Friday, January 21, 2011
Sherman Williams Weigh In Pics - Evander Holyfield
Sherman Williams Weigh In Pics - Evander Holyfield
Watch Evander Holyfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5PxuZ8u52Q
Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
Evander Holyfield vs Sherman Williams Weigh In Pics
Evander Holyfield vs Sherman Williams Weigh In Pics
Watch Evander Holyfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5PxuZ8u52Q
Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
“REDEMPTION IN AMERICA” PPV WEIGHTS FROM WEST VIRGINIA Evander HolyField vs Sherman Williams
WEIGHTS FROM WEST VIRGINIA “REDEMPTION IN AMERICA” PPV
WORLD BOXING FEDERATION HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MAIN EVENT – 12 ROUNDS -- PPV
Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs), World Federation Heavyweight Champion, Atlanta, GA 224 LBS.
Sherman Williams (34-11, 19 KOs), Challenger, Ft. Pierce, FL by way of the Bahamas 258 LBS.
8-ROUNDS – HEAVYWEIGHTS -- PPV
Kevin Johnson (23-1-1, 10 KOs), Atlanta, GA 245 ½ LBS.
Julius Long (15-14, 13 KOs), Detroit, M 300 LBS.
8 ROUNDS – HEAVYWEIGHTS -- PPV
Monte Barrett (34-9, 20 KOs), Jamaica, Queens, NY 228 ½ LBS.
Charles Davis (19-21-2, 4 KOs), Tucson, AZ 232 ½ LBS.
8 ROUNDS – MIDDLEWEIGHTS -- PPV
Donatas Bondoravas (10-1-1, 3 KOs), Chicago, IL by way of Lithuania 160 LBS.
Willie Fortune (9-0, 5 KOs), Detroit, MI 158 LBS.
NABA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP -- 10 ROUNDS
Cedric Boswell (32-1, 25 KOs), NABA Heavyweight Champion, Atlanta, GA 232 LBS.
Dominque Alexander (19-9, 9 KOs), Challenger, Topeka, KS 215 LBS.
8 ROUNDS – MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Domonique Dolton (9-0, 7 KOs), Detroit, MI 159 LBS.
Marcos Primera (20-22-2, 13 KOs), Asheboro, NC by way of Venezuela 162 ½ LBS.
8 ROUNDS – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
Miguel Gonzalez (12-2, 11 KOs), Cleveland, OH 135 ½ LBS.
Ramon Guevara (9-20-2, 6 KOs), Grand Rapids, MI by way of Dominican Republic 133 ½ LBS.
(ALL FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
WHAT: “Redemption In America” PPV professional boxing show
WHEN: Saturday, January 22, 2011 – 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT
WHERE: Colonial Hall, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
PROMOTER: ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier
PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: Distributed in North American by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95
“Redemption” will also be streamed live on www.NESportsTV.com outside of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Argentina and Brazil for $9.99 USD (International conversion rates apply)
PAY-PER-VIEW ANNOUNCERS: Al Bernstein (color analyst) and former NFL player and veteran boxing announcer Benny Ricardo (blow-by-blow)
RING ANNOUNCER: Jimmy Lennon, Jr.
TICKETS: Call 1.800.453.4858.
INFORMATION: Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.americanboxingleague.com, www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
-30-
CONTACTS:
Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, 978.664.4482, bobtfcp@hotmail.com
Doug Jacobs, Integrated Sports Media, 201.610.1500, doug@integratedsportsnet.com
Billie Kaiser, ARK Promotions, 704.987.0612, billieatark@aol.com
Lynn Swann, The Greenbrier Hotel, 304.536.7857, lynn_swann@greenbrier.com
ARK Promotions In Association with The Greenbrier Presents REDEMPTION IN AMERICA
ARK Promotions In Association with The Greenbrier Presents
REDEMPTION IN AMERICA
January 22, 2011 ♦ WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA
WORLD BOXING FEDERATION HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MAIN EVENT – 12 ROUNDS -- PPV
EVANDER “The Real Deal” HOLYFIELD SHERMAN “Tank” WILLIAMS
World Boxing Federation Heavyweight Champion Challenger
4-Time World Heavyweight, Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion Former NBA, CABOFE & FEDECARIBE Heavyweight Champion
Atlanta, Georgia Ft. Pierce, FL by way of Freeport, Bahamas
43-10-2 (28 KOs) 34-11 (19 KOs)
224 LBS. 258 LBS.
8-ROUNDS – HEAVYWEIGHTS -- PPV
KEVIN “Kingpin” JOHNSON JULIUS “Towering Inferno” LONG
Former World Heavyweight Title Challenger/WBC #16 7’ 1” Giant
Atlanta, GA Detroit, MI
23-1-1 (10 KOs) 15-14 (13 KOs)
245 ½ LBS. 300 LBS.
8 ROUNDS – HEAVYWEIGHTS -- PPV
MONTE “Two Gunz” BARRETT CHARLES DAVIS
Former World Heavyweight Title Challenger Former WBC Latino Heavyweight Champion
Jamaica, Queens, NY Tucson, AZ
34-9 (20 KOs) 19-21-2 (4 KOs)
228 ½ LBS. 232 ½ LBS.
8 ROUNDS – MIDDLEWEIGHTS -- PPV
DONATAS BONDORAVAS WILLIE FORTUNE
Chicago, IL by way of Lithuania Detroit, MI
10-1-1 (3 KOs) 9-0 (5 KOs)
160 LBS. 158 LBS.
NABA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
10 ROUNDS
CEDRIC “The Bos” BOSWELL DOMINIQUE “Diamond” ALEXANDER
NABA Heavyweight Champion/WBC #19 Challenger
Atlanta, GA Topeka, KS
32-1 (25 KOs) 19-9 (9 KOs)
232 LBS. 215 LBS.
8 ROUNDS – MIDDLEWEIGHTS
DOMONIQUE DOLTON MARCOS “The Terminator” PRIMERA
Detroit, MI Asheboro, NC by way of Venezuela
9-0 (6 KOs) 20-22-2 (13 KOs)
159 LBS. 162 ½ LBS.
8 ROUNDS – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
MIGUEL “Silky Smooth” GONZALEZ RAMON “Che” GUEVARA
2008 US National AAU Lightweight Champion Cagey Veteran
Cleveland, OH Grand Rapids, MI by way of Dominican Republic
12-2 (11 KOs) 9-20-2 (6 KOs)
135 ½ LBS. 133 ½ LBS.
(ALL FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Evander Holyfield vs Sherman Williams Weigh In Pics
Evander Holyfield vs Sherman Williams Weigh In Pics
Watch Evander Holyfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5PxuZ8u52Q
Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
ARK Promotions In Association with The Greenbrier Presents REDEMPTION IN AMERICA http://pi.pe/-42l5xb
“REDEMPTION IN AMERICA” PPV WEIGHTS FROM WEST VIRGINIA Evander HolyField vs Sherman Williams http://pi.pe/-5y7hkg
Evander Holyfield is about to embark on yet another comeback campaign.
Evander Holyfield is about to embark on yet another comeback campaign. By Mike “Rubber Warrior” Plunkett
There’s an old, well known adage that tells us “you can never go home”. Boxing history is replete with a multitude of examples of old warriors, of varying levels of skill and acclaim, returning for one last shot at fleeting glory, if not youth itself. Is it any wonder that so often they fail? If anything, boxing demands “youth” and the fire, spirit and strength that comes with the peak years of a fighter, forget trying to climb an improbable precipice of ambition years beyond one’s best, against the bigger and far younger, that enjoy the high point of their careers.
At the advanced age of 48, Evander Holyfield is about to embark on yet another comeback campaign. The former four-time heavyweight king has repeatedly stated his goal of becoming the sports only five-time heavyweight king, indifferent to the many lessons boxing history has provided to the contrary. In today’s fragmented heavyweight environment, and with the four major alphabet organizations each having their own version of a heavyweight champion, Holyfield’s chance to accomplish this remote goal would seem to be far greater than what would have been the case, say, in 1957, when there was only one heavyweight champion.
Not coincidentally, there was another ancient great lurking about in heavyweight waters back in 1957. On his two previous tries at winning the sport’s most coveted prize, he was turned back by the vestiges of talented youth. Speed and sheer strength overcame experience and willingness when in with younger men who were naturally bigger, despite the oft-sheer brilliance of his fistic offerings. His name was Archie Moore, a much-revered virtual ring Methuselah inside the confines of the squared circle.
Like Moore during that period, Holyfield is trying to stay active facing journeymen, collecting incidental paydays and ensuring that his name is somewhat relevant by staying in the media spotlight. With each win Evander inches forward towards the illusory goal of that chance title opportunity. To date, he has managed to regain a semblance of his past form and capture a portion of the public’s faith with displays of technique and power, but against a level unlike that of the Klitschko’s or WBA heavyweight champion David Haye. In Archie Moore’s case, the quality varied based on assignment, but it must be noted that at that time Moore was still the recognized World light heavyweight champion, despite his setbacks at heavyweight. As such, his ability to raise his game to a world class level, and keep it there when it counted most cannot be disputed. The question here is can Holyfield raise his game to a world class level against one of today’s top ten contenders, enough to garner a ranking, let alone challenge the likes of a top-ten contender such as Eddie Chambers, Tomasz Adamek or one of the Klitschko’s?
