Is there no quenching Holyfield's championship thirst?
By Aaron Imholte (October 12, 2004) 
Evander Holyfield
Four-time heavyweight champion of the world, two-time conqueror of the most feared man of his era, and considered by many to be a top ten all time heavyweight great. Add wealth and an enormous luxurious house and an unshakeable faith in his beliefs and you have Evander Holyfield, the man who has the biggest heart of arguably any champion in history.

99.9 percent of all fighters would be more than happy with that legacy and be proud to call it a career. Not Holyfield, who unfortunately still has that enormous heart and warrior spirit that drove him to be the best in the 90's. His determination was his ticket to fame back in his prime and has now become his undoing in the twilight years of his career.

He has vowed against all odds to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world once again. What a feat five-time champion would be, if only it were more realistic and less dangerous. Holyfield, who already speaks alot slower and sometimes slurs his words, is in danger of suffering permanent brain damage and health complications if he pursues such a comeback.

In Holyfield's last bout he looked all of his 41 years of age as he failed time and time again to attack openings and dodge punches against former middleweight champion James Toney. Now he is set to fight Larry 'The Legend' Donald in what will lead to another world title shot if he can not only survive the fight, but win it as well. Donald is a second tier heavyweight who would never have been able to carry Holyfield's spit bucket in the 90's. But things have changed and by the end of the night on November 13th, Larry Donald could join Danny Williams and Glengoffe Johnson as men who have given themselves a name by beating faded legends.

In this writers humble opinion Holyfield should have called it quits years ago. I admire the man for pursuing what he believes in so strongly and against what so many people say to the contrary. But for the same reason I have to say I pity Holyfield's ignorance when it comes to matters of his own health. There is not one person who wants to see Evander's legacy slip any more to the likes of Larry Donald and Lamon Brewster.

With his reflexes dulled and his hands not nearly as sharp or as quick as before, the man who enters the ring against Donald will be a mere shadow of the four-time heavyweight champion formerly known as Evander Holyfield. The only thing he has left is his heart, and like many will tell you, having only heart and heart alone can get you knocked out in the boxing ring, or worse. I wish Holyfield the best of luck and hope his health holds up, but I also wish he would reconsider the pursuit of his convictions.
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