NEW YORK, 17 November 2004 — Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has been placed on indefinite medical suspension by the New York State Athletic Commission after a loss here Saturday, the New York Daily News reported Monday.
Larry Donald won a unanimous 12-round decision over 42-year-old Holyfield, who won only one round according to two judges and got just two from the other.
Holyfield will have to be cleared by Barry Jordan, a commission physician, before he will be cleared to fight anywhere in the United States because other states will honor the ban, said Ron Stevens, the commission chairman.
“I’m not looking to end his career if it’s not warranted. But the health and safety of the boxer is the main concern of the state commission,” Stevens told the newspaper. “To my practiced mind, Holyfield shouldn’t be fighting anymore.
“It’s the responsibility of the state athletic commission to save a boxer from himself. Evander Holyfield has absorbed enough punishment throughout his great career. It’s time the bleeding stopped.”
Holyfield, 38-8 with two drawn and 25 knockouts, is only 2-5 with two drawn in his past nine fights. But he told the newspaper he plans to continue boxing, saying he will contest the “conspiracy” to force him out of the sport.
“Why do they want to usher me out? What have I done to this game that they don’t want me in it anymore?” Holyfield told the News.
“Do you really care about a person so much that you want to protect him from himself? Ain’t that much love in the world to go against a person’s will.”
Even World Boxing Council champion Vitali Klitschko, a Ukranian who defends his title next month, said he is mystified by Holyfield’s refusal to quit.
“He’s a personal hero to me and it has been painful for me to watch him the last two or three fights,” Klitschko told the News. “I don’t understand why he doesn’t stop.”
