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My phone has been inundated over
the last week with people from
all over the world
giving comments, advice,
criticism, direction and
everything else following the
WBF world heavyweight title
fight between Evander Holyfield
and Sherman Williams.
While commitments back home in
South Africa prevented me from
attending, our Latin American
Coordinator, Sergio Sotelo, did
an outstanding job in the most
professional manner, gaining us
many more supporters to our ever
growing organization. I was
extremely proud of Sergio's
efforts and he is to be
commended on holding the WBF
flag high.
Suffice to say, I watched the
fight on television back in my
home in Cape Town, and was truly
proud that the World Boxing
Federation was headlining a US
television-covered fight of such
magnitude.
The truth of the matter is that
after three rounds, and
unquestionably the right ruling
of a no-contest, I had to
reflect on the performance of a
one-time great - perhaps even
one of the greatest of all time,
Evander 'The Real Deal'
Holyfield. A man who has
achieved almost everything a
fighter could achieve and a man
whose legacy will last
forever. My friends who know me
well, will know that I call it
the way that I see it and I
speak openly and honestly even
when it might not be the
politically correct thing to
do. So the question that is
being posed around the world and
a question specifically directed
at the WBF - what now for
Evander Holyfield?
A tough question to answer and a
question that needs to be
honestly put to our champ. Is
perhaps 48 years of age now time
to call it quits? Is there
another one or two fights left
in the man? Does the WBF
sanction another fight and if so
- against whom? Is there a
danger of Evander getting hurt
in the ring?
The Championship Committee of
the World Boxing Federation
comprises some extremely wise
men, and it is this committee
who ultimately will decide two
things. Firstly what is best for
the WBF, and secondly what is
best for Evander Holyfield. We
would never compromise the
safety of any of our champions,
and a serious discussion would
thus take place if we felt that
Evander might be in some danger
were he to fight. The bottom
line is quite simple. 'The Real
Deal' is our current world
heavyweight champion. In our
hearts and minds, even were
Evander to retire immediately,
he will remain a champion to the
WBF. In life it is not always a
belt that makes one a world
champion, but it is kindness,
courtesy, dignity and morality
which are the prerequisites of a
champion of the people.
Whatever we, the WBF, and
Evander Holyfield decide, and
whether its time to call it
quits or possibly have one or
two more carefully matched
fights - you, Evander, are truly
the champion of the people.
No-one can ever take that away
from you.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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