Consider the unlikely comeback of “Big” George Foreman. Foreman had been out of action for a full decade and in that time had gained approximately 100 pounds. Over that span, he had become an ordained minister and committed his life and energies to his small church and its membership. Out of a desire to raise funds for a youth ministry, he embarked on an ill-advised comeback.
With a new look and a kinder, more amiable approach, Big George had managed to re-invent himself. He shed 60 pounds and embarked on three year-long tour of club shows and cable dates facing a series of no-hopers along with a generous helping of C and D-level journeymen. Although the years had stripped him of that once ferocious aura, he still had the heavy clubbing power of his youth, a vastly underrated left jab and a calmness and composure that he lacked during his first career during his prime. As time went on, he eventually regained his timing and positioned himself for a title shot, something nobody could have fathomed in 1987 when he first announced his return.
Ironically, that title shot came against a prime 28 year-old variant of Evander Holyfield. Holyfield rebuffed the 42 year-old convincingly, responding to Big George’s advances in their 1991 encounter with mobility, prudent application of combination punching and a solid work rate – the very assets greatly lacking in his arsenal today. Their championship match was a colorful example of youth being served.
History suggests that “The Real Deal” is very likely to fail in his attempt to win another major world title, even gets to the point where he is granted such an opportunity. At his very best as a heavyweight, his strengths were technique, mobility, work rate and stamina. If he didn’t outbox and outwork his opponent, he’d gut it out, often to the extreme pleasure of the crowd, and almost always certainly against a far bigger man. He never had George Foreman’s God-given, fight-stopping punching power or physical strength. His game was based on a completely different set of criteria. And his burning desire to win put it all together. The ravages of time have blunted his physical attributes. Father Time and mileage have left him a fraction of what he once was despite the immense pride and that burning desire to compete. In a very real way, he has become his most dangerous foe.
Today the heavyweight division is ruled by two talented behemoths and a gifted mouthpiece. Each has formidable boxing skills, and in the cases of Wladimir Klitschko, Ring Magazine’s recognized World heavyweight champion, a certain studied fluidity combined with legitimate knockout power. If given the chance, I cannot envision Evander simply laying down or quitting on his stool between rounds. He’ll approach today’s best with the memory and internal fire of his youth, but ultimately find that the bigger and younger champions have more skill, strength, speed and power. He’ll be hopelessly out-maneuvered and out-gunned. Before long, the two attributes he was lauded for years ago, will be exposed as lacking – his ability to absorb punishment and his stamina. As such, he will not be in the fight long enough to be able to truly compete, and likely suffer a devastating and potentially dangerous loss.
Today, when watching Evander embark on his ring walk or weigh-in with his still magnificent physique, it is strangely akin to a chance meeting with an old and long admired high school buddy. Despite the warm regard and glorious memories of days gone by, the sobering reality is that much water has passed under the bridge and that people change as they get older. What worked then doesn’t necessarily work or fit now. The desire to turn back the clock and once again recapture what once was won’t work. You simply cannot go home again, and in boxing that axiom applies just as much in the ring as it ever does in the real world, but on a much more harsh and emphatic scale.
I wish Evander would pick-up on that, and leave well enough alone. He was one of the greatest heavyweights ever and in my books an all-time great fighter, but he belongs to a different era, one that ended long ago.
Right or wrong, Holyfield fights on By Kevin Lole Yahoo Sports
Right or wrong, Holyfield fights on By Kevin Lole Yahoo Sports
Evander Holyfield is not hurting boxing. He’s not committing some atrocity by fighting Sherman Williams in a pay-per-view bout on Saturday at the same West Virginia resort where Slammin’ Sammy Snead was once the head golf professional.
More From Kevin Iole
* Hopkins shares birthday, values with MLK Jan 17, 2011
Evander Holyfield says his faith in God keeps him fighting when others feel he should retire.
(ap)
He’s working for a living.
He’s selling a product: Himself. He’s no different than a door-to-door salesman who is hawking vacuum cleaners and hearing no far more than he does yes. Holyfield gets that most fans aren’t interested, but he’s hoping enough of you will find his boxing matches of interest to pay $29.95 on Saturday to see it.
He’s one of the four best pay-per-view draws in boxing history, along with long-time rival Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. He’ll be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame the first time he is eligible, though judging by the way he’s going, that may not be until 2020.
But he’s 48 now and not a very good boxer. He’s no threat to win the heavyweight title, though he’s still good enough to box the ears off guys like Williams.
Any time Holyfield fights these days, there’s outrage. Six years ago, the legendary New York Times columnist, Ira Berkow, traveled to Holyfield’s 54,000-square-foot mansion outside Atlanta to ask him why he refused to give it up.
Holyfield was a few months past an embarrassingly one-sided loss to Larry Donald that caused the New York State Athletic Commission to put him on an indefinite medical suspension for poor performance when Berkow made the trek to Georgia to interview him for a piece that appeared in the Times’ Jan. 7, 2005 edition.
Holyfield was 42 then and had lost three in four and five of his previous eight, a stretch in which he went 2-5-1.
But, then as now, Holyfield was refusing to quit, telling Berkow his goal was to win the undisputed heavyweight championship one more time before he retired.
“I believe in the word of God,” Holyfield told Berkow. “And I believe in what it says about overcoming. That no matter what the situation, you can overcome it. As the Bible says, ‘I walk by faith, not by sight.’ “
Holyfield hasn’t wavered on that stance despite literally hundreds of calls for his retirement in the media. Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Daily News, the long-time president of the Boxing Writers Association of America, became the latest to do so on Friday when he closed his column by writing, “Walk away, Evander. Nothing you do, in a professional sense, can add or detract to what you’ve already accomplished. You’ve earned your rest. Enjoy it.”
Tim Dahlberg, the brilliant national sports columnist of the Associated Press, was ringside for most of Holyfield’s biggest moments, including his stunning 1996 win over Tyson. On Tuesday, Dahlberg ridiculed Holyfield’s resolve to regain the title.
” … Listen to Holyfield talk and you get the feeling he really does think he can be a heavyweight champion again,” Dahlberg wrote. “Unfortunately, that’s a dangerous thing for a 48-year-old who has been through way too many ring wars to speak.”
Holyfield hears the critics, but he disagrees. Earlier this month, he uttered nearly the same words to Fanhouse’s Lem Satterfield that he did to the Times’ Berkow six years earlier. Asked by Satterfield about risks to his health by continuing to fight, Holyfield again referred to his religious beliefs.
“But the fact of the matter is that I’m a Christian, and I believe in Jesus,” Holyfield said. “That is my protection. He’s been my protection, and, so, you know what? Because I believe in the word of God, this is the reason that I’m able to do what I’m able to do. And there ain’t been nobody that’s been able to do it better.”
He’s one of the five or 10 best heavyweights who ever lived and has long since established his Hall of Fame credentials. No matter how bad he may look on Saturday, and no matter how much worse he may get, he can do nothing to obscure the fact that he’s among the greatest to have ever stepped inside of a ring.
The outrage over his continuing to fight is because of a fear that he’ll be injured, that he may wind up like Freddie Roach or, worse, Muhammad Ali, silenced forever by Parkinson’s.
He’s passed all the tests and so he continues to fight, undeterred by the critics and absolutely convinced that the undisputed title is his destiny.
I wish he would stop, because it’s painful as a fan to watch. He’s like Johnny Unitas with the Chargers or Willie Mays with the Mets, old men stumbling around and unable to come close to their former skill or grace.
But he’s fighting on pay-per-view and there is no more democratic form of television.
If you’re interested, plunk down your 30 bucks and buy it.
If you’re not, skip it.
Me? I’ll pass. I heard there’s something good on QVC at that time.is not hurting boxing. He’s not committing some atrocity by fighting Sherman Williams in a pay-per-view bout on Saturday at the same West Virginia resort where Slammin’ Sammy Snead was once the head golf professional.
More From Kevin Iole
* Hopkins shares birthday, values with MLK Jan 17, 2011
Evander Holyfield says his faith in God keeps him fighting when others feel he should retire.
(ap)
He’s working for a living.
He’s selling a product: Himself. He’s no different than a door-to-door salesman who is hawking vacuum cleaners and hearing no far more than he does yes. Holyfield gets that most fans aren’t interested, but he’s hoping enough of you will find his boxing matches of interest to pay $29.95 on Saturday to see it.
He’s one of the four best pay-per-view draws in boxing history, along with long-time rival Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. He’ll be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame the first time he is eligible, though judging by the way he’s going, that may not be until 2020.
