By Jim Dower: Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KO’s) has a fight against Sherman “Tank” Williams (34-11-2, 19 KO’s) on Saturday that the 48-year-old Holyfield hopes will lead him to an eventual fight with the Klitschko brothers. However, Holyfield says he understands why the Klitschko brothers have been reluctant to fight him all these years, reasoning that due to his age and talent, it’s a fight in which the Klitschko brothers would have nothing to gain from facing him and are better off facing softer opponents.
It’s strange that Holyfield can see things so clearly one part in realizing that the Klitschkos don’t see the gain in fighting him because of his age, but then probably being a million miles off by thinking that it’s easier for the Klitschko brothers to pick out weaker opponents than him. Holyfield seems to be under the impression that he’s better than he actually is at this point in his career. Holyfield looks weaker than virtually all of the top heavyweights in the top 15, and those are the fighters that the Klitschko brothers pick out their opponents.
In an article at suite101.com, Holyfield said “When I was 29, George Foreman was 42 and I didn’t want to fight George Foreman. If I won, I knew I wouldn’t get any credibility. You’re supposed to beat the old man. And, if you lose, it’s going to be a disaster. But I made $20 million, so I went ahead and took the fight. Why fight me when they can fight somebody who won’t be a threat.”
The reason why the Klitschkos aren’t fighting Holyfield is pretty obvious. They won’t beat up on a legend, and so they’re avoiding fighting him because it would be so one-sided.
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