Evander Holyfield is best known for his exciting fights with Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, but he was also half responsible for one of the worst fights in heavyweight history.
Evander Holyfield‘s career was largely behind him when, at the age of 46, he made a bid to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history in a fight that was criticized by many.
Holyfield was 42-9-2 at the time of the fight, whilst his opponent, a mountain of a man, held a record of 49-1.
Evander Holyfield fought seven foot giant in ‘rancid fight’
Holyfield faced none other than Nikolai Valuev, the heaviest fighter and tallest fighter to ever step in the ring weighing 310 pounds and standing at seven foot tall.
Valuev had lost just once in a close points decision, and was the favorite against the aged legend.
The fight was branded one of the most timid and boring in heavyweight history, with Dan Rafael of ESPN calling it ‘a humiliating night for boxing’.
Rafael wrote a scathing critique of the fight: ‘1. The WBA never should have approved the 46-year-old Holyfield to fight for the title in the first place after he lost his previous fight in lopsided fashion to Sultan Ibragimov for another belt more than a year ago.
2. The fight was horrible, one of the worst heavyweight title fights in history with less contact than an episode of “Dancing With the Stars.”
3. The decision was so atrocious and so scandalous that it made Holyfield’s gift draw in his first with Lennox Lewis look like a competent ruling.’
Rafael suggested Valuev fought as though he were in a coma, and that Holyfield ought to retire after the shocking performance, even though he believed the older man one.
He didn’t retire, and Holyfield defeated Francois Botha in one of three fights he had after the loss.
David Haye slayed Goliath Nikolai Valuev in his next and final fight
Following his highly controversial and ‘rancid’ win over Holyfield, Valuev faced David Haye, a former cruiserweight champion looking to make his mark on the heavyweight scene.
The fight, which saw Haye facing a host of physical disadvantages against the bigger, taller, heavier Valuev was billed as David vs Goliath.
The contest was close, though with a moment of success in which Haye rocked Valuev, it was clear it wasn’t going to be smooth sailing for either man.
Haye, who defeated Audley Harrison in a terrible fight, went on to win a majority decision over Valuev, who became an MP after the fight and never boxed again.