boxing

Some comments from Dale Smoaks on George Foremans farewell fight. I watched George Foreman take apart Shannon Briggs, a man half his age, tonight. George lost the first round, but even by the end of it, you could see he was going to get to him sooner or later. He'd solved how to reach him, and once he did Briggs often looked like he was fighting through fear. In the middle rounds it looked like George was on the verge of ending it. Briggs had little pockets of effectiveness, and confidence, but mostly George drove him around with his jab. Briggs conquered his fear enough to pick up a couple of the later rounds, and then George beat him all over the ring in the 12th. Even though George is not a sleek athlete, his technical control of how he fights now, especially compared to his "prime" 25 years ago, is really astonishing. He looked great. His footwork was terrific; he's so good at cutting off the ring. I always felt that he'd have a good shot against Lennox Lewis. I was as surprised as I'd ever been at a decision to hear it go majority for Briggs. I had it 6-5-1 Foreman, and it didn't really feel even that close. Foreman thoroughly dominated some of the rounds he won, although with no knockdowns they weren't good enough to give to him 10-8. When Briggs would stay at angles and throw more punches instead of just trying to defend himself, he'd have the better of it enough to take a round, perhaps. George looked right after the fight like he knew he'd won it, but in the interview, he refused to badmouth the decision, or to even say he thought he won. He was gracious, and just as unflappable as ever. He praised Briggs, said that he'd come back from a lot and that he hoped the win would help him. When asked whether he'd retire, he said that he'd had a great career, and that he felt that he was done. For his part, Briggs looked to me like a man coming to terms with having just received the greatest gift of his career, and having to talk about it on television on the fly. But what stuck with me was that interview afterwards. I really was stunned at how gracious he was. He didn't talk in sports cliches; he meant it. Here's a man who won in the Olympics in 1968, and became known for waving that little flag around the same week that John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists. Foreman was basically a bully con, who was powerful and wild. He destroyed Joe Frazier. He destroyed everyone, until Ali got to him by fighting both a brilliant psychological fight and a brilliant tactical fight. Foreman landed on his ass that night. He was losing very badly to Ali by the 8th round, but when he actually got KO'd it was as much from giving in to Ali as anything else. Then Foreman lurched around for a few years, and ended up losing to Jimmy Young. And retiring. He ran a poor ministry in Houston, had several sons named George, and daughters all with the same name, too. And then come back after 10 years. His comeback was an honest one. Instead of making some big money cameo the way Sugar Ray Leonard did this year, George started fighting stiffs and worked his way back over about 20 fights. In other words, he did it seriously. And he started beating good fighters. The night he fought Moorer, he wore the same trunks he'd lost to Ali in. He spent the whole night setting Moorer up for a straight right hand. Moorer was the type of fighter George couldn't beat by decision. He had one chance, and after losing 9 rounds, George landed that right hand. 45 years old, and 20 years after losing the title, he's undisputed champion again. I can't think of anything in sports quite like that. And he did it after that long layoff almost entirely remade. He had a bigger body. He had learned relaxation and control in the ring. In some ways he's looked to me better than he was when he was younger, although it's hard to believe that he could be. And he came back an entirely different person, too. He'd been this brooding, angry man the first time he was champion, and when Ali penetrated his psyche, it broke him. Then he comes back after 10 years a much more serene man. It took awhile to see that side of him because of the jolly facade he presented, but it's there. After he knocked out Moorer, it seemed clear in retrospect that Foreman waged his second career as a quest to regain the title. He made a lot of money, and always said he was doing it for the money, but after he KO'd Moorer it suddenly looked like his whole purpose had been to redeem himself. Maybe for quitting against Ali. Maybe for who he had been. He certainly picked his opponents carefully after that, and he had some close calls. But after dominating his last couple of fights, it looked like he was going to just keep going. It looked like that until the decision was announced, anyway. To me he's been the most interesting person in sports in recent years. His career pattern was unique, and he accomplished what he did by transforming his basic identity as a person. And given how he handled tonight, I'd say he went out on top.

