer is looking at it."

If Evander Holyfield does fight Nikolai Valuev and win the world heavyweight title, he would be the oldest champion since George Foreman.

Although Holyfield will turn 46 on Oct. 19, he said other people make more of a big deal about his age than he does. If he wins the fight, Holyfield would become the oldest heavyweight champion in history, even older than George Foreman, who was 45 when he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994 in one of boxing's greatest upsets.

"They said I was too old when I was 34 and was getting ready to fight Mike Tyson for the first time," said Holyfield, who knocked out Tyson in a huge upset to win a title. "There's nothing new with what people say. I have a desire and I am the one who got to train and I am willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be the best. Just imagine a 46-year-old guy being heavyweight champ of the world?"

It would be Holyfield's first fight in 14 months. In his last bout, he lost a unanimous decision in Moscow to Sultan Ibragimov for a version of the title in October 2007.

Many figured that would be Holyfield's last shot at a championship, but he said he never lost faith.

"I felt that I would get another opportunity," Holyfield said. "I don't believe in that fight with Ibragimov that I did enough to take the fight. He moved a lot and I didn't take the title from him. It was what it was. I was hoping I would get another opportunity and here it is. I'm thankful to God. Nobody mentioned my name about nothing, but this opportunity is here now."

Holyfield, who is 6-foot-2 and about 215 pounds, will be at a massive size disadvantage in the fight, like most of Valuev's opponents.

Russia's Valuev (49-1, 34 KOs), who regained a vacant belt by outpointing John Ruiz in a rematch on Aug. 30, is the biggest titleholder in history. He is 7-feet and weighs about 320 pounds. Holyfield, a light heavyweight in the 1984 Olympics and former cruiserweight world champion, said the size difference doesn't bother him.

"Of course, he will be the biggest guy I have fought but it's something that could be very interesting," Holyfield said. "I will have a big target. I have to do the things I believe he can't do. He can't move laterally. I got to get in quick, fight and don't stand still too long. I just have to be in tremendous shape to outmaneuver him."

Holyfield said he was looking for a new trainer to prepare him for the fight after working most recently with Ronnie Shields.

"I always keep myself in shape," he said. "I'm probably looking for another trainer. Ronnie left after Ibragimov. I haven't made arrangements yet on a trainer. I hadn't really thought of who would be the right person."

Holyfield made news in July when his financial problems were made public after the mother of one of his children took him to court over missing child support payments. There were also threats of foreclosure on his sprawling, 54,000-square-foot suburban Atlanta estate.

Holyfield would not disclose his purse for the bout, although it is less than $750,000.

"Whatever it is, I'm honored to get the opportunity," he said. "It is the lowest amount I ever made for a championship fight, but I am just appreciative I got the opportunity."