Valuev sees off Holyfield
Russia's Nikolai Valuev successfully defended his WBA title here on
Saturday night with a majority decision win over former world champion
Evander Holyfield over 12 rounds.
Despite a brave display from 46-year-old Holyfield, who was bidding
for his fifth world crown, the judges scored it 114-114, 116-112,
115-114 in Valuev's favour as the giant Russian successfully defended
the vacated title he won against John Ruiz in August.
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The 2.13 metre and 145 kg Russian giant Nikolai Valuev (L)
fights against 1.89 metre and 97kg Evander Holyfield of the
USA in the WBA World Heavyweight Championship title fight at
Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland. Valuev successfully
defended his WBA heavyweight title with a majority decision
win over former world champion Evander Holyfield after 12
rounds. AFP |
"He was a strong opponent and he made me work very hard for the win,"
said Valuev after his victory.
"It was a challenging fight, it was a hard fight, he was unbelievably
fast with his punches.
"I am proud to have fought him, it was a fast paced fight." But it
was not an impressive display from Valuev with both Klitschko brothers
Vladimir and Witali, who between them hold four world titles, eager to
fight him to add the WBA title to their collection.
And Holyfield's coach Thomas Brooks insisted the best fighter lost.
We didn't fail, we won that fight here," said Brooks.
"As far as I am concerned, we won and anyone who knows me knows I
call a spade a spade."
And Holyfield's manager Kenneth Sanders said he wants a re-match here
next year which Valuev's camp immediately said was possible.
Holyfield, who beat the likes of Riddick Bowe, Mike Tyson, George
Foreman and James "Buster" Douglas in the 1990s, now has a record of ten
defeats, 42 wins with 27 knock-outs and two draws from his 54 fights.
"Of course I am disappointed," said Holyfield. "I thought I had won the
fight, I thought I had won more rounds than he did.
"Now I will just have to go home, rest and think about my future.
"My goal is to be heavyweight champion of the world, I am not
interested in fighting for the sake of fighting, I want to be a champion
again.
"I am honoured to have had the opportunity to fight for the title.
"It was a good fight, his hands aren't as slow as people think.
"I was trying to do the things my corner asked me to do by moving him
around, when I did I was able to catch him off guard.
"He had a pretty good defence by the way he positioned his body, he
is a hard target to hit."
He might have been a long way from Atlanta, but Holyfield could have
been fighting in front of a home crowd so loud were the chants of "Holyfield,
Holyfield!" ringing around Zurich's Hallenstadion from the sellout
12,500 crowd.
ZUHICH, Saturday, AFP
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