A 46-year old man was robbed in Switzerland Saturday, falling victim to a 7-foot tall beast.

The victim, identified as Evander “Real Deal” Holyfield, was robbed of a win against Russian Nicolai Valuev in one of the worst “title” fights in the history of boxing.

Let me make on thing clear — Holyfield won the fight, but it wasn’t the shutout that you are bound to read about around the rest of the Interwebs. Holyfield was the busier and more effective fighter, and should have been awarded the victory by default, but alas, another American fighter will fly back over the pond empty handed.

It’s not that Holyfield was good — far from it. It’s that for most of the fight, he was the only one trying. Valuev was content to throw three jabs a round, and occasionally mix in a power punch during a clinch. Holyfield danced around, occasionally pressing the action and mixing it up a bit on the inside when he could get there. Neither one did anything to win the fight, but Valuev certainly did more to lose it.

The fight was reminiscent of the Westley, the man in black, fighting Fezzik (Andre the Giant) in the Princess Bride. I’m pretty sure at one point Holyfield crawled through Valuev’s legs and attacked him from behind upon surprising him.

For as much as Holyfield deserved to win the fight, it should be pointed out that it was a terrible fight, and to subject anyone to watching a rematch between these two could only be considered torture and/or sleep therapy. Holyfield has a chance right now to go out with a little bit of pride, and he should take it.

It’s truly time for Holyfield to hang them up. His only options to win a belt, which is all he really wants, are a rematch with Valuev (he’d have to knock him out to win a decision next time), Ruslan Chagaev, another decision he won’t win in Europe, or one of the Klitschkos. Fighting either one of them is a very bad idea for Evander.

Right now, Holyfield has a chance to go out with some pride, a situation he hasn’t seen in nearly a many years. Get out now while you still have a chance, Evander. You’re not getting any less punch drunk by getting in the ring with guys that outweigh you by 100 pounds. The heavyweight division has passed Holyfield by, and the time to leave is now.

It was a hell of a career, but I can’t imagine Holyfield going out on a higher note than this controversial loss. And that, in and of itself, is a sad, sad thing.

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