Dale, Just thought I'd add my $.02 on George Foreman. I have followed his "comeback" career very closely and would have to be considered one of his admirerers. I perceived George to be an extremely likable fellow. Then George fought Axel Shultz. In my opinion (and others I'm sure), George lost this fight by a wide margin. This fight wasn't even close it was so lopsided. The judges gave the victory to Foreman in what surely must have been a fixed fight. After the fight, Foreman bragged about his victory w en being interviewed. My respect for George Foreman ended that second--never to return. George has more bullshit than a fertilizer factory. If he lost a decision he should have won, it serves him right! Just my $02 worth!! Hoop

I ran into someone in the Q Club hot tub yesterday who's an up and coming pro heavyweight boxer. His name is Humphries. He played for the UT Texas Longhorns in college, for the Vikings till he go hurt as a running back and now he's prepping for Floyd Patterson's son, anyone ever heard of thsi guy? I was surprised at how small he was, though well muscled, and he told me all these guys like Tyson and Holyfield are small in real life and look deceptively large on the tv screen.

From ESPN, the end of Mike Tyson: Saturday, Feb. 20 9:02pm ET Tyson in detention after apparent jail tantrum ESPN.com news services ROCKVILLE, Md. -- ESPN has confirmed that former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has been placed in administrative segregation at the Montgomery County Detention Center pending a hearing that is set for sometime Monday. The detention stems from an incident that happened Friday afternoon when Tyson received a disciplinary infraction for allegedly throwing a television at a set of bars. Tyson's outburst could make it harder for him to gain an early release to resume his career. "Mr. Tyson was going through some problems Friday night," Eric Seleznow, spokesman for the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, told Reuter news service on Saturday. "He threw a TV. He was written up and remanded to the facility's administrative segregation area. He threw it against some bars with people on the other side. No one was injured." Tyson has been in the Montgomery County jail since Feb. 5. A judge sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment for punching a 60-year-old man in the jaw and kicking a 50-year-old in the groin last August after a traffic accident in the suburban Washington community of Gaithersburg. He pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor assault charges in December. County officials said he has been housed with about a dozen other inmates who are secluded from the general population of 640 prisoners. The Maryland jail term has meant fresh trouble for Tyson, a convicted rapist who was suspended from boxing for more than a year for biting the ears of world champion Evander Holyfield in a June 1997 title bout. Before Friday's incident, Tyson faced the possibility of being sent back to jail in Indiana for up to four years for violating probation after early release for the 1992 rape conviction. Tyson backers also have warned that the Nevada State Athletic Commission could revoke his license for good because of the Maryland incident. "He's been generally compliant and reasonable until this incident," said Seleznow. County officials have said Tyson could resume training within three to four months if he were to gain early release for good behavior. But the prison officials who preside over Monday's disciplinary hearing could impose punishments ranging from a loss of good-behavior time to a loss of visitation rights and other privileges.

he's a freakin psycho!

He's had all the chances he's gonna get. His career is through, and he's got no one to blame but himself.

honestly, I'm not sure he'll put two and two together on that one... I'm not sure he understands 'accountability' and/or "cause and effect" but thankfully, I think you're right... his career is finito!

Apparently, Tyson was on the phone and a guard came and hung up the receiver, and Tyson went in to a rage, picking up a small tv set and throwing it in the direction of a couple of guards. They weren't amused. Tyson's toast, alright. He could have had millions and a good life, now he's on the way to a life behind bars.

Wasn't that where he'd just been? Or do I mix something up?

I saw the fight in the smoke filled Yellow Rose titty bar down street from me. I went to watch the Longhorns game which was also pay per view but decided to stay and get my money's worth. I got a table dance from my friend Liz, which was fun. It was a good fight because I like the finesse matches better than the slugfests. De La Hoya deserved the fight because he landed about 100 more punches. But Trinidad landed slightly more straight punches, De La Hoya is a jabber. The final rounds should carry more weight, and apparently that's what the judges felt. Worst outcome: Don King gloating and the post fight. Lesson: Don't take anything for granted, even if you have a big lead.

If Don King is in the opponent's corner, don't let the fight go to the judges' scorecards (even if Arum is promoting the fight). You know who has greased at least two of the judges.

I am a licensed fight judge in the state of Hawaii. I haven't judged a pro fight in ten years, although my license is valid anywhere in the world. I still judge amateur bouts, and when I lose about 50 more pounds, will get back to refereeing as well. I don't believe the final rounds should carry more weight. That's why cards are taken between every round and tabulated. But still, you can't trust judges, and although boxing--unlike pro wrestling--is usually real, the outcomes are sometimes paid for. he one judge who called the fight a draw, Glen Hamada, of Tacoma, Washington, is originally from Hawaii. I judged the fight 115-114, DeLa Hoya. Still, that is so close that greased or not, I can't really squabble about a difference of two points on another judge's--who saw the fight live--card. And you don't get a totally real view on TV. Nothing beats the judges' seats, ringside center.

