So now Holyfield has money problems in Ethiopia, too?
For now, Evander Holyfield remains safe outside the ring (AP photo).
If you’re wondering what a legitimate heavyweight fight (anywhere) and a relatively obscure exhibition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have in common, we just found out: At some point, a guy needs to get paid.
Evander Holyfield was scheduled to receive up to $1 million to fight Sammy Retta this past weekend in Ethiopia, a fundraiser to fight the spread of AIDS in the country. But according to Holyfield’s manager, Ken Sanders, payment never was received. So the event was postponed (if not canceled).
“We were supposed to have the check by early June,” said Sanders, who spent a week with Holyfield in Ethiopia two months ago, setting up the bout. “The guy kept saying, ‘It’s coming, it’s coming. Don’t worry about it.’ But finally, we had to cancel. We weren’t going to do one of those those things, ‘We’ll give you the money when you get here.’”
But there is good news. At least nobody in Ethiopia is trying to foreclose on any of his properties.
Sanders said the local promoter’s sponsor dropped out and now the Ethiopian government has stepped in as a potential financial backer because officials there still desire for the event come off. The tentative rescheduled date is Sept. 11. Holyfield likely will make less than the originally discussed $1 million, and he plans to donate a portion of those earnings to the AIDS cause. The fight against Retta also will be an official bout, sanctioned by the WBC, and not an exhibition.
“It’s a legitimate fight now — but not a hard fight,” said Sanders.
No kidding. While Holyfield is 46 and far removed from the fighter who won championships, Retta is an afterthought: He’s 35, has had only 21 bouts (18-3), never fought anybody of consequence and hasn’t been in the ring in over two years.
Meanwhile, Sanders maintained that Holyfield is still “getting his finances in order,” when asked about recent foreclosure notices on some of his property.
Holyfield also still hopes to get another title shot. This usually is about the time when I would go on some rant and implore him to retire. But I think there’s a better chance of him getting a $1 million check in the mail from Ethiopia.
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78 comments Add your comment
Black Power
July 28th, 2009
12:05 pm
I used to not believe when they say that Americans (Especially whites) see their world through cable tv, until you decided sarah palin could be president. You are all about shows and fame, no clue about talent, world view, and deplomacy. If someone wins American Idol you all be happy to see him in the white house. If it wasnt for the few brights like Obama you wouldnt exist as a nation. How long are you going to be ignorant and expect the rest of the world to like you. The world is bigger than your TV screen and Big Macs’. Countries like Ethiopia had their own justice system, army and artifacts when you were living like animals in the mountains. We all know what you did to to Africans and Native Indians. Its time for you to apologize and educate yourself.
Proud Ethiopia man
July 28th, 2009
1:49 pm
no wonder you are a guffy donkey .Who the hell are you ? do you know Ethiopia is one of the Great Nation in the Universe. Learn and read stupid ass.
Proud Ethiopia man
July 28th, 2009
1:59 pm
Enter your comments here
Proud Ethiopia man
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
BILL YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT KATHY MARSHAL SAID ABOUT THE STATSTICS .SHE SAID OF THE MEXICAN WHO LIVE IN USA 75% OF THEM ARE THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ,AND OUT OF THE INDIAN PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN USA 60% OF THEM ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THAT WAS THE CONTEXT OF THE STASTICAL EXPLANATION OF KATHY MARSHAL BILL MAN!
SAMMY jr
July 28th, 2009
2:21 pm
Ha! Is this not the same Ethiopian government being taken to court in the UK because Mohamouda Gaas and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism invited many International beauty Queens to Ethiopia in 2007 for the Ethiopian Millennium and have since then failed to pay the organisers?.
http://nazret.com/blog/index.php?blog=15&title=open_letter_to_p_m_meles_zenawi_of_ethio&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
The same thieves now want to Lure Evander Holyfield to Ethiopia under false promises to pay him then him too?
Evander please stay in Atlanta unless you get your money up front, the world has now known about these WOYANE thieves and how they behave when it comes to money matters, they promise you heaven and Earth to come to Ethiopia then you later.
