Holyfield-Valuev round-by-round blog

Evander Holyfield (left) is contesting Nikolai Valuev's WBA heavyweight title. AP Bryan Graham's Mailbag Bryan Graham will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Bryan Graham on Twitter

SI.com's Bryan Armen Graham brings you blow-by-blow, round-by-round thoughts on the WBA heavyweight title bout between Evander Holyfield and Nikolai Valuev.

5:55 p.m. -- The chorus of critics who insisted this fight would end in farce ... well, they were right. But nobody could have foreseen this. To be sure, Holyfield never dominated the action against Valuev tonight in Zurich. But the American fought a smart fight and did enough to earn a decisive points victory against a champion who, during many stretches, simply refused to engage. What a sham.

5:52 p.m. -- More from Holyfield: "I hit him more times than he hit me. I moved a lot and made him miss punches and I fought the fight that I thought I needed to win."

5:49 p.m. -- Says commentator Nick Charles: "I am shocked, dazed and amazed, that is the worst display of officiating I have ever seen." A German interviewer talks to Holyfield near his corner. Says a conciliatory Holyfield: "I can't be disappointed with what I did in the ring. I felt I did the things that were necessary to win. The judges, they scored the fight. Whatever they scored it, that's what it was."

5:46 p.m. -- Michael Buffer takes the mic to read the results. The first judge scores it 114-114 even, the second scores it 116-112 to Valuev, while the third scores it 115-114 to Valuev. In an utterly shocking development, the Russian has retained his title by majority decision.

5:44 p.m. -- SI.com scores the fight 118-110 to Holyfield. But the fate of the WBA heavyweight title goes to the judges. They're currently tabulating the cards as Holyfield and Valuev embrace in the center of the ring.

ROUND 12 -- Is Valuev going to flip the switch, or simply hand Holyfield his title belt on a silver platter? Holyfield, not content to sit back and just finish the fight on his feet, moves forward and throws a pair of hard shots to Valuev's head. For the first time in this fight, Holyfield looks a little tired. Valuev lands a number of hard shots in the final minute -- and the Russan probably won the round as a result -- but it's too little too late. VALUEV 10-9

ROUND 11 -- Valuev needs a knockout to win the fight. There's no doubt about it. But Holyfield's lateral movement continues to confound the comatose champion and Valuev simply cannot mount a serious offensive. Holyfield might not have landed a serious shot in this round. But by completely and absolutely neutralizing the offense of a fighter who needed a knockout, Evander gets the narrow edge. Again. HOLYFIELD 10-9

ROUND 10 -- Holyfield is winning this fight with his legs, moving from side to side and refusing to serve as a stationary target for the lumbering Valuev. He's not landing a ton of shots -- at one point he misses wildly with a right hand -- but at least he's working. Once again, the American is imposing his game plan on Valuev, and wins another round as a result. HOLYFIELD 10-9

ROUND 9 -- The best action of the fight comes early in the round as the fighters trade blows near Valuev's corner. But just when it seemed like we'd see some pyrotechnics, Valuev went back into his shell. Holyfield forces the action, moving inside and doing damage on the interior. Yet another round where Holyfield's limited work rate manages to win the round. HOLYFIELD 10-9

ROUND 8 -- Valuev starts walking in, but he's still not punching. He's firing a more and more jabs but not landing anything substantial. At one point, Valuev connects with a hard right jab but Holyfield responds immediately with a hard left to the temple. For the first time tonight, Valuev is really pressing the action and even landing a few punches -- but nothing to waver Holyfield from his impressive circular course around the ring. VALUEV 10-9

ROUND 7 -- So our readers don't get the wrong idea: Holyfield hasn't looked spectacular or even great. But he's fighting the smart fight and taking advantage of his opponent's absurd inactivity. He's doing just enough to win each round, and his movement is better than anybody could have expected. There were times during the seventh round we saw Valuev awaken from his slumber and start to mount an offensive -- but nothing was sustained. Another for Holyfield, who wins the round on a handful of hard hooks to the head. HOLYFIELD 10-9

ROUND 6 -- After another cautious opening, Holyfield gets inside and unleashes three hard punches to Valuev's head. The champion looks like a guy who just doesn't want to fight. Midway through the bout, I don't think Valuev has thrown a single punch with conviction. As commentator Al Bernstein notes from ringside, this is perhaps the most dreadful performance we've seen from a heavyweight champion in decades. Another round for Holyfield, the busier and more aggressive fighter. HOLYFIELD 10-9

ROUND 5 -- We're starting to discover why Valuev has gotten virtually no exposure in America. Bernstein makes a great observation, saying Valuev's inactivity is devaluing what Holyfield might accomplish with a decision victory. With one minute remaining in the round, Holyfield lands a sharp left hook to Valuev's head. Holyfield isn't doing much, but he's doing much more than Valuev -- and he's growing more emboldened and aggressive. Holyfield should be careful not to walk into one of the dormant giant's uppercuts. HOLYFIELD 10-9