Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
‘The Real Deal’ won’t give up world title pursuit
Two-weight world champion Evander Holyfield has told WBN
that recent comments made by WBC title holder Vitali Klitschko would not stop
the American pursuing his dream of regaining a version of the world crown.
The 49 year-old, who has not held recognised title for
twelve years, had actively been seeking a shot at either of the belt-hoarding Ukrainian
brothers since scoring back-to-back victories over Frans Botha and Brian Nielsen - without any success.
Both Klitschko and younger brother Wladimir, who possesses four
of the six main belts, have stated on more than one occasion that they respect
Holyfield too much to face him in the ring as he approaches his 50th birthday, which seems to have made the ‘The Real Deal’ more determined as Vitali repeated their stance this week.
“If that's what they choose to do then that's what they
choose to do, everyone has their own opinion as to what is important to them,”
Holyfield told World Boxing News.
Asked whether the final belt holder remaining, WBA champion
Alexnader Povetkin would now be targeted, Holyfield stated: “If he would like
to fight, yes - as I am not looking to fight anybody else other than the champ.
“I won’t consider any eliminators, I just want to fight for
the title,” he added.
On the upside, the seasoned Holyfield is yet to taste defeat
in four years, with his ten career defeats from 57 bouts all coming against
former or current world title holders, which in itself is an astonishing
record.
A fight with Povetkin seemed to be on the cards in late 2011
when Holyfield was invited to Germany and even posed for pictures with the
Russian as he claimed his title by beating Ruslan Chagaev in August of that year.
For one reason or another though the fight failed to materialize
and with Povetkin pencilled in to face another veteran former world champion in
Hasim Rahman next month, Holyfield cannot be ruled out as a possible future
challenger.