But he’s 48 now and not a very good boxer. He’s no threat to win the heavyweight title, though he’s still good enough to box the ears off guys like Williams.
Any time Holyfield fights these days, there’s outrage. Six years ago, the legendary New York Times columnist, Ira Berkow, traveled to Holyfield’s 54,000-square-foot mansion outside Atlanta to ask him why he refused to give it up.
Holyfield was a few months past an embarrassingly one-sided loss to Larry Donald that caused the New York State Athletic Commission to put him on an indefinite medical suspension for poor performance when Berkow made the trek to Georgia to interview him for a piece that appeared in the Times’ Jan. 7, 2005 edition.
Holyfield was 42 then and had lost three in four and five of his previous eight, a stretch in which he went 2-5-1.
But, then as now, Holyfield was refusing to quit, telling Berkow his goal was to win the undisputed heavyweight championship one more time before he retired.
“I believe in the word of God,” Holyfield told Berkow. “And I believe in what it says about overcoming. That no matter what the situation, you can overcome it. As the Bible says, ‘I walk by faith, not by sight.’ “
Holyfield hasn’t wavered on that stance despite literally hundreds of calls for his retirement in the media. Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Daily News, the long-time president of the Boxing Writers Association of America, became the latest to do so on Friday when he closed his column by writing, “Walk away, Evander. Nothing you do, in a professional sense, can add or detract to what you’ve already accomplished. You’ve earned your rest. Enjoy it.”
Tim Dahlberg, the brilliant national sports columnist of the Associated Press, was ringside for most of Holyfield’s biggest moments, including his stunning 1996 win over Tyson. On Tuesday, Dahlberg ridiculed Holyfield’s resolve to regain the title.
” … Listen to Holyfield talk and you get the feeling he really does think he can be a heavyweight champion again,” Dahlberg wrote. “Unfortunately, that’s a dangerous thing for a 48-year-old who has been through way too many ring wars to speak.”
Holyfield hears the critics, but he disagrees. Earlier this month, he uttered nearly the same words to Fanhouse’s Lem Satterfield that he did to the Times’ Berkow six years earlier. Asked by Satterfield about risks to his health by continuing to fight, Holyfield again referred to his religious beliefs.
“But the fact of the matter is that I’m a Christian, and I believe in Jesus,” Holyfield said. “That is my protection. He’s been my protection, and, so, you know what? Because I believe in the word of God, this is the reason that I’m able to do what I’m able to do. And there ain’t been nobody that’s been able to do it better.”
He’s one of the five or 10 best heavyweights who ever lived and has long since established his Hall of Fame credentials. No matter how bad he may look on Saturday, and no matter how much worse he may get, he can do nothing to obscure the fact that he’s among the greatest to have ever stepped inside of a ring.
The outrage over his continuing to fight is because of a fear that he’ll be injured, that he may wind up like Freddie Roach or, worse, Muhammad Ali, silenced forever by Parkinson’s.
He’s passed all the tests and so he continues to fight, undeterred by the critics and absolutely convinced that the undisputed title is his destiny.
I wish he would stop, because it’s painful as a fan to watch. He’s like Johnny Unitas with the Chargers or Willie Mays with the Mets, old men stumbling around and unable to come close to their former skill or grace.
But he’s fighting on pay-per-view and there is no more democratic form of television.
If you’re interested, plunk down your 30 bucks and buy it.
If you’re not, skip it.
Me? I’ll pass. I heard there’s something good on QVC at that time.
Watch Evander Holyfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5PxuZ8u52Q
Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
At The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WV
At The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WV
(PPV) Evander Holyfield (43-10-2) vs. Sherman Williams (34-11-2)
Sherman Williams- Bahamian-born veteran, nearly 40 years old himself, is a good test for prospects, who does not sport any skills that Holyfield has not seen a hundred times. Showed improvement when trained by Buddy McGirt and is pacing himself by only fighting twice in the last two years. Lost one of those appearances to 12-bout novice Manuel Charr, a good German prospect, but went the distance and took some early rounds. Williams has never beaten a top 20 heavyweight- sorry, Tye Fields does not count- but is adept defensively having only been stopped once in 11 losses. Early in his career, showed mental toughness, coming back from losing two of his first three bouts, but knows his place now as a respected steppingstone and sparring partner. At 5’11” with a 76-inch reach, Williams is not a big heavyweight and a moderate puncher with a 40% kayo ratio. He is sufficiently accurate though and early in fights, throws combinations. A predictable slowdown is part of Williams entering fights at over 250 pounds, which hampers him just as much as dulling reflexes. Should be given credit for clawing his way to the position of a fighter that tests prospects making the jump to contender, which is more of a compliment than I give him credit for.
Evander Holyfield- When does dedication and desire become ignorance and obstinacy? In boxing, I would argue it is the milestone age of 40, except with very rare cases such as Bernard Hopkins and Archie Moore. Does Holyfield really think he can win another world title or has he simply conditioned himself to say that and expect us to believe him? I am not going to waste much time on this “event,” since Team Holyfield is so sure of victory, a fight against Brian Nielsen is already scheduled for March in Denmark. I will simply state where Holyfield is today instead of retelling Holyfield’s Hall of Fame achievements. At 48, Holyfield is two decades removed from his prime and most hoped a yearlong absence from the ring in 2009 would be permanent. Produced a credible performance against Nicolay Valuev, his last title fight, but lack of punch output by both men and the booing audience told the real story of the fight. Holyfield remains entertaining when he enters a ring, throwing punches instinctually and flashing memorable combinations against slow foes. Also enters fights in great shape, around 220 pounds, which is one of the few good things Holyfield can still show heavyweights of today how to do. I just do not want to see Holyfield eating punches at his age, which he continues to absorb, no matter the level of opponent. Simply put, Evander has overstayed his welcome. The former great still gives 100%, which is not 10% of what Holyfield used to be.
Verdict- Honestly, in my righteous indignation, I did not want to review this fight. I was asked more about this fight by fans than I expected and credit that to Holyfield’s media team for flooding boxing websites and reporters with press releases. That being said, Holyfield by decision. Evander’s volume and Williams’ pacifistic stance will allow him to soak up punches while retreating to the final bell. Williams’ refusal to get into firefights will limit the excitement. Because Holyfield’s feet are slowing, he won’t be able to cut off the ring and force a fight either. Holyfield wins every round but continues to lose supporters.
Prediction record for 2011: 100% (4-0)
Prediction record for 2010: 85% (218-40)
You can contact Marty at mmulcahey@elpasotel.net or visit him at www.facebook.com/fivedogs
Can Williams Derail Holyfield’s Quest? By Beau Denison
Can Williams Derail Holyfield’s Quest? By Beau Denison
The next chapter in the legendary career of five-time world champion and four-time World Heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield begins this weekend as the 48 year old future Hall of Famer steps into the ring against grizzled veteran Sherman Williams at The Greenbrier Hotel and Casino in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Mike-448
Evander Holyfield - Photo Courtesy of ARK Promotions
Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 Knockouts) who last fought on April 10, 2010 scoring an eighth round stoppage of former IBF Heavyweight champion Francois Botha has been plagued in recent months by numerous attempts to stage this bout with Sherman Williams falling through. This has resulted in the former Heavyweight champion being unable to follow through on his intentions to remain active in his campaign to earn another shot at the Heavyweight title.
With the bout with Sherman Williams finally coming to fruition Holyfield now finds himself hoping to fight twice in a six week period, something he has not done since 1986 when he was a contender in the Crusierweight division. Holyfield is scheduled to face popular Danish Heavyweight Brian Neilsen on March 5 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Holyfield faces what could be a tough test in Heavyweight veteran Sherman Williams. Williams (34-11-2,19 Knockouts) is a veteran of forty-seven bouts and is no doubt entering the biggest fight of his career on the biggest stage of his career.
Williams an extremely heavy-handed aggressive fighter will likely be looking to put pressure on Holyfield from the opening bell and will no doubt be looking to impose his will on Holyfield whom has been known for starting slow in recent bouts. Williams will be looking to force the fight into a slugfest by pressuring Holyfield.
In his prime, Holyfield was a fighter who was able to use effective lateral movement by bouncing off his toes and throwing crisp combinations to effectively execute his offense, against an aggressive brawler like Williams it will be interesting to see if Holyfield can box effectively from the outside.
One of the keys to this bout in my mind will be how quick Evander Holyfield can get his punches off. One thing that a fighter faces as they get older are the effects of gradually slowing reflexes which can have an effect on a fighter’s ability to sustain a consistent offensive rhythm. Holyfield had some difficulty in his last fight against Francois Botha in the early rounds because Botha was able to box effectively in spots and tie Holyfield up on the inside before Holyfield could effectively return offense. Botha accomplished this by throwing punches in sporadic bursts as he came forward and would clinch Holyfield.
As the fight went on Botha began to tire and Holyfield was able to gradually get in an offensive rhythm and was able to throw his right hand effectively. Holyfield was able drop Botha in the eighth round with a right hand and was able to score a stoppage later in the round.