I think you scored it right, De La Hoya socred 100 more punches but they were lighter weight punches. And De La Hoya played it too safe at the end.

Although I have strong anti-Don King feelings, I can't really blame the judges for this one. Judging, even honest judging, is a subjective art.

This whole thing cries out for rematch and re-rematch, mo' money for Don King and company. I wouldn't have seen it except for the Horns game. Next time may be better because De La Hoya has something to prove. And he'll not let up. What's up with Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis. Is Lewis really the champ of the future? And have you seen this guy Butterbean? And what about women's boxing. Things to talk about.

IMHO, it is hard to consider Lennox Lewis, at age 34 "the champion of the future." He is the current WBC champion, while Evander Holyfield praises God for the "providential" decision giving him a draw against Lewis (a fight Lewis clearly won) and letting him keep his WBA and IBF titles. Lewis is clearly the best heavyweight out there now. Holyfield, age 37, is someone all factions of the fight game agree that they still need--hence the protective decision. He doesn't wear dreadlocks, has never tested positive for marijuana, praises God and trains year-round (despite the fact that he has sired several children out of wedlock, something you don't hear much about because the press loves him also). Mike Tyson's boxing skills have clearly eroded, as has his image, but he is still the number one draw in the heavyweight ranks, much as people love to see train wrecks, despite their revulsion. Tyson can also still change the complexion of any fight with one lucky punch, or one bite, as the case may be. The real champion of the future may be Michael Grant, age 27, 6-5, 230 pounds, undefeated (31-0, 21 KOs). He hasn't fought top flight competition yet, but has all the physical tools, except that his chin is untested (which may also be a good thing; he hasn't taken beatings, which age the body). Eric Esch (a.k.a. "Butterbean") is an anomaly. He won a couple of national "tough guy" contests. He weighs over 300 pounds and is clearly flabby around the midsection. But people love to see him. He has charisma, is white (a factor, politically incorrect or not), and has decent boxing skills despite the WWF circus-type atmosphere that surrounds him. The powers that be gave him a "special title" and refer to him as the "four round champion" (hype). He refuses to fight more than four rounders, which r legates him to undercard status, but is on the undercards of the biggest events. I do like to watch him, but don't take his act too seriously because he, despite obvious skills, refuses to get into shape and try to take his act to a higher level, suggesting a certain complacency and lack of ambition. He is happy to be a well-paid sideshow freak. I have mixed feelings about women's boxing. Women have the right to fight if they wish. Some women are good fighters. I, as a consumer, would watch them on the undercard, just as I would Butterbean, but exercise my right not to pay to see a Christy Martin or Tracy Bird fight as a main eventer, just as I would not pay to see Butterbean in a main event, either, unless he lost weight and fought his way up the ranks (unlikely since he is in his mid 30s). If there's sexism in that, (as emperor Joseph of Au tria said in Amadeus), "Well, there it is."

6 foot 5, wow, reminds me that Wilt Chamberlain once claimed he could beat anyone in the ring but he never actually entered the fight ranks. What does Michael Lewis have to do to break into a title fight? Sounds like he's prime material.

At 6-5, Michael Grant is still two inches shorter than Lennox Lewis, who is the tallest heavyweight champion ever at 6'7" (Primo Carnera was 6'6"). I think his handlers are doing him well. He may be a year or two of seasoning (maybe even three) away from being ready for Lewis. Older warriors' handlers also don't want a young hungry upstart like him upsetting the apple cart until the public clamors for the fight. He may be ready for Holyfield, but there's no way that fight will be made as long as Grant is not a number one rated contender (always a political process) and the fight becomes mandatory. His handlers want a fight with Tyson (King wants nothing to do with it). King, a shrewd sort, would rather have Tyson waltzing over "tomato cans" until/unless he can get another title shot. Lewis hasn't taken the beatings that Holyfield has and may have another several good years left in him, even at 34. Grant is improving, but he still got into boxing rather late (at age 22) after a college football care r. There was hype in the mid 60s about Wilt wanting to fight Muhammad Ali (Chamberlain would've won as Ali would've been disqualified for breaking his kneecaps--repeated blows below the belt *LAUGHING*). Seriously, Chamberlain, a decent martial artist, would've stood little chance against a marvelous ring technician and physicist such as Ali. Ed "Too Tall" Jones, a 6'9" former Dallas Cowboys defensive end took a year off to box, went 6-and-0 against undistinguished competition, but took a beating in a ight he won and retreated back into the "safe haven" of the NFL.

