Valuev wins controversial decision against Holyfield

Dec 21, 2008 - 3:32 AM ZURICH, Switzerland (Ticker) - Nikolay Valuev retained the WBA heavyweight title Saturday by winning a controversial majority decision over Evander Holyfield.

It appeared as though the 46-year-old Holyfield, who initiated what little action there was throughout an otherwise boring fight, was set to become the oldest heavyweight champion.

However, one judge scored the bout a draw, while the others had Valuev winning 116-112 and 115-112. The crowd booed upon hearing the decision.

"I do not know which fight they saw but there is no way Valuev won," Holyfield's trainer Tommy Brooks said. "Evander did very well and he won this fight. It was a great performance by him."

Valuev also praised his opponent.

"I am proud to have been in the same ring with him," Valuev said of Holyfield. "He was very fast and hard to hit. I can only advise people not to get hit by him. I expected a tough fight, and that is what it was.

"Holyfield is a great fighter and he proved it tonight."

Holyfield (42-10-2) fell to 4-5 in his last nine fights. "The Real Deal" was fighting for the first time since a unanimous decision defeat to Sultan Ibragimov on October 13, 2007.

Holyfield believes his display fully vindicated his decision to take part in the bout. He now will return to the United States to reflect on the defeat and ponder his next move.

"I will go home and think about the future," he said. "But I knew I could still do it.

"I fought very well and won the fight but I did not get the decision. I think I showed tonight that I still can box, and that age does not matter."

Despite the win, the 7-foot Valuev (50-1), who outweighed Holyfield by nearly 100 pounds, was unimpressive throughout.

Holyfield received a huge reception from the sell-out crowd of 12,500 fans in Zurich, who cheered each time he launched an offensive attack.

With Valuev controlling the center of the ring in the opening rounds, Holyfield danced around his opponent, hitting with occasional single shots.

Holyfield did well to stay away from Valuev??s long left jab and hit him with a big left in the fourth, but the Russian answered with a strong right uppercut.

"He punches much faster than people think," Holyfield said. "It is hard to get close. But I am pleased with my performance tonight."

Much to the delight of the crowd, the fifth was a good round for Holyfield, who first landed a right-left combination to the body and later connected with a big left hook to the head.

Both men were on target during a mid-round exchange in the sixth, but Valuev??s left jab looked more effective in the sixth.

In the seventh, the crowd raised the roof when Holyfield fired in a combination to the head. However, Valuev continued to control the center of the ring, dodging punches from Holyfield.

Valuev??s corner urged him to be more aggressive and he eventually landed a strong right in the eighth when Holyfield seemed to tire.

The Russian remained stern as there was a big exchange during the ninth, and in the 10th Holyfield then landed a strong right-left combination. Valuev finished better and pushed his opponent in the corner in the 12th.

"It was a very close decision, a draw would have been all right," Valuev's manager Wilfried Sauerland said. "Holyfield won the first six rounds and (Valuev) won the back half of the fight.

"Nikolay is the champion, and Holyfield did not fight like a challenger in the last six rounds. He did not try to hit Valuev but was only dancing and circling around the ring. That is not how you win a title."