In most places around the world, NESportsTV.com online PPV is the only place you can watch former undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KO?s) take on the Bahamian born Sherman ?The Tank? Williams (34-11-2, 19 KO?s) this Saturday night (Sunday morning in some places around the world).
If Holyfield wins, he already has a date with Denmark boxing superstar Brian Nielsen scheduled for later this year. (Note: Holyfield vs Williams can be seen live in Denmark on at 3AM early Sunday morning).
Below is a list of how the legendary Holyfield, who at 48 still hopes to someday be undisputed heavyweight champ again, compares to two of the best & brightest younger worldwide stars in boxing today: Manny Pacquiao and Tomasz Adamek.
Manny Pacquiao
Holyfield vs Williams can be seen in the Philippines at 10AM Sunday morning on online pay per view.
Heavyweight Holyfield and weight division jumping pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao?s similarities range from inside the boxing ring to at church Sunday morning. Inside the ring, both men showed the ability to overcome sized disadvantages and win world titles at higher weight classes. Pacquiao won his first world title as a 112 pound flyweight and has since won world titles in 8 different divisions going as high as junior middleweight for his recent conquest of Antonio Margarito.
What is sometimes forgotten in regards to Holyfield was that he first reached prominence within the boxing world in the light heavyweight division as an amateur, where he won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics in 1984. Like Pacquiao, he then jumped weight classes as he began his pro career as a cruiserweight and became that division?s first undisputed champion in 1988 with a 8th round TKO of Puerto Rico?s Carlos De Leon.
Then of course, against the odds, Holyfield moved up to the heavyweight division for a one punch knockout of then champion Buster Douglas in 1990. He then solidified his heavyweight legacy throughout the 90?s with upset wins over Mike Tyson twice, one of the best boxing trilogies in recent memory against Riddick Bowe and victories over Hall of Famers George Foreman and Larry Holmes along the way.
However, Holyfield?s likeness with Pacquiao don?t being and end in the squared circle. Pacquiao is a devout catholic who is known to draw thousands to church along with him the day after his Saturday night fights in the United States. Holyfield is also devoutly religious and is well known to donate hundreds and thousands of dollars to his church in Atlanta. Holyfield is also a fan of Pacquiao?s. He told 8countnews.com?s Brad Cooney last November, ?He?s Sensational?, when discussing the Filipino slugger.
Tomasz Adamek
Holyfield vs Williams can be seen in Poland via online Pay Per View early Sunday morning at 3AM.
The best current fighter from the country of Poland has followed a similar career path to Holyfield. Like Evander, Adamek began his career as a light heavyweight where he won his first world title with a bruising majority decision over Australia?s Paul Briggs in 2005 (Note: Holyfield vs Williams can be seen in Australia Sunday afternoon on www.NESportsTV.com online pay per view at 1PM live).
Adamek then moved up to the cruiserweight division becoming the recognized world champion in an all action war against Steve Cunningham in 2008. It was a fight that many consider to be the second greatest fight in the history of the cruiserweight division right behind Holyfield?s 1986 all time classic cruiserweight title fight against Dwight Muhammad Quawi which saw Holyfield win his first world title via 15 round split decision.
Now Adamek hopes to continue the path Holyfield set forth over 20 years ago as he campaigns in the heavyweight division and is on the verge of landing a title shot this year. All the while, one major similarity between Adamek and Holyfield is promoter Main Events. That promotional firm brought Holyfield to his first world title at cruiserweight in the late 1980?s and to his first heavyweight title victory in the early 1990?s.
Perhaps with some main events magic, they can do it again with Adamek.
Places Holyfield ? Williams can be seen on www.NESportsTV.com this weekend live in different parts of the world.
Andorra 3AM (Sunday 1/23) United Arab Emirates 6AM (Sunday 1/23) Afghanistan 6:30AM (Sunday 1/23) Antigua & Bermuda 10PM Anguilla 10PM Albania 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Armenia 6AM (Sunday 1/23) Netherlands Antilles 10PM Angola 3AM (Sunday 1/23) American Samoa 3PM Austria 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Australia 12PM (Sunday 1/23) Aruba 10PM Aland Islands 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Azerbaijan 6AM (Sunday 1/23) Bosnia and Herzegovina 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Barbados 10PM Bangladesh 8AM (Sunday 1/23) Belgium 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Burkina Faso 2AM (Sunday 1/23) Bulgaria 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Bahrain 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Burundi 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Benin 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Bermuda 10PM Brunei Darussalam 10AM (Sunday 1/23) Bolivia 10PM Bahamas 9PM Bhutan 8AM (Sunday 1/23) Bouvet Island 2AM (Sunday 1/23) Botswana 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Belarus 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Belize 8PM Cocos (Keeling) Islands 8AM (Sunday 1/23) Central African Republic 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Switzerland 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Cote D’lvoire 2AM (Sunday 1/23) Cook Islands 4PM Chile 11PM Cameroon 3AM (Sunday 1/23) China 10AM (Sunday 1/23) Colombia 9PM Costa Rica 8PM Cuba 9PM Cape Verde 1AM (Sunday 1/23) Christmas Island 9AM (Sunday 1/23) Cyprus 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Czech Republic 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Germany 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Djibouti 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Denmark 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Dominica 10PM Dominican Republic 10PM Algeria 3AM Ecuador 9PM Estonia 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Egypt 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Western Sahara 2AM (Sunday 1/23) Eritrea 5AM (Sunday 1/23) Spain 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Ethiopia 5AM (Sunday 1/23) Finland 2AM (Sunday 1/23) Fiji 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Falkland Islands 11PM Micronesia 1PM (Sunday 1/23) France 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Faroe Islands 2AM (Sunday 1/23) Gabon 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Grenada 10PM French Guiana 11PM Greece 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Croatia 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Ireland 2AM (Sunday 1/23) Iraq 5AM (Sunday 1/23) Italy 3AM (Sunday 1/23) Japan 11AM (Sunday 1/23) Kenya 5AM (Sunday 1/23) Kazakhstan 8AM (Sunday 1/23) Mexico 8PM New Zealand 3PM (Sunday 1/23) Philippines 10AM (Sunday 1/23) Puerto Rico 10PM Romania 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Ukraine 4AM (Sunday 1/23) Uganda 5AM (Sunday 1/23) Samoa 4AM (Sunday 1/23)
