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When Evander Holyfield steps into the ring this Friday night against Jeremy Bates, the bout will be broadcast on the Fox Sports Network. Holyfield’s name alone will garner curiosity seekers and some of those who don’t closely follow boxing might just assume that this televised bout is a rebroadcast of a classic Holyfield battle because even non-boxing fans must be shaking their heads and wondering aloud, “Holyfield? Is he still fighting?”
Indeed he is, despite the fact that he is 2–2–5 in his last nine fights and so far removed from his fistic heyday that these meaningless bouts against the Larry Donald(s) and John Ruiz(s) of the world threaten to tarnish a glorious reputation. Couple the fact that he can’t beat these guys with the alarming degeneration of both his motor skills and speech pattern and Holyfield is becoming yet another proud champion reduced to physical and mental rubble by the very sport that built him up into a monolithic champion. It is a sad and very old story told too many times, without the benefit of an alternate ending to make it interesting. [details]
Indeed he is, despite the fact that he is 2–2–5 in his last nine fights and so far removed from his fistic heyday that these meaningless bouts against the Larry Donald(s) and John Ruiz(s) of the world threaten to tarnish a glorious reputation. Couple the fact that he can’t beat these guys with the alarming degeneration of both his motor skills and speech pattern and Holyfield is becoming yet another proud champion reduced to physical and mental rubble by the very sport that built him up into a monolithic champion. It is a sad and very old story told too many times, without the benefit of an alternate ending to make it interesting. [details]
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