You have probably heard by now, but Evander Holyfield is back. He’s not so much back in the sense that he’s a major threat in the heavyweight division, those days are gone. He’s back in the sense that we can’t get rid of him so we might as well get used to him, if only a shell of his former self. Evander Holyfield is the only man to be a four-time heavyweight champion. According to Evander, it’s only a matter of time until he gets his fifth world title.
I have given my opinions on Holyfield many times in the past, including my reasons as to why he should retire. I don’t want to dive into this issue once again, but I would like to reiterate that the desire to prove people wrong is what motivates Holyfield to be the champion. Holyfield now perceives those trying to protect him as those that are doubting him. I don’t know when this will end, but in a sport that has few fairy tale endings, I’m not sure I want to watch it when it comes.
Evander Holyfield vs. Jeremy Bates
Here’s the setup. Evander Holyfield is a multi-time world heavyweight champion that hasn’t won a fight in four years and turns 44 in October. His opponent is Jeremy Bates, a 32 year-old insurance salesman from West Virginia. How did this spectacular story not make it to pay-per-view? I guess we got lucky on that one. The fight was broadcast on FOX Sports Best Damn Something Or Other featuring such insightful boxing analysts as John Salley.
For what it’s worth, Holyfield looked like he was in good shape. Not just for a 43 year-old either, but in good shape for a heavyweight. In the first round, Evander remained patient while Jeremy Bates stood in the middle of the ring and ate punches. Now we see why Bates was selected as the opponent. Holyfield got Bates in a corner with 30 seconds left in the first round and pounded him with power shots. The referee seemed on the verge of stopping the fight but Bates was saved by the bell.
In the second round, Bates tries to muscle Holyfield around and brawl with him but since Bates is good at neither of those things, Holyfield easily worked around him. Holyfield shook off an overhand right from Bates, the only punch of consequence landed by the journeyman, and got Bates into a corner with about 30 seconds left in round 2. Looks familiar. This time the referee stops the fight with five seconds left in the second round. Bates was done so it was a good stoppage.
I can’t say that Holyfield looked good, because his opponent was there to merely get hit by a legend, but he didn’t look bad. He did what he was supposed to do and showed he still may have some gas in the tank. Evander blamed a slew of injuries for his string of losses and claims to be 100% now. Holyfield’s goal is to become world champion for the fifth time by the 2008 Olympics. A lot of people are rooting for Evander, as shown by the packed house in Dallas for this fight. For his next fight, Holyfield wants to take on a top ten heavyweight. With the right opponent, Holyfield can get a win, but it’s not really about that anymore. Evander Holyfield already has already etched his story in boxing lore. He’s known as a warrior and a courageous fighter who against all odds, became world heavyweight champion four times. It seems that he is going to fight until he physically cannot do so any longer. Holyfield wants to rewrite his story, but he doesn’t realize the possibility of a tragic ending.
Paul Williams vs. Sharmba Mitchell
If you like mismatches, this column is for you. As if Holyfield/Bates wasn’t bad enough, HBO televised welterweight prospect Paul Williams against former two-time world champion Sharmba Mitchell. What makes this a mismatch, you ask? Paul Williams stands at 6’1″ with an 82 inch reach. A reach longer than Tommy Hearns, Larry Holmes, and Muhammad Ali. Sharmba Mitchell, on the other hand, is 5’7″ with a 72 inch reach. As bad as it looks on paper, it was just as bad in the ring.
This fight was as entertaining as a one-sided affair can be. The height difference between the two was something to see. Mitchell needed to get inside on Williams to negate his reach advantage, something Mitchell was more than willing to do. Unfortunately, he was met with punches every time he tried to get close. And as he was trying to back away. And as he was trying to regroup. Basically, Mitchell was hit a lot in this short fight.
