AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > November > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOne Holyfield fan won’t doubt him again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
San Antonio — Just as Lou Duva, the usually perceptive boxing trainer, was wrong 14 years ago about whether Evander Holyfield should continue to stick and move, such is the case for everybody in the free world right now.
Well, nearly everybody. I haven’t a problem with Holyfield sliding between the ropes on his 44-year-old legs tonight inside the Alamodome. He’ll face somebody named Fres Oquendo, who is better than you think, by the way.
Guess who also shrugs at the thought of Holyfield fighting for a second time since a 21-month layoff that followed the ugliest of three-bout losing streaks? Duva.
Except for his Fred Flintstone face that turned 84 in May, this is the same Duva who refused to work with Holyfield after his fighter lost a grueling outing in November 1992 to Riddick Bowe in Las Vegas. “I could have stood with him,” said Duva on Thursday, among those at a renovated railroad depot that served as the weigh-in site for Holyfield-Oquendo. “Instead, my thoughts were that he had made a couple of million dollars, and I just told him, ‘You’ve had a good life. You’ve been a good representative for the sport. Everybody loves you. Give it up.’ I thought it was a good idea at that time.”
It was a bad idea for any time. To the surprise of Duva and others, Holyfield took the rematch against Bowe, and the two fought again to form a trilogy that rivaled that of Ali-Frazier. Then there was Holyfield knocking the invincibility out of Mike Tyson with a TKO in 11 rounds and with a victory by disqualification during the infamous Bite Fight.
Holyfield struggled after that, partly because of age, but mostly because of injuries that included shoulders that are now surgically repaired. The healthy Holyfield began his quest to become the only five-time undisputed heavyweight champion three months ago with ease against the undwerwhelming Jeremy Bates.
Still, Duva saw enough that night in Dallas to apologize to the Atlanta guy he trained and managed after he first turned pro following his bronze medal in the 1984 Olympics. “I just didn’t know,” said Duva, referring to the extent of Holyfield’s aches and pains that eventually were healed either with time or through a surgeon’s hands.
Added Duva, who has a fighter on tonight’s undercard, “Just ask yourself this question: Is there an outstanding heavyweight out there today? There’s no Muhammad Alis out there. There’s no Joe Fraziers out there. No Joe Louis or Rocky Marciano. Why shouldn’t Evander keep fighting, if that’s what he wants to do? The heavyweight division is way down, and Evander just trains, trains, trains, to stay in excellent shape.”
For one, Holyfield looked as fit as ever on the scales at 217 3/4 pounds to the 33-year-old Oquendo’s 220 pounds. For another, Holyfield sounded as sharp as ever, and I’ve dealt with him frequently since we first met more than two decades ago when he was just another Olympic hopeful.
Even so, everybody else in the world sees Holyfield as a disaster in the ring waiting to happen, or one that already exists.
Holyfield smiled, recalling how he has encountered folks throughout Texas suggesting that he should hang up his gloves and enjoy life on his massive estate with his 11 kids.
“Well, you know, this is different, because Georgia people are afraid to say what they really feel,” Holyfield said, relaxing in a back room before the weigh-in. He made a contorted face, adding: “They’ll have that look, and they’ll say, ‘So why do you want to do this? You’ve got this great name. You can get into movies. You have so many ways you can make money.’?”
Yeah, but there is only one way that Holyfield can become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world again, and he’s doing it.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Terence Moore
Comments
By Boots
November 9, 2006 08:09 PM | Link to this
Holyfield should give it up. Sell the castle, downsize, adjust lifestyle and avoid the possiblity of brain injury, embarrassment and diminishing legacy.
By big slow
November 10, 2006 01:09 AM | Link to this
i think E has been a great champ and has earned the right to go out have he wants to.
By Opinion F
November 10, 2006 03:37 AM | Link to this
What is going on with Boxing? We are talking the biggest payday of any sport for a few hours of work. You would think that there would be a line a mile long of excellent candidates, but there is not. I know it is bad when I would actually consider Pay per view for a Tyson sparring match or a Holyfield vs High School Bully match up. I love to watch boxing, I just hope there is a boxer worth watching that can cause some controversy out there somewhere. And Vegas must be hurting, there was alot of money put out there in the Tyson prime days. I once paid $30 a piece for my wife and I to go watch a 30 second Tyson fight at a sports bar! And there was nobody complaining. We need a new boxing Hero. Oh and Holyfield you go and box until they wont allow you in the ring with a walker man. Your the best we have right now, and its great to watch. The awesome thing here is Holyfield does not seem to be boxing for the $$ (I am sure it is a factor), he seems more interested in some good old American pride. I think more of us should learn male pride is not a bad thing, we are just built that way.
By Tom Smith
November 10, 2006 09:01 AM | Link to this
A stupid post. From a stupid writer.
By Randy S
November 10, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this
Plain and Simple he is THE REAL DEAL! He deserve the rights to go out like he wants. I have followed Holy since the start and he is in the top 5 fighter sof all time. he nver ducked anyone and fought anyone they put in front of him. Holy go get that 5th title so we can here And the Undisputed heavyweight champion of the world! Evander Holyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyfield!
By UFC
November 10, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this
Boxing is over for right now. With all the fraud and old men fighting who wants to watch. The UFC is the real deal, fun to watch and is something to tide us over until a real champ emerges once again. Maybe after Don King dies we will have a legit boxing system.
By SP
November 10, 2006 12:33 PM | Link to this
Evander, fight until you are ready to quit..it is your decision, and yours alone. May you always win. Thanks for having pride, faith in God and a belief in yourself.
By jack
November 10, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this
Let the man fight. When asked, “Why do you think you can beat Tyson”, he replied, “Well, someone has to do it”….& we all know what happened there, I must say, to my surprize and delight. So, Go get em Evander.
By David
November 10, 2006 05:39 PM | Link to this
Didn’t that last guy Holyfield fought make his knees slam together?? It’s kinda sad to see a guy that was the quality of fighter trying to hang on but the I guess he needs money to keep up the garage and clothes on the backs of his 60 children. He’ll end up punch drunk and just like Ali. It’s his choice though.