EVANDER: “Don’t worry about Your US$1,000,000″ means WORRY A LOT
surprised
July 28th, 2009
2:35 pm
I am surprised by ignorance of so many of you. If you only know what Ethiopia is all about, I am sure you will be shocked. Ethiopia is a great nation that is a bacon of hope to the black population of this universe. It is a country that has a proud history and culture where the three main religions (Jews, Christians and Muslims) live in peace like brothers. A country that has never been colonized by anyone.In fact, a country who kicked colonial power Italy to shame and punished the army of Graziani not once but twice.
If only the African Americans get the opportunity to learn the history of Ethiopia, if only……
Learn, educate yourself about Ethiopia and Africa. It will give you a better feel of your past
yequraw jegena
July 28th, 2009
3:04 pm
why u gys worry about holyfield .we know he was a chap but but not in ethiopia!!!we ethiopian praoud by our selfes . u know what we aren’t colonized.we have great nation in the universe.we don’t care about holyfield.
wow
July 28th, 2009
3:31 pm
why hate on ethiopia for holyfield’s financial mismanagement? ethiopia is the pride of africa and nothing you iliterate idiots say will make change that.
from Ethiopia
July 28th, 2009
4:50 pm
It is sad when Holyfield aspire to get money from ethiopians. He has to listen to ‘we are the world’ song and donate something to ethiopia. I think Sami will never be accepted by ethiopians. The bout he had with one of the guy in Sherton Addis 11 years ago had showed his incompetence, and I think no one will watch this one which is below Sami’s competence. If in case the govt is sponsoring this bout, let this money direct go to the 12 milion people in damn need of breads!
Terminator
July 28th, 2009
8:23 pm
Ethiopia is a failed state, being led by a coalition of two minority Abyssinian tribes who colonized the rest of the country and subjected them to incalculable expolitations, ethnic-cleansing. All those commented as proud Ethiopians are from those racist groups. Ethiopia is disgrace to Africa and the world!!!
I can tolerate white racism. White racism is is way too moderate compared to Abyssinian terrororism and racism. 12,000,000 are need of emergency food aid in the vast regions of Oromia, Ogadenia and the south. Find out reactions to this story at:
http://gadaa.com/oduu/?p=726
Ken Stallings
July 28th, 2009
8:27 pm
Tracker, I am aware we are still there and hunting down terrorists. Also aware of the Eritrea, Somalia, Kenyan, Djibouti, and Ethiopian connenctions. However, what you describe lead from what I discussed. I do more than read this stuff in the newspapers. It’s my job!
But to call all this an Ethiopian proxy American war is truly ignorant. First, it’s insulting to the Ethiopians to infer they’d willing fight for America vice themselves. Second, it implies this is all an elective war to further American colonialism. Pick which one of those is most inaccurate — both haven’t a shred of truth to them!
I personally think working with local governments to hunt down Al Qaeda terrorists is a very good thing! None of that has anything to do with a Holyfield fight, but then again, I wasn’t the one who implied any linkage!
john H
July 29th, 2009
2:25 am
AMERICAN HAS ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE! UNFORTUNATELY THE ONCE ON THIS SITE ARE THE MOST IGNORANT OF ALL! TRUST ME NOT ALL THINK THIS WAY….FEW CLOSED MINDED KIDS WITH A LOT OF LEARNING TO DO! GOD BLESS!
Tracker
July 29th, 2009
7:57 am
Ken Stallings, I’m right with you there…Ethiopia has never fought anyone’s proxy war, and needed no help or permission to enter Somalia. Somalia’s Islamic Union was an Al Kahida disease which needed removal before the entire region got infected. If the rest of the world stepped up to the plate like the U.S. and worked together, we would not be seeing all these recent terrorist bombings around the world.
As for Hollyfield’s money, maybe the deal failed because promoters saw no interest from media. But $1 million is chump change for Ethiopia, a nation keeping American aerospace workers employed for decades with a fleet of Boeing planes purchased. Even now, Ethiopia is globally second in line to receive 10 of Boeing’s latest 787s, and just yesterday placed order for 5 more Boeing 777s, in addition to Airbus planes…Deal worth $4.2 BILLION.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090728-721469.html
Why such a nation still has famine problems is another issue.