Wasn't Buster Douglas in a fight recently or scheduled to fight again against Tyson?

Yes, and was denied a license to box for being majorly out of shape. Considering that Butterbean is allowed, Douglas would have to be incredibly out of shape. He has ballooned to over 400 pounds in the past, though, and is a diabetic. Shame. But there is an old saying which is (sometimes) true. Fighters do only two things: fight or get fat. Certainly that was true with Douglas, George Foreman, Roberto Duran, and an old untalented former amateur light-heavysweight named Burnett (John, not former pro ight-heavy contender Jesse "No Relation" Burnett).

What was your record as a fighter John?

All amateur (1969-72) 31-12 (8 KOs). Slow, not much power, but a decent bodypuncher and good chin, which counts more in the pros than in the amateur ranks. Speaking of marginally talented boxers, do you remember Randall "Tex" Cobb, a heavyweight contender back in the late 70s, who has also done some TV and movie roles, mostly as a villain? Cobb was, and is, a large, genial, funny and smart (degree in philosophy from Abilene Christian) man. Howard Cosell resigned from boxing blow-by-blow after Cobb too a fearsome licking from then undisputed heavyweight king Larry Holmes. During the fight, Cosell had called on the ref and the ringside physician to stop the one-sided bloodbath, which they did not do. When informed after the fight what Cosell had done, Cobb quipped, "I'll go another 15 rounds with Holmes if Howard will quit announcing football!"

That's a great story and a great record. Did you ever fight anyone we might have heard of?

Ken Norton beat me like he was my daddy, knocked me down twice, but I lasted the three rounds. Mate Parlov (a Yugoslav--don't know what ethnic background he was), former (at that time future) WBC light-heavy champ, I lost a surprisingly close decision. Former light-heavy contender and for a short while (I had forgotten) IBF cruiserweight champ Jesse (No relation) Burnett, gave me a sound whipping, but didn't knock me down. The only two times I was KOd, it was because of cuts, not knockdowns or disorien ation. Neither fighter who KOd me went on to pro careers. One was on the Cuban national team (I can't remember his name offhand, but he was good).

No concussions, then? Ergo no brain damage. Excellent news! Was not Alberto Juantoreno (spelled wrong, I know!)??? All Cuban boxers are better than average of anywhere else...I guess they have to be!

No, but I saw Teofilo Stevenson, the great Cuban heavyweight, fight after I took my lumps. He easily outpointed Buster Mathis, Sr., who was a hell of a fighter, despite his ample midsection. I'm sure I suffered some brain damage, but I was never knocked unconscious. I certainly was knocked silly, but nothing I didn't recover enough to fight from after getting up or being administered the "standing eight." Stevenson was the best three round fighter I ever saw. I remember him cold-cocking the favored a d highly-touted Minnesotan "great white h(d)ope," Duane Bobick, with a single punch, a few years later.

BTW, if I'm not mistaken, Alberto Juantorena was an 800 meter Olympic runner, was he not?

Lasting more than 30 seconds in the ring with Ken NOrton is impressive, in fact, 3 rounds is very impressive. This was one of the all time fight greats and onetime heavyweight champion. Now, *that's* something to tell your grandkids about! Does anyone else in your family have your athletic ability?

Yeah, he was. But I knew if i threw a name in the ring you would think of the correct one and we would all know!

Tell us more about the Norton fight, your training, feelings going in and after, and where it came in both your careers. What year was it? Do you have a film of it?