A key to this bout will be whether Holyfield is able to dictate the pace of the fight. If Holyfield can establish his pace and force Williams into his type of fight then it will likely be to Holyfield’s advantage because he will not have to fight for a full three minutes of a round where he can likely be effective by throwing punches in bursts.
Another question that surrounds this fight is in regard to Holyfield’s preparation for the bout. In a conference call to promote the fight earlier this week I asked Holyfield what affect if any have the multiple postponements and cancellations have had on his preparations for this bout with Sherman Williams.
Holyfield stated quote “It has been very difficult, This fight should've been five or six months ago, but people didn't do what they said they was going to do. And I'd like to thank Sherman for not getting frustrated. Things like this happen. It’s not on my behalf that it happened this way. I'd have done anything to have this fight three months ago.”
The bout which was last scheduled to take place on December 9 in Detroit was cancelld in November and with all the negotiations to get the bout back on as well as Holyfield already scheduled for another bout six weeks following this fight, it can certainly have an affect on any fighter’s preparation.
Holyfield stated following his TKO victory over Francois Botha that he was intent on staying active, during the conference call I also asked Holyfield if he had any concern with fighting two bouts in such a short period of time with his bout with Brian Neilsen scheduled for March 5 in Denmark. Holyfield stated quote “When I accepted the Nielsen fight, I didn't even know if this fight was going to happen, Hopefully this fight won't take so much out of me that I can't fight the next one."
Holyfield has always been an extremely well conditioned fighter however, with being out of the ring for eight months as well as problems with securing his next bout one has to wonder whether or not he has had adequate time to prepare for this fight given that he is 48 years old.
Williams faces a similar scenario in that he like Holyfield has had to sit out and wait for the problems which have stood in the way of this fight taking place to be resolved. Williams will also be coming off nearly a year and a half of inactivity so ring rust may also be a factor for him in this fight.
Williams is ten years younger than Holyfield and is coming into this fight having built some momentum compiling a record of 9-1, 4 Knockouts in his last ten fights. The thing that some may view as a negative against Williams however is that although he has fought several notable Heavyweight contenders and former Heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev, he has been unable to successfully step up in class and is not a top ten contender. What may work to Williams’ advantage however is the potential of being overlooked by Holyfield and Holyfield’s camp.
After all, Holyfield already has another bout scheduled following this fight and, that can serve as quite a motivator for a fighter whom may be considered an after thought. One can not dismiss the potential for an upset here that should Williams be successful would certainly catapult him into the mainstream of the Heavyweight division.
In the same conference call earlier this week, when asked his thoughts about being overshadowed in the promotion of this fight Williams stated “Evander is a tough guy, But I'm a tough cookie as well. I ain't no pushover. He's got a lot of experience and a lot of wisdom on his side. So do I. And once we get into the ring, whatever it takes to accomplish what I need to get done is what I'm willing to do.”
During the conference call I asked Williams if he saw anything from Holyfield’s last bout with Francois Botha, where Botha fought effectively early that he might be able to use to his advantage. Williams stated quote “I don’t concern myself with that, I don’t study tapes or anything like that.” This in my mind suggests that the normally aggressive Williams will be right in front of Holyfield from the outset which may have the ingredients for an exciting fight for Boxing fans.
The focal point of this fight however is of course Evander Holyfield’s continuing quest to regain the Undisputed Heavyweight championship. Whether or not his fight with Williams or his upcoming bout with Brian Neilsen will serve as a way to springboard himself back into the Heavyweight title picture is up for debate.
What is indisputable however is the notion that even the greatest of fighters can be caught and in this case Holyfield is the fighter whom all eyes will be focused on. The pressure is on him to not only emerge from this fight victorious but also to fight in such a way that he makes the best argument possible for a shot at the Heavyweight title. For Sherman Williams it is an opportunity to make a name for himself against a living legend.
What Williams may fail to realize is Evander Holyfield is waging his own private war. The war to once again capture the Heavyweight crown. He’s lost a few battles yet he continues on. Yes he is 48 years old, yes he has a suspect left shoulder, yes some of his boxing skills have slowed, but there is one thing. We should not forget and Williams should definitely take notice of Evander Holyfield’s heart.
Evander Holyfield has the heart of a gladiator and does not accept defeat. Williams has stated that he does not review tape of his opponents which ultimately in the case of Holyfield may be a disastrous mistake. If Williams would review Holyfield’s career he will see that it will take more than boxing skills and power punches to defeat him. Holyfield even when you have him in trouble continues to fight on, a champion tried and true, has snatched victory from presumable defeat.
So who will come out the victor in the Holyfield-Williams bout? All questions will be answered this Saturday night, January 22nd.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
HOLYFIELD-WILLIAMS PPV OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN ALERT
HOLYFIELD-WILLIAMS PPV OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN ALERT
WHAT: “Redemption In America” Official Weigh-In
WHO: EVANDER “The Real Deal” HOLYFIELD SHERMAN “Tank” WILLIAMS
World Boxing Federation Heavyweight Champion Challenger
Atlanta, GA Vero Beach, FL by way of the Bahamas
43-10-2, 28 KOs 34-11, 19 KOs
Also…..
Kevin Johnson (23-1-1, 10 KOs), Atlanta, GA .
Julius Long (15-14, 13 KOs), Detroit, MI
Monte Barrett (34-9, 20 KOs), Bronx, NY
Charles Davis (19-21-2, 4 KOs), Tucson, AZ
Donatas Boundoravas (10-1-1, 3 KOs), Arapahoe, NC by way of Lithuania
Willie Fortune (9-0, 5 KOs), Detroit, MI
Cedric Boswell (32-1, 25 KOs), Atlanta, GA
Dominque Alexander (19-9, 9 KOs), Topeka, KS
Domonique Dolton (9-0, 7 KOs), Detroit, MI
Marcos Primera (20-22-2, 13 KOs), Asheboro, NC by way of Venezuela
Miguel Gonzalez (12-2, 11 KOs), Cleveland, OH
Ramon Guevara (9-20-2, 6 KOs), Grand Rapids, MI by way of Dominican Republic
WHEN: Friday, January 21, 2011 – 4 PM/ET
WHERE: The Greenbrier
Casino Club
White Sulphur Spring, WV
WHY: Official weigh-in for Saturday night’s “Redemption in America” PPV pro boxing show, featuring living legend Evander Holyfield against veteran Sherman “Tank” Williams, January 22 at Colonial Hall, The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
“Redemption In American,” presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North American by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
Ticket/hotel packages can be purchased at www.greenbrier.com or by calling 1.800.453.4858. Deadline to book reservations is Jan. 21. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT. For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.AmericanBoxingLeague.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
-AP-
CONTACTS:
Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, 978.664.4482, bobtfcp@hotmail.com
Doug Jacobs, Integrated Sports Media, 201.610.1500, doug@integratedsportsnet.com
Billie Kaiser, ARK Promotions, 704.987.0612, billieatark@aol.com
Lynn Swann, The Greenbrier Hotel, 304.536.7857, lynn_swann@greenbrier.com
'Tank' Willliams also looks for chance to fight for title by DAVID WALSH
'Tank' Willliams also looks for chance to fight for title by DAVID WALSH
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Sherman "Tank" Williams gets the perfect opportunity to pump some life back into his boxing career Saturday night when he takes on future Hall of Famer Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
"I'm totally motivated. It's big for me," Williams said in a telephone interview from his training headquarters in Vero Beach, Fla. "I hope to have that WBF belt around my waist."
Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 knockouts) has gone 6-6-1 since last holding the WBA belt in 2000. If Holyfield, 48, beats Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs), he has a March 5 bout scheduled against 45-year-old Brian Nielsen in Nielsen's native Denmark. A win then and boxing's only four-time heavyweight champion has his sights set on either WBC champ Vitali Klitschko or WBA titleholder David Haye.
"Evander's in the driver's seat," Williams said. "I hope to take the same course. I'm excited about this fight, not just because I'm fighting Holyfield, but what beating him impressively, or knocking him out, can do for me. It can better position me for a fight against Vitali Klitschko or David Haye."
Holyfield is coming off of April 2010's eighth-round knockout of Francois Botha in Las Vegas, a triumph that made him the fringe WBF titlist.
Williams has been idle since October 2009 when he lost to Manuel Charr in Germany. After that setback, Williams was involved in a car accident. He suffered three herniated discs in his lower back and four herniations in his upper back.
"I'm well now," Williams said. "I thank God."
Williams endured three delays before this fight finally was made. It originally was scheduled in November and then December in Detroit, but got postponed each time. Reasons cited were slow ticket sales and lack then of a television deal.
While Holyfield has the edge in experience, Williams believes he has what it takes to mix it up with the champ.
"He's a warrior. He's a legend in the heavyweight division," Williams said. "Styles make fights. Some don't like my pressure. I mix it up. I like close quarters. I believe he'll bring out the greatness in me. Just because he's a few years older, Holyfield still is the same in the ring. I plan on going to war with him."
