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.