It was a Navy-Marine smoker in San Diego. He was the Marine champion at the time and close to getting out (1970). He turned pro shortly thereafter, while still in the Marines. I had signed up for the Navy and was sworn in, but hadn't reported for active duty yet. Since I was officially in the service, I used the Naval Training Center's gym facility, since I could so for free. Since I was an amateur fighter, and they needed a light-heavy for the card, I was pressed into action. Elmer Martin, the Navy s light-heavy champion at the time (who I lost a decision to later that I thought I won) was supposed to fight Norton, but had suffered a training injury (sprained wrist). I had been sparring with him and did what I thought was pretty well, so I felt as prepared as I was going to be. Something in me knew that Norton was a lot better fighter than was. I was relatively inexperienced, I think it was my 11th fight, but I really wanted to to it, just to see where I stacked up. Three years later, I'm off th coast of 'Nam, and Norton, who developed into a heavyweight, broke Muhammad Ali's jaw. I knew he had a future as a pro, but I didn't know how much of one. I actually think that Norton had to really train himself very slim to fight light-heavy, but he had a bigger man's frame and knew how to use it. He was a nice guy, intelligent, well-spoken and gracious in victory (as well as in defeat when he lost his heavyweight title to Holmes in 1978). Marcia, I still can't remember the Cuban fighter's name. I as so stoked to see Stevenson (like everyone else in attendance)--and glad it wasn't him I had to fight. That bout wasn't televised...I don't know if any private films exist. I lost all my medals, pictures, and memorabilia in a house fire on the North Shore of Oahu in 1976. All that's left is memories (what's left of them) and the foundation to become an official.

I have three cousins who were All-American football players at Arkansas. One of them, Bob Burnett, was the AFL rookie of the year in 1966 as a running back for the Buffalo Bills. I'm not sure I was all that talented...just hard-headed.

Without a doubt, you are one of the most fascinating people I have ever met! And, you really know how to tell a story, but I already knew that...I am such a huge fan of yours...*sigh* I gather there are no petite people in your genetic line. But, there sure are talented ones *smile*

My dad, who had polio as a child, was smallish (5'8", maybe 160). But not other than him. Not everyone in my family is tall, but we all, including my dad, were stocky...even when not fat.

I remember one of Norton's all time great quotes, after getting KO'd in the first round by Earnie Shavers: "No excuses. He did to me what I wanted to do to him."

That's a great story about your Ken Norton fight, John and that's awesome that your cousins were all All American razorbacks. Tell us what you remember about the Norton fight iteself. How did ig go, blow by blow?

I remember being overwhelmed. I certainly wasn't calling blow-by-blow in my mind, at least after the first really hard punch hit me, a great left hook which just missed "the button" about 20 seconds into the fight. At that point, thoughts of survival took precedence over any false bravado that I may actually win. I remember landing one good body combination in the first round, a left to the side and right to the solar plexus. I connected solidly, and when he didn't gasp, especially with the second blo , I realized how well conditioned he was. He was willing to let me have the body, if I could reach it, to protect his head. It was smart, because he was faster, with longer arms, and it was difficult to get inside to bang the body. I connected with some random body blows throughout the bout, no more combinations, and no more solid blows to the solar plexus. I don't think I hit him even once solidly to the face...a few grazing blows at best. He hit me with mostly jabs (amateur strategy), and he had a traight, jarring one, and a good left hook. His right cross was not yet well developed, it was looping, and I was able to avoid most of those by either ducking or moving laterally. I went down twice. Once towards the end of the second round. I never saw the punch. I was told it was a left hook. It clipped me right on the chin. I was able to hear the count from four on and got up at seven. I went into a defensive posture for the rest of the round and survived. My corner wanted to stop the fight. talked them out of it. My head cleared between rounds and I went into a crouching, defensive style for the third round. I abandoned any thoughts of hitting him in the head, and when he either tired of hitting me or regrouped to take a breath, I threw body shots, some of which landed, but if they were to have effect, it wasn't going to happen in three rounds. I went down again just before the end of the fight. Again, I didn't see or feel the punch, but I was told it was the hook again. This time I wa in serious trouble and couldn't make out the count. I could only hear that counting was going on and see the ref moving his right arm. I got up, grabbed the ropes, and when Norton came out of his corner, the first, last, and only thing I heard, was the bell saving me. I was cloudy, I was exhausted, both my eyes and my mouth were puffed, I was bleeding from a nostril, but I didn't really feel the pain until an hour or so later, at Balboa Naval Hospital, where they kept me overnight for observation.

Wow, you took a pounding. Did Norton say anything to you while you boxed? Or before or after the fight?

