Holyfield fails in historic bid

Boxing : Evander Holyfield's bid to become world heavyweight champion for a record fifth time ended in failure after the American…

Boxing: Evander Holyfield's bid to become world heavyweight champion for a record fifth time ended in failure after the American lost on points to Russian Sultan Ibragimov.

The home favourite defended his WBO belt thanks to a unanimous points verdict in Moscow after a workmanlike display which extended his record to 22-0 with one draw.

Holyfield (42-9 with two draws) had enjoyed previous spells as world champion after beating James 'Buster' Douglas in 1990, Mike Tyson in 1996, Michael Moorer in 1997 and John Ruiz in 2000.

If the 44-year-old had clinched victory at the Khodynka Arena he would have also become the second oldest heavyweight champion of all-time behind George Foreman.

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It looked on the cards early on as Holyfield came out swinging only for Ibragimov to work his way back into the contest.

He looked the more composed fighter as the contest went on and moved well ahead on the judges' scorecards. Holyfield did wobble the Russian in the final round with a big right-hander but it came too late.

Ibragimov's aim now is to unify the division with belts also held by Wladimir Klitschko (IBF and IBO), Ruslan Chagaev (WBA) and Oleg Maskaev (WBC).