|
Evander Holyfield has decided to
relinquish the World Boxing
Federation (WBF) World
Heavyweight title in order to
challenge Alexander Povetkin for
the WBA “regular” World title in
December. The legendary American
informed this personally to WBF
president Howard Goldberg.
“I have been in talks with
Evander Holyfield over the past
couple of weeks. He has secured
a December fight against
Povetkin for one of the WBA
titles and informed me that with
much regret he would have to
relinquish his WBF world title”,
said Goldberg.
“Evander and I have always had
an open relationship and he
expressed his great pride in
having fought for and having
held our WBF world heavyweight
title and that he will always
keep the WBF close to his
heart.”
Holyfield, 44-10-2, (29), won
the WBF World title in April
2010 stopping Francois Botha in
eight rounds at the Thomas &
Mack Center in Las Vegas, and
made one defense, a No-Contest
with Sherman Williams in
January. In his latest outing,
on May 7, he stopped Dane Brian
Nielsen in a non title fight.
“It has always been our
philosophy at the WBF to allow
our champions to grow, be it
with us at the WBF or whether
they are offered opportunities
elsewhere. We have never, and
will never, prevent our fighters
from growing – that is not who
we are”, continued Goldberg.
“So I take this opportunity to
thank Evander for being our WBF
champion, and for holding our
title with such gratitude and
pride, and wish him all the best
for his upcoming fight in
December.”
Evander Holyfield will forever
be considered one of the
greatest Heavyweight Champions
in the history of the sport.
After Unifying the WBA, WBC and
IBF Cruiserweight titles in the
late eighties, he won the
Heavyweight World titles of the
same organizations in 1990 by
stopping James “Buster” Douglas
in three rounds.
He since won and lost world
titles several times, and will
only cement his legacy further
should he defeat Alexander
Povetkin (22-0, 15 KOs) in
December.
|
