Sultan Ibragimov vs Evander Holyfield

One week short of his 45th birthday, Evander Holyfield entered the Khodynka Ice Palace seeking to become heavyweight champion for a record fifth time. The attempt ended in a clear points defeat on October 13, 2007, when Sultan Ibragimov retained the WBO title by scores of 118–110, 117–111 and 117–111. There were no knockdowns, and although Holyfield remained upright and competitive enough to complete the 12 rounds, he could not overcome the speed, positioning and superior accuracy of the younger southpaw.

The contest had originally been arranged as a unification match between Ibragimov and WBA champion Ruslan Chagaev. Chagaev withdrew through illness and Holyfield, who had won four successive bouts during his latest comeback, accepted the engagement. The challenger brought a record of 42–8–2 and weighed 211 pounds. Ibragimov, unbeaten at 21–0–1, scaled 219 pounds and was making the first defence of the championship he had taken from Shannon Briggs four months earlier. Although Holyfield possessed vastly greater championship experience, Ibragimov was 12 years younger and held a pronounced advantage in speed.

Holyfield advanced steadily in the opening rounds, attempting to hold the centre of the ring and bring his right hand into play against the champion’s southpaw stance. Ibragimov did not oblige him with a stationary target. He moved to either side, altered the distance and stepped in with short, quick attacks before withdrawing. The champion was cautious rather than forceful, but his straight left and right jab reached the mark more regularly. Holyfield remained composed and defended responsibly, yet much of his pressure produced no punches. When he did release the right, Ibragimov was often already turning away or moving beyond combination range.

The first distinct signs of Ibragimov’s control appeared in the third round. He drove punches into Holyfield’s body and caused the challenger to hesitate before resuming his advance. Holyfield was still physically strong and could not readily be backed up, but his feet were no longer quick enough to place Ibragimov where he wanted him. The champion was content to score, move and make Holyfield begin again. Exchanges were brief and infrequent, with Ibragimov usually landing first and escaping before the older man could answer with more than a single blow.

By the fifth round the champion was mixing his attack more freely, bringing combinations to the head and then dropping his punches beneath Holyfield’s elbows. Another series to the body plainly troubled the challenger. Holyfield tried to shorten the distance and work at close quarters, where his strength and experience might have counted, but Ibragimov tied him up or stepped clear. Referee Raul Caiz Sr. had little serious disorder to handle. The match was tactical and sometimes slow, but its direction was becoming unmistakable. Ibragimov was taking few risks while steadily accumulating points.

The difference widened through the sixth and seventh rounds. Holyfield continued to come forward, but he was following rather than cutting off the ring. His punches were delivered one at a time, and Ibragimov could see most of them coming. The champion’s quicker hands allowed him to strike in twos and threes, particularly when Holyfield paused after missing with the right. Holyfield’s defence and sound condition spared him severe punishment, but his reactions had slowed, and he was unable to sustain an attack long enough to change the course of the contest.

Holyfield produced his best work in the eighth. A counter to the body hurt Ibragimov, and a straight right followed as the champion moved within range. For a brief period the challenger succeeded in making Ibragimov exchange rather than retreat. The champion nevertheless recovered his distance and returned to the methods that had served him from the start. Holyfield could still strike hard enough to command respect, but isolated successes could not compensate for the long intervals in which he was being outboxed.

Ibragimov resumed command in the ninth and hurt Holyfield with a succession of punches in the tenth. He did not press recklessly for a stoppage. Whenever Holyfield set himself to counter, Ibragimov withdrew and began again behind his quicker lead. That prudence disappointed those expecting a decisive finish before the Russian crowd, but it left the challenger with few opportunities. Holyfield pushed harder during the last two rounds, knowing that only a knockout could save him. Ibragimov met the advance with accurate body punches and careful movement, although Holyfield landed a heavy right late in the twelfth which briefly disturbed the champion. It was his last meaningful success and came much too late to affect the result.

Judges Chuck Giampa and Tom Miller each returned 117–111, while Ruben Garcia scored the contest 118–110. The figures were supported by the punch statistics: Ibragimov landed 139 of 348 blows, while Holyfield connected with only 58 of 302. The champion outlanded him in every round and held the advantage in power punches throughout, apart from an even eleventh. Holyfield never landed more than six punches in any round. He had lasted the distance and avoided the early defeat some had predicted, but his pursuit of a fifth heavyweight reign had been defeated by a younger man who required discipline and accuracy rather than sustained violence to retain his title.

I never believed the 44-year-old Evander Holyfield would win a fifth heavyweight title in Moscow. Four comeback victories had earned him the chance, but Sultan Ibragimov’s speed and southpaw movement exposed how much Holyfield had declined. Evander still had strength, courage and the occasional right hand, yet he could no longer put punches together or cut off the ring.

Ibragimov boxed sensibly, landing 139 punches to Holyfield’s 58 and winning unanimously. It was effective rather than memorable. He took few risks, controlled the distance and made Holyfield follow him. The old champion lasted, but he was comprehensively outboxed.