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
Musical acts precede boxing event
Musical acts precede boxing event The Herald-Dispatch
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- The "Redemption In America: The Journey Begins Now" pay-per-view scheduled Saturday night at The Greenbrier Resort will start with music and conclude with boxing.
"Redemption" will feature a mix of world class boxing and entertainment; showcasing a production that includes high-energy music presented by Broadway performers, along with dancers and aerial artists.
On the boxing side, the main event will be a 12-round World Boxing Federation heavyweight title fight between champion Evander Holyfield and challenger Sherman "The Tank" Williams in the resort's Colonial Hall.
The show will open with a performance of Ray Charles' "America" by Tony award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays the lead in the Broadway play, "Unchain My Heart," chronicling the life of Ray Charles.
Clarence Clemons, world-renowned saxophone player for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, will perform.
In addition to the Holyfield-Williams fight, there will be six other bouts as well as meet-and-greet opportunities and open public workouts with all fighters.
The show will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer's Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The first bout will be at 7 and the first PPV fight will be at 9.
Packages, including event tickets and accommodations, can be purchased beginning at $589 at www.greenbrier.com or by calling 1-800-453-4858. Deadline to book reservations is Jan. 21. Packages include tickets to the PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic in July and tickets to two concerts starring Tim McGraw and Keith Urban.
Almost 50, and still in the ring Evander Holyfield
Almost 50, and still in the ring Evander Holyfield
'Tank' Willliams also looks for chance to fight for title - Musical acts precede boxing event
DAVID WALSH
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Evander Holyfield's goal at age 48 is the same as it was when he started boxing professionally 26 years ago.
Get to the top.
Holyfield hopes to take that next step Saturday night when he defends his World Boxing Federation heavyweight title against Sherman "Tank" Williams at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The 12-round main event headlines the "Redemption in America: The Journey Begins Now" pay-per-view show from the resort's Colonial Hall.
"Why keep going? Because it's a goal," Holyfield said during a telephone interview from Los Angeles on Jan. 6. "When you have a goal, you don't put a time limit on it. A lot of people don't think about how you start, but how you finish."
Six other fights are scheduled that night.
Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) last fought April 10, 2010. He knocked Francois Botha out in the eighth round in Las Vegas to claim the then vacant WBF crown. In boxing's alphabet of divisions, that one is a minor title.
Holyfield has trained of late in New York City at Church St. Boxing Gym. He held public workouts there Monday and Tuesday.
"I like to stay busy," Holyfield said. "I used to go four to five times a year. I go slower now. Plus a big fight takes time to promote."
The major targets for Holyfield, a four-time heavyweight champion, are the WBC crown held by Vitali Klitschko and WBA crown held by David Haye. Holyfield, who calls Atlanta home, is trying to become the oldest man to win a major heavyweight title belt, an effort that would surpass George Foreman.
"My goal is to be heavyweight champion of the world," said Holyfield, who's nickname is "The Real Deal." "People say I'm an old man, why do I have to go against him? I have the ability, the agility to get it done. I prove myself more by what I do, not what I say."
Holyfield insists his training sessions are still intense. He just doesn't schedule as many as he used to.
"It's easy. Boxing is the most important thing in my life," Holyfield said. "I'm older, I don't do the things I used to do, but I don't cut myself short. My body doesn't recover as fast. I remember times when I didn't get that much rest.
"I know I can make it. I just have to do the right amount of stuff. I made a lot of mistakes when I was young. I can't make them now. I take better care of myself."
There won't be much down time for Holyfield after this fight. He's scheduled to meet Brian Nielsen on March 5 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"No pressure," Holyfield said. "I'll go out and do the best I can in this one. It's a harder game now, but I can recover for March. I believe I can."
Holyfield, who won the bronze medal as a light heavyweight in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, has fought and beaten a virtual Who's Who in the sport's heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. He has wins over world champions Mike Tyson (twice), George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, Buster Douglas, John Ruiz (twice), Hasim Rahman, Chris Byrd, Pinklon Thomas, Michael Dokes, Dwight Muhammad Qawi (twice), and Carlos De Leon.
"Some are younger," Holyfield said. "They think they know something you don't know. You outwork them. That's how I stick with it.
"Forty years as a fighter. ... who's going to outthink me? You train one way. You have yourself ready."
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT
on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
The Greenbrier Gets Ready For 'The Real Deal' By Kellen Boyle
The Greenbrier Gets Ready For 'The Real Deal'
As Holyfield gets ready for his fight, The Greenbrier is making preparations of their own. By Kellen Boyle
A big boxing match is coming to The Greenbrier.
Evander Holyfield will enter the ring against Sherman "The Tank" Williams at The Greenbrier's Colonial Hall on Saturday.
This week, The Greenbrier is getting ready.
Organizers at The Greenbrier say they began putting together the lighting and seating last week, and the ring will be the last thing to be put in.
The room is expected to seat almost a thousand people and will feature a live band, performers, singers, and seven under-card fights besides Holyfield's main event.
"One of the things that Jim Justice has really tried to do to The Greenbrier is to restore the energy to the resort, so with The Greenbrier Classic, The Casino Club, and now this Holyfield fight, it's really just amping things up for all of our guests," says The Greenbrier's Public Relations Director Lynn Swann.
Doors will open Saturday at 6 p.m. The first fight is at 7 p.m. and Holyfield will hop in the ring at 11 p.m.
Holyfield 'Keeps Punching' Story by Matt Richardson Photos by Chris Cozzone
Holyfield 'Keeps Punching' Story by Matt Richardson Photos by Chris Cozzone
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/2011/01_holyfield01.htm
The photos and posters on the walls of the Church Street boxing gym in downtown Manhattan are starting to fade away. Some of them are even peeling off.
Posters of fights long passed and fighters long retired, the canvassed walls are a reminder of everything and everyone that has come before.
Forty-eight-year-old Evander Holyfield surveys the four walls as he trains for his upcoming 56th professional fight.
“A lot of history,” someone says as Holyfield scans the walls. The former cruiserweight and heavyweight champion gently shakes his head in acknowledgement. A lot of that history involved Holyfield himself as the posters show him raising his hands in triumph while others show his head slumped down in defeat.
But then the bell rings, ending the brief period of reflection while signifying the resumption of another round of shadowboxing for the ex-champ.
Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KO’s) is in New York this week to train for his fight on Saturday night against Sherman Williams (34-11-2, 18 KO’s). A win there and another win against Brian Nielsen in March, Holyfield hopes, will move him back into title contention.
It’s a goal that seems far-fetched and very nearly impossible to most observers. But not, unsurprisingly, to the legendary fighter.
“I feel good,” he says to a small group of media on hand at the gym. “I’m still looking forward to being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.”
“I took care of myself,” he explains. “The purpose of taking care of yourself is to be able to extend your career as long as you want to. Work hard and it’s just like when you go get an education. You can extend your life. When you get a good education you choose to live where you choose to live.”
Now, with two fights scheduled in the first three months of the year, Holyfield hopes a renewed rate of activity will help in his attempt to win back his old belts. “It’s very important because the fact is that you don’t get no better when you’re not performing,” he says. “You can take time to wait. You get the opportunity but you can’t make the best of your opportunity because you didn’t do anything in the process - you just waited. So I understand if I take on some fights and keep my skills sharp I’ll do better.”
“He’s been looking great,” says veteran trainer Tommy Brooks. Brooks, who trained Holyfield for a portion of his earlier career, has now returned to the corner for the final act. But he says there’s not a whole lot for him to do.
“It’s not like he don’t know how to fight,” Brooks says. “It’s just timing. Like I said, he already knows how to fight. It’s just a matter of getting a strategy together and both of us getting on the same page. I’ve just got to lock in on certain things… different opponents. What’s available to hit, what the other guys capabilities are and we formulate a plan from there.”
Holyfield has only trained for this fight for three weeks, a much shorter time frame than usual for training camp but one that doesn’t seem to overly concern trainer or fighter. After the Williams fight, Holyfield will then return home for two weeks before heading right back into training for his March 11th assignment against Nielsen.
It’s an unusually quick pace for most contemporary boxers, let alone one nearing 50-years-old. But it’s a pace both trainer and pupil are content with.
“That’s up to him,” Brooks says when asked how much longer Holyfield can fight. “That’s my man. He’s like a little brother to me. He loves himself more than anybody. He knows when to say when. Until the doctor says he can’t do it or until he says ‘that’s it for me,’ I’m with him.”
“He’s in better shape than most 28-year olds. Just look at him.”
Holyfield physically does look fine. His muscles are tone, his body thin and in shape. The only noticeable scar is the missing piece of ear Mike Tyson chewed off 14 years ago.
In fact, Holyfield looks much like the same guy whose face is on all the posters covering all the walls. But many of those photos are getting older, the taped up articles yellowing at the fringes.
