By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com was advised by Don Majeski, the American agent for Sauerland Event, that a deal is pretty much done for WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev (49-1, 34KOs) to face former four-time heavyweight champon Evander Holyfield (42-9, 27KOs), with the target date of December 20 in Switzerland.
"After a long and tedious negotiations process, I believe that we finally have a fight," Majeski said.
The only hitch for Valuev-Holyfield could be the location. Switzerland does have a law regarding an age limitation for pro boxers. The law can be modified depending on the individual. If for some reason a problem comes up, the fight would then head to Germany.
"The one thing about Evander Holyfield is that he's always in remarkable shape. I'm sure Holyfield would take any tests [that Switzerland would require], Majeski said.
At age 46, Holyfield has a chance to become the oldest heavyweight champion in the history of the sport. George Foreman became the oldest boxer in history to win the heavyweight title at age 45 when he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994. Holyfield is coming off a decision loss to Sultan Ibragimov from last October.
The fight does say something about the state of American heavyweights. There has not been a major heavyweight title fight in United States since Wladimir Klitschko won a decision over Sultan Ibragimov in February in New York. Every major title fight this year, has been held overseas because the heavyweights don't draw in America and there is more money to be made by holding the fights in Germany.
