ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — Evander Holyfield insists he has at least one more great fight left in him. If he summons it Saturday night, he’ll become the oldest man to regain a world heavyweight title.
Standing between the 46-year-old American and a record fifth championship is the tallest and heaviest boxer to hold a major belt, Russia’s Nikolai Valuev.
With Holyfield’s skills clearly diminished, some observers fear he is risking his health by getting in the ring. The Atlanta native is undeterred.
“I’ve been boxing for 38 years and have always had to make adjustments to fight someone,” said Holyfield, now more than a decade removed from his two wins over Mike Tyson. “Sometimes his arms are going to be longer than yours. This time they’re a lot longer.”
Holyfield will also concede nearly 100 pounds to the 7-foot Russian, who has lost once in 50 career bouts and comes in as the bookmakers’ overwhelming favorite.
Holyfield weighed in Friday at 214.3 pounds, while Valuev tipped the scales at 310.8 pounds. The weight difference is greater than that between the standards for cruiserweight and light flyweight, the lightest in all of boxing.
The 35-year-old Valuev said he watched the “legend” Holyfield a decade ago and dreamed of meeting him in the ring.
“I don’t think (age) is going to play a big role,” the Russian said. “We are just two boxers who will fight one another. Only that matters.”
But the fight between Valuev, who has avoided the biggest names in the division, and the aging Holyfield has generated much skepticism.
Frank Maloney, the British promoter of ex-champion Lennox Lewis, described the bout as a “freak show.”
“It’s a sad state of affairs that Holyfield is fighting for a world title,” Maloney said in Britain’s Daily Telegraph. “Holyfield was one of the great heavyweights and he is now reduced to fighting and losing to ordinary fighters. I just don’t know why he can’t seem to call it a day.”
Holyfield, 42-9-2 in his career with 27 knockouts, is 0-3-1 in his last four title bouts and hasn’t fought since losing a one-sided decision to then-WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov more than a year ago.
“It’s been a tough seven years,” said Holyfield, who has lost five of 11 fights in that span. His dismal run prompted New York state to revoke his license three years ago.
Holyfield underwent five hours of medical tests in Germany last month to show he was fit to fight. He is expected to earn between $750,000 and $1 million for the fight.