The photos on the walls surrounding the ring seemingly tell the whole story. But Holyfield continues to fight on, adamant that the ending hasn’t been written yet.
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
Holyfield Fights On
By Tri Nguyen: This Saturday, Evander Holyfield will step into the ring for the 56th time in his professional career, continuing his pursuit of a fifth world heavyweight title.
When Michael Jordan was asked why he was making a comeback at age 38, he famously said "It’s an itch that still needs to be scratched, and I don’t want that itch to bother me for the rest of my life." It’s that competitive spirit that drives Evander Holyfield to continue fighting at an age when most boxers have long retired. He’ll turn 49 in October, but he’s determined to regain a version of the world heavyweight crown before he hangs up the gloves for good. On Saturday, January 22, he will be in the ring against Sherman “The Tank” Williams at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
What else does he have to prove? The former undisputed Cruiserweight and four-time Heavyweight champ has done it all; Bronze medal in the 1984 Olympics, countless millions in prizefight earnings and the respect of every athlete who has ever heard his name.
His ring career has been eventful, to say the least. He was center stage for two of the most infamous boxing events in recent history. On November 6, 1993, while battling Riddick Bowe in a rematch for the IBF and WBA titles, a parachutist wearing a makeshift fan-propelled apparatus landed in the ring, creating one of the oddest scenes in sports history. Forever known as "The Fan Man Fight" it would be outdone in absurdity by "The Bite Fight" in November 8, 1997, when Mike Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear not once, but twice, leading to his disqualification. But even these two events don’t overshadow his accomplishments. He has fought every heavyweight of his era including, Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Buster Douglas, Michael Moorer, Lennox Lewis, John Ruiz. In short, he has ducked nobody.
His record stands at 43-10-2 (28 KOs). Through allegations of steroid use and money woes, Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield forges on. He says he’s 48 but feels as good as if he were 38. He has taken care of his body, doesn’t cut corners, trains hard, and eats right.
Boxing is not a sport for the uncommitted. It tends to weed out the lazy and the passive. Evander Holyfield may be the most passionate athlete ever to lace up the gloves. In his younger days, he trained incessantly. Always the envy of other fighters for his physique, he still looks like he’s 28, although he says he trains smarter now. He doesn’t spar as often and admits it takes his body longer to recover.
But don’t expect him to slow down. He wants to fight three times a year and hopes to generate enough attention to force one of the Heavyweight beltholders to fight him. When asked about which one of the Klitschko brothers he’d like to face, he enthusiastically says either one would be fine. He acknowledges, however, that it’s still a long shot, since there is no incentive for any of the three major beltholders to fight him yet. But he points out that he’s been on the other side of the equation before. When he was a 29-year old champion, the public demanded that he fight 42-year old George Foreman. It was a dangerous no-win fight for him; if he won, he would get no credit for fighting an old man but if he lost, he would tarnish his legacy. Eventually, the money was right and the fight was made, concluding in a decision victory for Holyfield. So he plans to fight on and generate enough attention until the situation and money are right.
History is littered with great athletes who hung around too long in pursuit of glory. The aforementioned Michael Jordan played with diminished skills and grew tired of losing before he gave up for good. Sugar Ray Leonard absorbed a few humiliating losses before he hung ‘em up. Rickey Henderson was demoted to a minor league baseball team before finally retiring.
There are also happy endings for aging athletes. Joe Calzaghe recently retired undefeated and ended his career beating two ring legends in Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins to cement his legacy. John Elway walked away holding a Lombardi Trophy and David Robinson hoisted an NBA Championship trophy.
It remains to be seen how Evander Holyfield’s career ends. Will it end with a sad defeat or will he be wearing a belt one final time? After Saturday’s fight, he has already scheduled a fight in Denmark against Brian Nielsen. From there, things become more uncertain, but only Evander Holyfield will know whether the itch has been scratched.
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT
on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested
retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
ARK Promotions In Association with The Greenbrier Presents REDEMPTION IN AMERICA
ARK Promotions In Association with The Greenbrier Presents
REDEMPTION IN AMERICA
January 22, 2011 ♦ WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA
WORLD BOXING FEDERATION HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MAIN EVENT – 12 ROUNDS -- PPV
EVANDER “The Real Deal” HOLYFIELD SHERMAN “Tank” WILLIAMS
World Boxing Federation Heavyweight Champion Challenger
4-Time World Heavyweight, Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion Former NBA, CABOFE & FEDECARIBE Heavyweight Champion
Atlanta, Georgia Vero Beach FL by way of Freeport, Bahamas
43-10-2 (28 KOs) 34-11 (19 KOs)
8-ROUNDS – HEAVYWEIGHTS -- PPV
KEVIN “Kingpin” JOHNSON JULIUS “Towering Inferno” LONG
Former World Heavyweight Title Challenger/WBC #16 7’ 1” Giant
Atlanta, GA Detroit, MI
23-1-1 (10 KOs) 15-14 (13 KOs)
10 ROUNDS – HEAVYWEIGHTS -- PPV
MONTE “Two Gunz” BARRETT CHARLES DAVIS
Former World Heavyweight Title Challenger Former WBC Latino Heavyweight Champion
Bronx, NY Tucson, AZ
34-9 (20 KOs) 19-21-2 (4 KOs)
6 ROUNDS – MIDDLEWEIGHTS -- PPV
DONATAS BOUNDORAVAS WILLIE FORTUNE
Arapahoe, NC by way of Lithuania Detroit, MI
10-1-1 (3 KOs) 9-0 (5 KOs)
NABA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
10 ROUNDS
CEDRIC “The Bos” BOSWELL DOMINIQUE “Diamond” ALEXANDER
NABA Heavyweight Champion/WBC #19 Challenger
Atlanta, GA Topeka, KS
32-1 (25 KOs) 19-9 (9 KOs)
8 ROUNDS – MIDDLEWEIGHTS
DOMONIQUE DOLTON MARCOS “The Terminator” PRIMERA
Detroit, MI Asheboro, NC by way of Venezuela
9-0 (7 KOs) 20-22-2 (13 KOs)
8 ROUNDS – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
MIGUEL “Silky Smooth” GONZALEZ RAMON “Che” GUEVARA
2008 US National AAU Lightweight Champion Cagey Veteran
Cleveland, OH Grand Rapids, MI by way of Dominican Republic
12-2 (11 KOs) 9-20-2 (6 KOs)
(ALL FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT
on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
ARK Promotions In Association with The Greenbrier Presents REDEMPTION IN AMERICA http://pi.pe/-k3k914
Kevin Johnson Record
Kevin Johnson
Date Opponent W-L-D Location Result
2010-10-29 Charles Davis 19-20-2 Charlotte, US W KO 4
2009-12-12 Vitali Klitschko 38-2-0 Berne, CH L UD 12
WBC Heavyweight Title
2009-05-15 Devin Vargas 17-0-0 Atlantic City, US W TKO 6
2008-11-07 Matthew Greer 12-3-0 Atlantic City, US W TKO 3
2008-09-05 Bruce Seldon 38-6-0 Atlantic City, US W TKO 5
2008-04-18 Terry Smith 30-4-1 Miami, US W UD 10
2007-12-05 Jermell Barnes 18-14-2 Hollywood, US W UD 8
2007-11-09 Andrew Greeley 13-18-2 Bronx, US W UD 6
2007-08-03 Damian Wills 22-1-1 Doraville, US W UD 10
2007-06-09 Ron Guerrero 19-13-3 Hartford, US W UD 8
2007-03-29 Curtis Taylor 13-18-1 North Charleston, US W KO 1
2006-12-08 Charles Davis 17-10-1 Bronx, US W UD 10
2006-11-10 Michael Rhodes 3-0-3 Whippany, US W UD 6
2006-10-11 Demetrice King 9-14-0 White Plains, US W UD 6
2006-06-10 Daniel Bispo 17-3-0 Atlantic City, US W UD 10
2006-03-31 Robert Hawkins 21-5-0 Uncasville, US W UD 8
2006-01-27 Robert Kooser 8-4-0 Atlantic City, US W TKO 1
2005-01-08 William Cook 7-1-0 Tacoma, US W UD 8
2004-11-06 Karl Evans 2-8-1 Phoenix, US W TKO 1
2004-09-30 Robert Wiggins 19-3-1 Uncasville, US W UD 8
2004-07-28 DeSean Harper 4-1-0 Middletown, US W TKO 4
2004-06-17 Timur Ibragimov 13-0-0 Laughlin, US D PTS 4
2003-07-13 Elfair McKnight 2-4-0 Allentown, US W UD 4
2003-04-24 William Bolar 1-10-0 Allentown, US W KO 1
2003-02-13 Stanford Brisbone 0-1-0 Allentown, US W TKO 4
Record to Date: Won 23 (KOs 10) Lost 1 Drawn 1 Total 25
Kevin Johnson replaces Travis Kauffman vs. Julius Long on ‘Redemption’ PPV card
Kevin Johnson replaces Travis Kauffman vs. Julius Long
on ‘Redemption’ PPV card
Holyfield-Williams headlines Saturday night’s show in West Virginia
CHARLOTTE, NC (January 18, 2011) – Former world heavyweight title challenger Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson has replaced an ill Travis Kauffman against dangerous Julius “Towering Inferno” Long (15-14, 13 KOs) in an 8-round bout on Saturday night’s “Redemption In America: The Journey Begins Now” Pay-Per-View event, headlined by living legend, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) defending his World Boxing Federation heavyweight title against challenger Sherman “Tank” Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs), live from America’s resort -- The Greenbrier’s Colonial Hall -- in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
“Travis has the flu,” ARK Promotions president Rick Lazes explained. “He’s dehydrated and unable to train. Travis has withdrawn but, fortunately, we were able to replace him with a former world title challenger, Kevin Johnson, who has stepped-up to the challenge of fighting 7’ 1” Julius Long.”