One Amhara
July 29th, 2009
12:33 pm
one more thing… these american idiots are worried about scams from africa… when chinese hackers infiltrate their defense and banking networks… idiots… take your bigotry and move back to europe
Black Power
July 29th, 2009
1:02 pm
Terminator, we know who you are and dont worry that land of yours you call Eritrea will be back to her master to serve and obey. We will just give you a few more years until you start eating your brother from starvation. My advise for you, stay anonymous because when that day comes you will be sorry you are what you are.
Adane
July 29th, 2009
8:39 pm
One Amhara,
It seems you have wrongly substituted “Tracker” with “Terminator.”
American Media
July 30th, 2009
5:14 am
People, realize please that JEFF SCHULTZ is a sports columnist, couldn’t find Ethiopia on a map if asked. The last sentence in his article is designed to stir a response from both ignorant people, and those outraged from what comes next. The comments keep rolling in and more hits register on this site. It’s the American “news” media model, less facts, more profits.
I started this promotion
July 30th, 2009
4:41 pm
I’m witnessing multivariate comments on this board; some sensible, others not. So here are some facts.
Mr. Sanders is correct. The individual sent over there, a formerly effective boxing promoter from a heretofore defunct company, showed no ability whatsoever to deliver the funds necessary to make the fight happen within the prescribed time frame. If the strategy was to screw up everything and force the Ethiopian Government to come to the rescue for the purposes of them saving face, then it worked. But as for the business acumen showed, it was essentially not.
With regards to Ethiopia, it is a very beautiful country that has poverty issues not unlike the US. Do you US residents have any idea home many people in the USA are poor and living on the street, in their cars, or shacking up with family?
You see and hear about the poverty in Africa through the media quite often, but you don’t see/hear about it in the USA until you walk the streets. There have been so many tent cities erected in the past two years that I dare say it looks much worst than what you see in Addis Ababa.
When the fight does take place, it should benefit many people who need the help. And that’s why it was initiated to begin with.
invictus
July 30th, 2009
9:43 pm
I noticed a staement by R.D. Mercer and couldn’t help but to reply. His staement started some seriouse dialog. It’s nice to see he stll has his “old Knack” for conversation.
Wisdom
August 2nd, 2009
12:56 am
…what a very ignorate statement…apparently you have never been to Ethipia
Anonymous
August 3rd, 2009
4:41 pm
rick
August 3rd, 2009
9:42 pm
this report is all lies, maybe you should get inthe ring with him so you can get your a-s beat.
up yours
August 3rd, 2009
9:48 pm
this fight is for real. stay tune baby. you will eat your words. give the champ a break bitch
Anonymous
August 3rd, 2009
9:58 pm
check this out
August 3rd, 2009
10:21 pm
http://www.glodenglobeboxingpromotions.com THE TRUETH SHALL SET YOU FREE
the punisher
August 5th, 2009
5:59 am
terminator and other eritrean posters, please take Black power’s advise.
JulianJaz
August 8th, 2009
1:23 pm
Bill, good eye catching errors with post by Kathy Marshall
on July 27th, 2009, 5:35 pm)
“YOU freakin idiots you are in a third world county. look around you
75% of the •MEXICAN• population is here (illegally) 60% of the •INDIAN•
population is here illegally 2nd largest group of illegals in the USA…”
So these errors were evident that she meant to say that 75% of the Mexicans currently living in USA, and 60% of INDIANS currently living in USA are doing so illegally. That’s what she really meant to say … just like her other comment…
that these illegal INDIANS are “…receiving all of you TAX dollars to open up GAS sttions, Hotels, Motels(for you to RENT) tax free, AND please do not leave out the Asian population…”. What she really meant to say is how these “illegals” show more initiative than our own lazy ass citizens! … Yeah, that’s what she probably meant!
Tollaa
August 20th, 2009
6:55 am
please Don’t insult the americans, cos I can assure you most of the negative comments are made by desperate Eritreans,(a cult society who can live with or without Ethiopia). they suffer from personality disorder as a result of having been though decades of identity crises. they hate Ethiopain for the simple reason some one mentioned earlier about ethiopians fighting back the italians while eritreans got addicted to italian rape and defended their slave masters against Ethiopians. they are dirty minded people with dirty history who have no respect be it for themselves or others.