Williams knocked Mitchell down in the third round and things started to get ugly. Mitchell didn’t have his legs underneath him and started to get sloppy. A knockdown in the 4th round sends Mitchell falling forward so he tackles Williams down with him. The ref cleared up the mess and resumed his count on Mitchell, who thought it shouldn’t have been ruled a knockdown although it clearly was. This prompted Mitchell to ask the ref if he was serious, which the referee was happy to answer after his standing eight count. Mitchell was put on the canvas many times in the fight but not all were official knockdowns. The fourth knockdown of the fight and third of the fourth round would be the last, as Mitchell wobbled to his feet at the count of ten and the referee called it.
Paul Williams is an exciting young fighter that is willing to fight anyone. He likes to throw a lot of punches and seems to think defense is optional. He called out Antonio Margarito after the fight, as he’s been doing for a while now. Williams is apparently the mandatory challenger to Margarito’s title so that bout has a good chance of happening. That fight has all the makings to be a classic. These two are former sparring partners and there are different stories as to which man got the better of the other during that time, depending on which camp you ask. Margarito is an action-fighter, just like Williams and the matchup would be one of the most anticipated of the year. It’s refreshing to see someone call out Margarito, who himself has been complaining that everyone is ducking him. Hopefully the mandatory defense clause will help in bringing these two back together.
Results From Last Week
– Michael Stewart knocked Ebo Elder out in the fourth round of their bout on The Contender. Ebo really looked out of it but to be fair, he was fighting 15 pounds over his usual weight.
– Enrique Ornelas scored a TKO over Raul Munoz in the first round. Ornelas was supposed to fight Sam Soliman but Soliman had to pull out due to a back injury.
– 19 year-old light middleweight Julio Cesar Garcia improved to 38-2 with a 2nd round TKO of Alfonso Sanchez. Yep, the kid has 40 fights and he’s just 19 years-old.
– Julio Cesar Chavez Jr is still unbeaten as he scored a 4th round TKO over Jermaine White.
– Jorge Paez Jr earned a six-round unanimous decision over Armand Horn.
Jockscraps – The Stories They Won’t Tell
Mike Tyson Challenges Muhammad Ali
The question, “Who is the greatest boxer of all time?” has long sparked heated debates in the world of boxing. Mike Tyson wants to put this question to rest once and for all. In a shocking turn of events yesterday, Tyson was hired to take part in Pride FC, a mixed martial arts competition. While the news source didn’t reveal Tyson’s specific role with the company, Tyson was more than willing to spill the beans after a night of binge drinking and lap dances.
“I’ve had it with all this talk about who the greatest fighter of all time is. Ain’t but one answer to that question, and that answer is standing right in front of you now,” Tyson told the paparazzi. “This here is what I say to all them motherf—— who say Ali’s the best ever… I’m about to prove he ain’t. I’m gonna hurt his ass. You tell Ali that Iron Mike is calling him out. While he’s floating around like some kind of fairy, I’m gonna sting his ass with some devilish h-bomb punches.”
A bar patron pointed out that not only was Ali born in 1942, making him Tyson’s senior by almost twenty-five years, but he had for some time been battling Parkinson’s Disease. Tyson was asked if he thought a fight between the two would really be fair given Ali’s age and disease.
“Of course it would be fair,” Tyson responded. “He’s still in shape. I seen him training with all them other athletes in that Adidas commercial on T.V. Plus, I seen him fighting his daughter in that other lousy commercial. He looked fine to me. I ain’t scared of him though. I’ve been training too. I am a prophet. I am the messiah. I want to pour milk over his daughter and eat her for breakfast.”
Spit Bucket
Allen Noah begins his preview of teams that can win the national title.
Daniels makes his predictions for the NFC.
Check out the review of The Ultimate Fighter 4. I hear the reviewer is one hell of a guy.
If you don’t read Stuff I Think and Shouldn’t Say, then you are a loser.
Matt Basilo has A Case of the Mondays, including his thoughts on the William Shatner roast.