“Redemption,” presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, is being distributed in North American by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
Johnson (23-1-1, 10 KOs), fighting out of Atlanta, has only suffered one career loss, by a 12-round decision 13 months ago to WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Kilitschko in Switzerland. A tough competitor who has never been stopped, Johnson’s most notable victories have been against previously undefeated (17-0) Devin Vargas (WTKO6), former world champion Bruce Seldon (TKO5) and Brazilian Olympian Daniel Bispo (WDEC10).
“Redemption” will fuse world class boxing and entertainment; showcasing a production that includes high-energy music presented by Broadway performers, along with dancers and aerial artists. World-renowned saxophone player Clarence Clemons will also headline a live band between rounds and throughout the night.
Joining the Holyfield-Williams main event and Johnson-Long on PPV is former world heavyweight title challenger Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett (34-9, 20 KOs) versus Charles Davis (19-21-2, 4 KOs) in a 10-rounder, while Lithuania-native Donatas Boundoravas (10-1-1, 3 KOs) and undefeated Detroit middleweight Willie Fortune (9-0, 5 KOs) open the PPV show with a scheduled 6-round match.
Fighting on the non-PPV segment of “Redemption” is NABA Heavyweight Champion Cedric “The Bos” Boswell (32-1, 25 KOs), rated No. 19 by the WBC, defending his title against Dominique “Diamond” Alexander (19-9, 9 KOs) a 10-rounder. Also on the undercard are a pair of 8-round bouts featuring unbeaten Detroit middleweight Domonique Dolton (9-0, 7 KOs) against Venezuelan veteran Marcos “The Terminator” Primera (20-22-2, 13 KOs), and 2008 US National AAU lightweight champion, Cleveland junior welterweight Miguel “Silky Smooth” Gonzalez (12-2, 11 KOs), meets 31-fight veteran Ramon “Che” Guevara.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Ticket/hotel packages can be purchased at www.greenbrier.com or by calling 1.800.453.4858. Deadline to book reservations is Jan. 21.
Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com, www.AmericanBoxingLeague.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
-AP-
CONTACTS:
Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, 978.664.4482, bobtfcp@hotmail.com
Doug Jacobs, Integrated Sports Media, 201.610.1500, doug@integratedsportsnet.com
Billie Kaiser, ARK Promotions, 704.987.0612, billieatark@aol.com
Lynn Swann, The Greenbrier Hotel, 304.536.7857, lynn_swann@greenbrier.com
Kevin Johnson replaces Travis Kauffman vs. Julius Long on ‘Redemption’ PPV card http://pi.pe/-dpdhgf
Can’t stop, won’t stop Evander Holyfield
Can’t stop, won’t stop
Evander Holyfield had just finished working out at New York City’s Church Street gym Tuesday morning when he sat on the ringside steps and answered questions from the media. When asked about his toughest victory, without hesitation Holyfield replied “Dwight Muhammad Qawi.”
“That was a fifteen round fight,” Holyfield said. “It was like somebody blindfolded you and threw you into the ocean. Then you look and you don’t know which direction to go, but you know if you stop you’re going to drown.”
He then went on to explain how he weighed fifteen pounds less at the final bell than he did at the start of the fight. Then he spoke about never giving up; he talked about resisting the urge to quit.
“I rather die before I quit, because I won’t know if I quit if I die. I just don’t want to remember quitting.”
In many ways, Holyfield’s (43-10-2, 28 KO) own words about quitting represent the forty-eight year old’s legendary career.
“The Real Deal” is the only five-time heavyweight champion in the sport’s storied history. Conversely, he is also the only boxer to ever lose his heavyweight title on five different occasions.
But each time Holyfield has lost his title in the past, he has come back to get it, he never quit. However, since losing his last championship belt to John Ruiz in 2001, the championship titles have eluded him.
Just over two years ago, Holyfield was on the losing end of a controversial split decision against Nikolai Valuev, which undoubtedly left “The Real Deal” with a bitter taste in his mouth, knowing just how close he came to reclaiming his crown.
He’ll continue his journey back to the top on Saturday night in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where he’ll square off against thirty-eight year old veteran, Sherman “Tank” Williams (34-11-2, 19 KO).
With a win over Williams, Holyfield hopes to turn his attention to Denmark’s Brian Nielson (64-2, 43 KO), for an early March bout. If all goes according to plan in Copenhagen, “The Real Deal” said he’ll look to fight once more in 2011.
While Holyfield’s financial troubles have come into public view over the last few years, specifically his woes with regards to his estate and child support payments, “The Real Deal” insists his reasons for being in the ring are centered more on recapturing a title rather than earning a paycheck.
“The big thing is performance. If you love to perform, money will come,” Holyfield said. “I know what I’m doing and if I didn’t want to box, I’d say ‘Okay, I don’t want to do it anymore.’”
If he gets by Williams, Nielson, and his third opponent this calendar year, Holyfield hopes to get a crack at a Klitschko brother or David Haye in 2012. While he noted that he has no preference as to which champion he’d rather face, in answering one reporter’s question, he did agree that a bout between he and Haye would make for an interesting fight, given their similar stature as smaller heavyweights.
“It [a fight with Haye] would be good. We both came up from cruiserweight and he’s a skillful fighter,” said Holyfield. “You find that the young guy brings something, but the older guy brings something too. I’d have to outthink him.”
But first, with three fights his goal for 2011, Holyfield will need to find the same fountain from which the forty-six year old Bernard Hopkins drinks. You know, the one that disguises the skills of a world class fighter inside an aging man’s body.
“When I was younger, they said I was too young and now that I’m older, they say I’m too old,” Holyfield said. “But I was able to do it then…You may not get it when you want it but you may still get it if you don’t quit.”
For a man whose practiced this violent trade professionally for over twenty six years, the sport is Holyfield’s ocean. He didn’t quit against Qawi in ’86 and he was rewarded by winning the WBA cruiserweight title via split decision. Now, the resilient Holyfield is refusing to quit his quest to capture a sixth world heavyweight championship. He’s not hanging it up his gloves just yet, he’s not ready to drown.
48 Year Old Evander Holyfield: “I took care of myself” by Jerry Glick
48 Year Old Evander Holyfield: “I took care of myself” (FULL REPORT)
Jerry Glick reporting: Let’s face it, there are only a few men who can claim to remain viable in boxing at the advanced age of 40 plus. In the cases of Bernard Hopkins and Evander Holyfield that should read plus, plus. Hopkins is 46 and Holyfield is two years older. Both men dream large, B-Hop nearly took a light-heavyweight belt recently, and Evander still insists he will unify all the heavyweight belts.
The question is why; why does this all time great fighter need to extend his career. I won’t conjecture as to why beyond what he says is the reason, but one thing is clear, he is doing it. He certainly looks great and that might lead fans and those on his team to assume that he can do it. Maybe, but I recall another great heavyweight champion who looked young on the outside but was very old on the inside; Muhammad Ali was still quite pretty when he stepped into a ring with Larry Holmes at the age of 38 back in 1981. He looked more his age when the bell rang and we saw that there was nothing there. No more miracles for Ali. Now, ten years older that Ali was, Holyfield tries to regain old form and the world title. Can he do it? Not sure, but I am sure that beating Williams will neither indicate how The Real Deal will look against Klitschko (either one), nor should it lead to a title shot.
The four time world heavyweight champ is back in town. Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield stopped off in New York to work out with trainer Tommy Brooks at The Church Street Boxing Gym in Manhattan to the delight of fans and media.
He is preparing to face Sherman “Tank” Williams at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV on this coming Saturday, January 22, for Holyfield’s World Boxing Federation heavyweight title in a twelve round fight dubbed “Redemption in America”, promoted by ARK Promotions.
Looking a lot younger than his forty-eight years, Holyfield, 43-10-2 (28 KOs), went through a training routine which included shadow boxing, pad work, and the heavy bag. He raised a sweat but was not winded at all. Did this bit of exposure indicate what the old guy has in the tank? Probably not.
