Grandpa is old, he doesn't care

Evander Holyfield came to Moscow for the title

Former absolute world champion Evander Holyfield arrived in Russia to take the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight championship belt from Sultan Ibragimov. On the eve of the fight, which will take place on October 13 at Khodynskoe Field, 44-year-old Holyfield demonstrated that his ear, bitten off by Tyson, is in place, spoke about his reluctance to retire and his belief in victory over Ibragimov.

Evander Holyfield's team in one of the capital's casinos looked as if they had just been discharged from Hollywood. In a group of black guys of serious weight and serious age, a white manager with a solid gold chain around his neck stood out. Next to him is the coach, a mustachioed black man of advanced years with the figure of a heavyweight and a tired look. In the center is Holyfield himself, calm and a little slow. When you turn 45 in a few days, half of which you spent in professional boxing, and before that you won the Olympics back in 1984, you have little reason to worry at all. Even if it’s your first time fighting outside of America, and your opponent is a clear favorite. After all, 11 years ago, in a fight against Tyson, no one bet on Holyfield either, but he took the WBA belt from Iron Mike, and then over the course of three years added two more titles to it.

Later, all three belts were taken from Holyfield by the younger Lennox Lewis. But Lewis has long since retired, and Holyfield is still in action. “Evander’s problem is that he misses fame, but I don’t,” Lewis said about Holyfield’s next attempt to regain at least one championship title. - He is surrounded by people who tell him that he is still capable of this. You can always find people who will say what you want to hear. But the whole point is that they get money for their work, and you get hit on the head. Evander is an old boxer, past his prime, and he is taking a lot of risks with his health.”

Looking at Holyfield, even when he is standing next to Sultan Ibragimov, it is difficult to imagine that he could have any health problems at all. As for ambitions, everything is correct. “My goal is to regain the championship title,” Holyfield assured, answering questions from a Vremya Novostei correspondent. “I want people not only in America, but also in your country and all over the world to see that it’s not for nothing that they call me the best.” But money is not the main thing for me.” The fee, however, may not be the main, but quite significant detail of the fight. The prize fund was $6.5 million. However, with all due respect to Holyfield, it is unlikely that it will be divided between the champion and the challenger in the traditional proportions of 55 to 45%.

“First of all, I am grateful to the Lord that he gave me the opportunity to fight in Moscow. Secondly, I must thank Ibragimov, who gave me the chance to fight for the title again,” Evander was polite and amiable while visiting Moscow. Thirdly, Holyfield could thank the Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev. It was with the WBA title holder that Sultan Ibragimov was supposed to fight in a unification fight on October 13. Chagaev, citing injury, refused the fight. The team of the Russian champion was urgently forced to look for a replacement, which was Holyfield.

Ibragimov treats the American living legend with all respect. At the press conference, the Sultan even stood up during his traditional speech. And thanking everyone who is required in such cases, Ibragimov stated that he is ready for any fights with any contenders in any halls. Listening to his opponent, Evander smiled. In this, the rivals are similar - he also doesn’t care who he fights for the title, when and where. But it seems that Holyfield doesn’t even care how old he is.

Andrey VDOVIN