edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured an exclusive interview with former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion Evander ?The Real Deal? Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOS), who is preparing to face Sherman Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs) on January 22. In addition to his upcoming fight with Williams, Holyfield is also slated to take on Brian Nielson (64-2, 43 KOs) on March 5. Holyfield talked about his upcoming fights, reflected back on his Hall of Fame career, and provided opinions on the current boxing landscape.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Now Evander, those fights you had with Riddick Bowe produced two of the most exciting heavyweight fights in the past several decades, but these days it seems that most of the excitement is taking place in the lower divisions. What do you think of Manny Pacquiao and his rise to the top of the sport?
EVANDER HOLYFIELD: I don?t think it?s that much different than when Sugar Ray Leonard was hot, when Tommy Hearns was hot, and Roberto Duran. You always had these smaller fighters who were very gifted and very polished. In the years when the heavyweights aren?t doing really well, these little guys rise to the top and I just think it?s one of those eras where these smaller guys are putting on better performances and the big guys are not fighting the best fighters. You look at the Klitschkos, they?re at the top of their game but they are not fighting the most compelling fighters that the people want to see them fight. So sometimes it?s kind of that way. I?m not so much just blaming Klitschkos. They just happen to be the champions of the time, but they?re coming behind people like myself, and Mike Tyson, and Lennox Lewis. At that time the best were fighting the best. Now they pretty much are guys that are so much better than the other guys that it just pretty much looks one-sided. It?s pretty much just like when Larry Holmes was champion. There was nobody there to challenge him that much. At that time it was Sugar Ray Leonard, and Tommy Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. So many people will jump in and take that spot if you don?t show you have the skills that are necessary to be in their position.
CIANI: What you?re mentioning is true. Usually throughout different periods in boxing history the most exciting fight that could potentially be made has been in the heavyweight division, but right now the fight that fans have wanted to see for the past two years that hasn?t happened for whatever reason, is the fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather. I?m wondering (A) if you think we will ever get that fight and (B) if you think that type of excitement will ever return to the heavyweight division that Pacquiao brings now?
HOLYFIELD: Well of course, things will turn around I just hope it doesn?t happen too late. I think the same thing at one time where there was Roy Jones and a couple of other fighters that people wanted to see, and eventually they got a chance to see them but it was so late, Hopkins and the Roy Jones fight. I think if Mayweather and Pacquiao become long maybe it may dry up. Then again it may not, like Tyson and myself. We were talking about doing it in 1990. It didn?t happen, but six years later, bam! It happened and it was bigger than life. It could be this for Pacquiao and Mayweather. I think as long as both of the fighters are still active the chances of it happening are great!
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CLICK HERE to read the entire interview transcript with Evander Holyfield.
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For those interested in listening to the Evander Holyfield interview in its entirety, it begins approximately one hour and twenty minutes into the show.