Norton was a sportsman and a gentleman. He didn't do any trash talking. In fact, that was rare back then. Muhammad Ali did, of course, but his was funny and almost an art form, not the crude "yo mama" stuff of today. During pre-fight instructions, Norton listened intensely without trying to stare me down. He said nothing while fighting. He didn't have to; his dukes were quite eloquent. After the second round, he nodded and smiled at me. I think he was surprised I got up. If I been thinking about t, I probably would have been surprised, too. After the fight we talked briefly. He was both well-spoken and soft-spoken. He complimented me on my guts and my chin and encouraged me to stick with it. I recall telling him "it was a privilege getting thrashed by you." He laughed.

That's funny. Great story, and Norton sounds like a fine person. Have you seen his son, Ken Norton Jr. I think it is, play for the 49ers. He's a helluva an athlete too. And he does this thing of punching out the goalposts after a great play every now and then. What interesting fights are coming up?

I haven't really checked. I'm in my postfight withdrawal after Trinidad-DeLaHoya. Call me sexist, but here's a sure sign the apocalypse is upon us: Seattle (AP)-The state Department of Licensing has approved an Oct. 9 boxing match between a 36-year-old woman and the second man to agree to fight her. The state had previously given the go-ahead to a match between Margaret McGregor of Bremerton and Hector Morales, 23, but Morales backed out last week. The bout approved Wednesday will pit McGregor, 130 pounds, against 34-year-old Loi Chow, 125, of Vancouver, British Columbia. The department's boxing program treated this fight application like any other, said spokesperson Geraldine Calvo, since Washington state law doesn't prohibit male-female boxing. "If we feel it's a fair match, we go with it," she said of the first pro mixed match approved in Washington. Chow, a jockey and weightlifter, has a 0-2 record. McGregor, a landscaper, housecleaner, and former kickboxer, has a 3-0 record against women since turning pro in April.

Norton's son is a fine linebacker, and probably the only guy in the NFL who can't whip his daddy. Maybe that's why they are reportedly estranged.

Tonight Shane Mosley makes his debut at welterweight against Wilfredo Rivera, and there's also the rebroadcast of De La Hoya's "domination" of Trinidad.

"Sugar" Shane is quite the stylist.

Tell us about the bout, I missed it, if you saw it. And a second look at the De La Hoya bout revealed that Trinidad fought a better fight than I thought. I had the sound on the Longhorn game so I didn't have the announcer bias factor.

I missed it. Live in a building where everybody has basic cable, but premium services are unavailable. I miss HBO and Showtime. I saw Trinidad-De LaHoya at a local watering hole.

Are you in Bayshore? Lagoon Center? Mauna Loa Shores? I am not sure I know where you live, my dear! (Don't need to tell me, of course...just wondering)Too much good stuff is on the one-better-than-basic option. We do not get all the sports channels and food and such - ex pays for that too, and I don't want to take advantage of his generosity!

John, Allow me as a newcomer here to bow in awe at your boxing pedigree. As has been remarked, to have fought someone of Norton's calibre (and survived 3 rounds) is a triumph, but to tell the story so well (and fairly) is mastery of a second art-form also. I understand your public is interested in the celebrities (I am too) but can you give us a blow-by-blow on what you consider your finest win? I am also delighted at the recognition that Lewis won the Holyfield fight, and sorry that the reputation of boxing judges was tarnished that night.

Hiya, Mark, and welcome to the Spring!

REally, welcome Mark, and the story of that Burnett lifetime high would be very interesting. I agree, it's one thing to hold your own against Norton for three rounds and another indeed to recount it so eloquently.

He is back to teaching this morning. You will have to wait till afternoon our time, but I am sure it will be worth the wait. John is a wordsmith of rare talent. I got him to post, and it is the most fortuitous thing I think I have done for The Spring ! Welcome, Mark. Delighted to see you. Terry, Mark is a cricketer - if you can find anyone who might like to run a topic, I am sure he would find a little time to add information...he just feels he does not have the time to host one. (I'll hold him down while you twist his arm...!)

