Okay BetUS boxing bettors, after going a perfect 3-0 on my three boxng selections prior to the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar de La Hoya bout, I was feeling pretty damned confident in my selection on that fight - before getting my brains pounded in with a losing selection just as De La Hoya did in his emphatic loss to Pacquiao.

Now, unlike De La Hoya who may be headed toward retirement, I am ready to bopunce back better than a 1970s ‘super ball’ and Saturday’s bout between former undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (42-9, 27 KOs, 2 Draws) and current WBA champ Nikolai Valuev, (45-0, 33 KOs) which takes place in Zurich's Hallenstadio, is the perrfect opportunity to make another winning pugilistic wager.

While the general consensus seems to be that Holyfield is way past his prime and is reportedly only taking this fight because of the poor financial shape he’s in, I don’t want to ‘hate’ on one of the sport’s all-time great champions.

Still, as much as I like Holyfield, I just don’t see him winning this bout against a man that is not only a freak of nature, but also one a decade younger than Holyfield.

Evander Holyfield, 46, hasn’t fought since losing to Sultan Ibragimov in Moscow on Oct. 13 of 2007 and will be going up against a boxer in Valuev that is the largest champion in heavyweight history at 7-feet and 325 pounds, respectively.

Holyfield’s bid to become the oldest world heavyweight champion in boxing history certainly doesn’t look appealing considering the fact that he has been a shell of his former self for several years now.

Holyfield is fighting on in defiance of lingering medical concerns and a recent record so poor it led to the temporary suspension of his boxing license in the United States.

"I never set my mind to lose,” Holyfield recently said. “Of course at some point I will retire but I don't think about that. I will see how the fight goes on Saturday then I will make up my mind."

Holyfield talked about his last bout, saying "I did not do well against Ibragimov. He normally is a very aggressive fighter. However, on that day, he wasn't and I could not really chase him down.

"But now is another day, another fighter, another fight. It is about how old you feel and what you can do in the ring. I am very experienced and I know what I have to do against Valuev."

Valuev has recovered well from his only career loss to Ruslan Chagaev in April 2007, winning three consecutive decisions against Jean Francois Bergeron, Sergei Liakhovich and former Holyfield opponent, John Ruiz.

"It is something special to fight an accomplished champion such as Evander Holyfield,” Valuev said. “He is a living legend and I am full of respect for him. However once you are inside the ring, neither names nor titles matter any more."

BetUS Boxing Odds

Nicolay Valuev -1000

Evander Holyfield +650

Over 9½ -140

Analysis: After seeing how De la Hoya got beat senseless in his last bout, I am suddenly very concerned for Evander Holyfield’s health beyond the ‘squared circle.’ As bad as I want one of the sport’s true gentlemen to win this bout, I just don’t see it happening. Valuev is too big to knock out, but, could do some damage to Holyfield if he catches him with a timely shot or two.

In the end, I think Valuev is going to be just too strong for Holyfield, though I will admit that ‘Commander Evander’ wins the tale of the tape every time when if comes to smarts, heart and flat-out courage.

The Pick: Nikolai Valuev by Decision