The Russian WBA boxing champion, Nikolai Valuev, has won a majority points decision against four-times world champion Evander Holyfield in Switzerland to end the American's hopes of becoming the oldest ever title-holder.
The 46 year old Holyfield made use of his greater mobility and experience to confound those who had criticised the supposedly one-sided nature of the bout, with one of the three judges even awarding him a draw.
However, the other two sided with Valuev, who had controlled most of the fight with some solid but unspectacular jabs, giving the 2.13-metre tall Russian victory by 116-112 and 115-114 points.
Holyfield, who entered the ring a staggering 44 kilos lighter than Valuev as well as being 11 years his senior, was the clear favourite of the Swiss crowd and there were loud boos when the decision was announced.
