Evander Holyfield Boxes Again
A Rematch With Mike Tyson Or George Foreman Can’t Be Far Off
Evander Holyfield used to be known as The Real Deal. Now, the 43-year-old boxer is fighting again, but his comeback is one more Raw Deal that is ruining pro boxing.
Former heavyweight boxing champion, Evander Holyfield, is back. There's a shocker; another washed up, ancient, former boxer deciding he can't just kick back with his zillions of dollars and enjoy life, sans punches in the face.
And professional boxing suffers, because of this farcical return.
Like his famous predecessors, George Foreman, Larry Holmes and Sugar Ray Leonard, to name just a few, Holyfield just couldn't stay away from the limelight. If that's what you call it.
I mean just who was watching The Real Deal's August 18th encounter? This wasn't Ali-Frazier's Thrilla' in Manilla, and it wasn't the Rumble in the Jungle. Hell, it didn't even have the flair of Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson. At least then, there was always the hope that Tyson might nibble an ear lobe, or some other body part.
No, for Holyfield's glorious return, after nearly two years away from boxing, he battered Jeremy Bates (who?) into submission in two rounds, in a Friday Night Fight that had all the luster of two street kids duking it out over a cheerleader.
After all, Bates, an insurance salesman in his real life, sporting a dubious pro boxing record of 21-12-2, had about as much of a chance of winning as Butterbean would have. Vonda Ward could have put up more resistance; in fact, I think the female champ could take Holyfield, who is 43-years-old and not the ripped Adonis he used to be.
So, this is what professional boxing has become - a guy like Jeremy Bates (he could have at least changed his name to Norman) shedding his suit and tie, leaving the briefcase at the office, and throwing on boxing trunks, for a chance to swap punches with a once-great champion, who should be collecting discounts at the local diner with his AARP card, instead of swindling boxing fans into thinking he's still a legitimate fighter.
I used to love professional boxing. I grew up watching Ali, Holmes, Frazier, Foreman and even the once-amazing Tyson. These were marvelous fighters, when in their primes. When they decided to return to the ring, though, after years of sitting around, slugging down burgers and beers, they tarnished their images and sullied the sport.
Holyfield was never in their class, but he was a warrior. He always seemed to be the underdog, even when he was champion, and this gave every underdog fan hope, too.
Aside from Tyson, who has become a total freak show, the other aforementioned great champions have legacies that can't be completely destroyed by their unsuccessful returns to the ring.
Holyfield won't be so lucky. This once-proud boxing king will now be remembered only as guy who should have stayed away from the ring, when he left it. One more old boxer, who just wasn't smart enough to quit.
Meanwhile, professional boxing will suffer most.