I'm afraid that working on the radio this weekend (no sub was available there) while still sick and chasing down the crashed plane story yesterday has left me not quite well enough to take back my classes today. I am "playing hooky" for one more day. Will be back in class tomorrow. Mark, welcome. I don't have any victories over anyone you probably have heard of. Everyone I fought who went on to a professional career beat me. I believe the best fight of my career (also a loss on the scorecards, although I still believe I won) was against the then-Navy champion, Elmer Martin, who I sparred with previously and therefore had knowledge of his style. He was a Navy "lifer," a chief petty officer and career amateur. He was about 30 when I fought him and I was 19 (ironically, I was the one close to ending my boxing career, not him). It was the 1972 Navy championships, held at Great Lakes Naval Station north of Chicago. Martin was quick, but a light-hitting stick-and-move artist. I was more experienced when I fought him than when I had faced Norton. I found his jab annoying, but not really hurtful. I was able to slip some, take some, and get inside to bang the entire fight. I scored the fight's only knockdown (midway through the second round) on a combination left hook to the right side, uppercut to the chin. To his credit, he got up at five. Unfortunately, in amateur bouts (20 point must system at the time), a kno kdown counts no more than any other clean scoring punch. He was hurt. I could see it in his eyes, but I only had about 30 seconds to try to finish him off. He was taller and had better foot speed. He got "on his bicycle" and I pressed too hard, trying to go for the KO. I wasn't able to connect solidly before the round ended. He continued to jab away in the third round and I kept going to the body (a smarter pro than amateur tactic, but it was my best weapon). I got him to drop his hands midway through the final round and I tagged him with a left hook to the side of the face (missed the button by about an inch). He sagged against the ropes and the ref called a standing eight. His head cleared and he survived. It was a split decision. One judge gave it to me 59-58, the other two saw it 59-58 Martin. He wasn't famous, but did fight a few times on national TV (Wide World of Sports) sometimes telecast international amateur and national AAU bouts. Each military champion got an automatic berth in the national AAUs back then. Now that's only true if the state they are stationed in don't have state AAU championships (a few don't). Otherwise now, they must win the state AAU title to advance to the nationals. Martin was a good ring technician, better than I was, but I know I administered a beating to him. I had one slightly swollen eye at the end. He had a completely swollen lip and was bleeding from both nostrils. But he was brave and game and knew what to do to survive. I also think he got some consideration from the judges for having had the belt for several years.

John, really interesting (and how lucky we are to have you another full day)...know anything about Cricket?

Good story. Would your career have taken a different turn had you won that fight? Was it pivotal for your boxing career? It sounds like had you won, you would have been on Wide World of Sports. Sure, cricket is so mysterious to most of us, it would be good to pump up the topic that might be there already.

Marcia, I am pitifully ignorant. I used to watch Samoans play at Kapi'olani Park and Ke'ehi Lagoon Park in Honolulu and enjoy it, though. They have wickets (some sticky, I gather), the bat is triangular with flat faces, and the equivalent to a pitcher is called a "bowler." I marvel at the athleticism of Samoans, as I do when I watch them play rugby, American football, or box, as well. I take it, Mark, you're British.

Terry, I ended up getting sent to sea for the final three years of my enlistment. That effectively ended my career. If I had won the Navy title, things would assuredly have been different. I would have been allowed to remain on shore duty and might even have reenlisted. But things happen the way they do for a reason, and I don't have any regrets about that. And I didn't suffer any more brain damage, other than what an occasional brewski does.

Maybe it was for the best then.

Yeah. I really didn't have a future as a pro although it might be nice to have a Navy retirement check monthly. I got into radio and had fun and then started teaching a few years ago.

Mark, like Delderfield's God, is an Englishman. Which topic in sports might be fair game...(one not being used for much right now is as likely as any, I would imagine...) Sticky wickets are forbidden. A little cross-piece sits across the tops of the wickets and it that little bale (the cross-piece) that you try to knock off - the ultimate end of the game. The batter swats the ball away from the wicket to protect it. If you have put some sticky substance on the wicket to keep the bale more securely at p it, that is a *big* No No ! (You also get 6 automatic runs for hitting out of bounds!)

Now we have a cricket topic! I was surprised there wasn't one.

Mahalo Nui Loa...I just emailed Mark with the URL so he will see it when he gets to work tomorrow morning (his only access to the net)...*smiling in happy anticipation*

Good fight, John. Unlucky with the decision (contenders always get the short straw against champions). I still think the scoring system is crazy. You can get knocked down, and back off for the rest of the round without throwing a punch, but you'll always get nineteen points. And twenty for the round winner. Not much differential there.

