History favors Holyfield in return engagement

History favors Holyfield in return engagement

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP): Evander Holyfield has history on his
side Saturday when he defends his World Boxing Association
heavyweight title against Mike Tyson.

The fight comes less than eight months after Holyfield shocked
Tyson to grab the title and, coincidentally, set up the mega-
rematch in which each fighter is guaranteed US$30 million.

The long-waited rematch will be shown live on Indosiar
beginning at 9 a.m. West Indonesia Time with several undercard
bouts.

Seventeen of the 26 heavyweight championship rematches in
history have ended with the same winner. One ended in a draw.

Many observers say the short spell between the two fights, and
the fact that Tyson has not had any confidence-building fights in
the interim, give Holyfield a psychological advantage.

As Holyfield trainer Don Turner put it, "You never forget a
beating, so mentally, we've got the edge."

Holyfield left Tyson bruised and bleeding, knocking him down
in the sixth round and at one point landing a barrage of 12
unanswered blows before referee Mitch Halpern stopped the fight
in the 11th.

Saturday's fight is supposed to show whether Holyfield can
slay the dragon again, or whether Tyson can rebound mentally and
physically to reclaim his title.

"I think it's up for grabs," said middleweight great Sugar Ray
Leonard. "I think it's going to be much more explosive. They're
going to go right at each other."

Not all heavyweight rematches have lived up to their hype.

The third Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight, the "Thrilla in
Manilla" is one storied example, won by Ali when Frazier's
trainer, Eddie Futch, refused to let his fighter answer the bell
for the 15th round.

But sandwiched between the first and third Ali-Frazier battles
in 1971 and 1975 was a fairly forgettable 12-round decision for
Ali in 1974.

Another anti-climactic return engagement was the Rocky
Marciano-Jersey Joe Walcott rematch in 1953.

"That was a bad fight, says boxing historian Bert Sugar. "The
first time Walcott got near Marciano, it was over."

Joe Louis' 1938 victory over German Max Schmeling, two years
after Schmeling knocked out Louis at Yankee Stadium, is
remembered as a classic in part because of the World War II
backdrop.

While Turner and others in Holyfield's camp question Tyson's
mental strength, and his ability to hang on when a fight starts
to go against him, the fact remains the 30-year-old two-time
world champion has never lost two fights in a row.

Tyson was as much as a 25-1 favorite the week of the first
fight, odds that came down to 6-1 on the night of the contest. He
has hovered around 2-1 this week.

"Holyfield's a great fighter," said Tyson co-manager Rory
Holloway. "But we know, and Mike knows, that whenever he's
physically and mentally prepared as he is now, there's no one in
the world who can even come close to him."

The financial lure of the rematch is undeniable. But
Holyfield, who became only the second heavyweight to claim the
world title on three occasions, said it was about more than
money.

"The most important thing is, why shouldn't I give Tyson a
rematch," Holyfield said. "I was given an opportunity, and I won.
I wanted to give him another opportunity to let him know it
wasn't a fluke and that I can do it again."

Referee -- Page 16