Williams, 34-11-2 (19 KOs), a veteran heavyweight who won’t make the ex-champ look slow, fat, or old, is a 38 year old fighter who at a fairly small stature of 5’11” manages to weigh in at a hefty 250 to 265 pounds. This may be a tune up for his plan to unify the belts, but it sure looks like a part of anyone’s senior tour. Next for Evander will be another oldie, Brian Nielson who will turn 46 on April Fool’s day. Nielson has been retired since 2002, and Tank hasn’t fought in over a year. Holyfield last fought in April of 2010 beating 42 year old Francois Botha.
Fact is Holyfield looked fairly good. He tossed combinations in the air and into trainer Brooks’ pads. His jab wasn’t that hard but that left hook appeared to a very damaging weapon.
According to trainer Brooks he is in great shape. Much like a man years younger. He said that Evander is like a twenty-eight year old, “Yeah,” said Brooks. I would say so. He’s always taken care of himself. He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke. He’s in tremendous shape.”
Brooks is honest and astute; he knows that Williams isn’t to be compared with the top of the division. The road to a title is through ranking contenders, but he believes that his man can face the biggest and the best.
“Just like his fight with (7 feet tall) Valuev,” he explained. “I thought he
beat Valuev, but he got jerked.”
He cut his teeth on bigger guys against Valuev, and that has given him the confidence to face other big boys.
The Klitschkos are around 6’7” each but Holyfield is unaffected by their size. “If I faced someone 7’2”,” he explained. “I’ll fight someone 6’7”.”
As Holyfield sat on the ring steps putting on his boxing shoes-the ones with his name emblazoned on the sides-he agreed to talk to the gathered media.
Holyfield made it very clear, he can still bang with the best. “I can still do it,” said the very confident future Hall of famer. “Still looking forward to being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.”
Evander is not so concerned with what Williams will bring to the table, rather it is getting things the way he wants them in what he does in the ring. “It’s not so much me worrying about him,” said Holyfield. “At this time I just try to (prepare) myself to be able to jab, to be able to throw combinations; to be able to fight my fight. I feel that if I fight my fight I can beat anybody.”
The biggest question is why, at such an advanced age is he still going through the rigors of training and the punishment of a fight?
“Because I took care of myself,” he said. “You know, the purpose of taking care of yourself is to be able to extend your career as long as you want to.”
He said that 46 year old Bernard Hopkins is, in many ways, not unlike himself. “He took care of himself. You never saw him out of shape.”
He is ready for all the men who claim a piece of the title, David Haye, Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko. Does he have a preference? “No, not at all. If you’re going to be undisputed it only a matter of who comes first”.
Being busy is important for any boxer. Sitting around creates rust especially in an older fighter. Holyfield knows this.
“Very important,” he said. “The fact is you don’t get better if you’re not performing. You can take time and wait for an opportunity, but you can’t make the best of an opportunity because you didn’t do anything in the process, you just waited. So I understand that if I take on some fights and keep my skills sharp, I’ll do better.”
Even he is surprised that he is still an active fighter, “Very surprised,” he added with a smile. “I was asked when I came home from the (1984) Olympics when I would retire and I told them at 28.”
He still has the fire to fight in his heart.
“I love what I’m doing and as long as I can train and feel good about what I do (I can continue).” said Holyfield. He doesn’t see himself fighting at 50, but if that is what it will take, he is prepared for the possibility.
“If it takes until 50, then I’ll do it.”
His philosophy about actually getting a title fight extend beyond the ring and into the pocket. “It all comes down to if you pay people enough money, they’ll fight.”
It was said that the adulation of his fans was a big part of the reason that Ali stayed so long, but Holyfield denies that he has the same craving.
“If I need that,” he said. “All I do is stay home because I get that enough.”
PUNCHLINES
***THUMP THUMP***
Way back in 1994 doctors told the then 32 year old Holyfield to retire with a heart condition. He said, “It’s a sport and they were just trying to make it as safe as possible.”
He added that they had given him too much medication. “If I hadn’t taken the test over again I never would have known that they gave me too much medication that made me go into the heart (condition). And they gave me too much water. So it was the medicine. It’s not like I was born with heart (a condition), and I overcame it.”
Now, seventeen years later, he is still at it.
***ONLY THREE***
According to trainer Brooks, Holyfield has worked for only three weeks in preparing for Williams. “He knows how to fight,” said Brooks. “He’s always in shape, he just needs to work on timing. It’s just a matter of strategy and both of us getting on the same page”
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, James Buster Douglas, Lennox Lewis, KO, Knockout, boxing, Heavyweight Champion, Evander Holyfield, Sherman Williams
Holyfield bout live on SuperSport
Holyfield bout live on SuperSport
On Saturday, former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will return to action against Sherman “The Tank” Williams in a 10-rounder he believes will propel him to yet another championship crack in 2011.
The bout will be broadcast live from West Virginia on SuperSport 6 from 4am on Sunday morning (CAT).
Despite being at an age (48) when most men are tending to their grandkids or contemplating gentler pursuits, Holyfield still believes he has what it takes to win another title. Last year, he twice challenged for the title, but failed in both attempts.
“I’m as good at 48 as I was at 38, or even 28,” Holyfield said. “You’re only as good as the people that you fight. You need to take chances to be the very best.”
Holyfield claims that a potent mixture of experience, discipline and faith will allow him to fight for many more years and possibly win a record fifth world title.
“I can fight because of my foundation,” Holyfield said. “I made the Olympic team and won a bronze medal. As a professional I fought everybody; I believe in the word of God and I believe that I can still perform. It’s more beneficial for me to fight often. At my age my body feels better when I’m training because I don’t spar as much as I used to.”
In his most recent bout, he belted South African Francois Botha to defeat inside eight rounds, winning the low-rent WBF title.
Williams is a journeyman who nonetheless has won nine of his last 10 bouts. Experts don’t give him a chance, predicting another win for the old man of heavyweight boxing.
But he is undaunted: “Most naysayers are the same. Many have never even been in a school yard fight, so I don’t listen to them. Styles make fights and every fighter brings different things to the table. I believe I can win this fight.”
Evander Holyfield's Gift To Sherman William
Evander Holyfield's Gift To Sherman William WRITTEN BY COREY ERDMAN
Without Evander Holyfield, Sherman Williams would never be headlining a pay-per-view event. His name would never be mentioned on ESPN, and he most certainly wouldn't be talked about first thing in the morning on CNN.
Most importantly though, without Evander Holyfield, Williams' future outlook in boxing would be cloudy at best.
"I'll just hitch my wagon on all of these other plans Evander's been making and ride the same road,” said Williams, a 38-year old Bahamian veteran based in Palm Springs, Fla.
Williams (34-11, 19 KO) will meet Holyfield (43-10, 28 KO) this Saturday at The Greenbrier in White Sulpher Springs, W.Va. in an event broadcast on Integrated Sports Pay-Per-View. With a victory, Williams figures to make every sports section in every newspaper across North America, and the marquee of every boxing website on the internet.
“The Caribbean Tank” has had just four fights since the end of 2006. Two bouts ago, Williams contested Andrew Greeley, he of now 34 losses, in a six round affair at a nightclub in Jacksonville, Fla. known for karaoke night. Four fights ago, he knocked fellow journeyman Ralph West out in three rounds under the lights of a converted bingo hall in Olive Branch, Miss.
It's no wonder that he doesn't think Holyfield should have walked away from the sport by now.
"I think it's a good thing that a guy who's been around the block still can do what he's doing in 2011,” said Williams. “I think it's honorable to him and respectable to see that a guy could go this long and take care of himself and still maintain physically and mentally what it takes to perform on a high level. To be honest with you, I think it's commendable."
In some ways, the bombast of Holyfield regarding winning the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world clouds the positive effects his continuation has on the second or third tier of heavyweights.
Whether the former heavyweight and cruiserweight champion of the world will be fighting the Klitschko brothers or David Haye down the road is not pertinent. Holyfield has beat the stuffing out of the Lou Savarese, Vinny Maddalone and Jeremy Bates types since 2006. The journeymen, not the legend, took a beating, but also deposited a larger-than-usual paycheck afterward, which might be exactly what Holyfield has left to give to the sport and its forgotten participants.
"That's the way boxing goes. That's part of the game," admits Williams, referring to facing aging opponents.
Even if Williams has his hand raised on Saturday night, the answer to, “What's next?” for both men will still be the same as it was before: “Who knows?” But for Holyfield, the question would have a somber answer. For Williams, it wouldn't be somber at all. The possibilities would be plentiful.
Watch Evander Holyfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5PxuZ8u52Q
Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.
For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Redemption In America presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT
on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested
retail price of only $29.95.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/redemptionamerica/index.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOfXUB0I_ko
http://twitter.com/holyfieldwilli,http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5743710/evander_holyfield_heavyweight_title_fight_january_22_redemptio/
http://www.viddler.com/explore/njreese584/videos/56/
Evander Holyfield Redemption in America
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