It's silly, especially when you consider that point totals are not announced in amateur fights. TV may have them, but they aren't announced to the crowd (at least in the 20 point must). I've never judged a fight with electronic scoring (where two out of three judges must agree within one second that a punch has landed cleanly and then the fight score is the number of clean punches landed for each fighter). I like it in theory, but in practice, I've still seen some worse than questionable decisions.

. . . like the Holyfield win over Lennox Lewis?

Actually it was scored a draw (Lewis pounded him). Electronic scoring is only done in amateur bouts and at this point only in Olympic and high-profile international competition. I'm afraid it doesn't make judging any less political and nationalistic or any more honest.

Laila Ali, the youngest of Muhammad Ali's nine children, makes her professional ring debut in October. Ali is 5'10", with the face and figure of a model or movie star. She has had plenty of offers for both modeling and acting and has turned both down. I have seen two televised news accounts about her, and her opponent was not named in either story. But I saw her hit the heavy bag and throw punches at a mittened trainer and she looks more than comfortable. It will be interesting to see how she does wh n there is another human being throwing punches at her, if no other reason than her name is Ali. BTW, there is a new number one on my top five babes list: Laila Ali. She is that beautiful. Hopefully she has excellent defensive skills and will remain so.

Her opponent is called April Fowler. The bout is in upstate New York Oct 8th.

Never heard of her opponent, but you can bet she's been handpicked to be cannon fodder.

I did a search on (highly recommended) google.com and found this pic. She's into good causes like her dad, in this case, against stun belts that are used to torture animals. http://www.amnesty-usa.org/rightsforall/stun/press-ali.html And a bunch more articles here: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/6251/wboxnews.htm google.com has just replaced infind.com as my favorite search engine.

That pic doesn't come close to doing her justice. I think she's now about 20 pounds slimmer than that pic. She's listed as age 21, 5'10", 165, bu she's buffed with washboard abs.

She is a pretty lady! If, as you say, she is buffed and has washboard abs, that means she has whittled her fat percentage so low that you gentlemen's favorite part of the female form is minimalized. Hmmmm.... does that somehow make her less than desirable?

Not to me it doesn't. I'd like to whittle myself down enough to "spar" with her!

...but I thought there was a "no clutching allowed" rule...!

BTW, John, God never intended for you to whittle yourself to the size of that lady. Don't even think about it! (Unless you are thinking in some other way that I am not...)

She spars with her daddy. If I can get down to 200 pounds, I can spar with her.

Ok...I agree with that! Go for it!!!

What roles to trainers and managers play during a fight, what is said to fighters in their corner, for example, what do you think Oscar de la Hoyas corner people were telling him? Who are the great corner people in boxing and what are their roles?

Managers, unless they are trainers as well (and there are many manager/trainers, should stay out of the corner. The manager himself is a dying breed in boxing. Most managerial duties have been taken over by trainers and promoters. In the older days (before Don King and Bob Arum), managers were the number one person in charge of a fighter's career, other than the fighter "himself" (before women's boxing). The manager dealt with promoters and matchmakers to get his fighter fights, negotiated the purse, hired the trainer and other corner people (a cut man is necessary in addition to a trainer in the corner), collec the check and see to it that it is distributed--hopefully honestly and properly (after training expenses, which usually comes out of the fighter's share. A good trainer is part coach, part psychologist, part teacher, part confidante, part drill sergeant and has to know which role to take and when to take it. In the corner, between rounds, the trainer should be the only one talking to the fighter. He should have the water bottle ready in one hand, the towel in the other. The other man, who carries the bucket and has an array of tools in his pocket is the cut man. Some corners have more than two people in the corner, but that is totally unnecessary, and can sometimes be detrimental. The cut man is a first-aid wizard and skin magician. He should be able to slow or stop the flow of blood from all but the very nastiest cuts, stop the flow of blood from the nose unless the nose is broken, and stop swelling of the eyes. His tools of the trade are: the towel, q-tips, vaselin , zinc oxide (related to what lifeguards use to keep their noses from sunburning, but mixed differently) to close smaller cuts, adrenaline capsules to stop larger cuts, a skinlike patching substance of recent invention, and end-swell (a small pressing-iron like device kept on ice to apply pressure and cold to swelling and bruised eyes. There have been a lot of great cornermen (also known as "seconds") throughout the years. Lou Duva (New Jersey) stands out among those still working. Fighters Duva handles or has handled include Holyfield, Bobby Czyz, James Scott, the Mayweathers. Greg Goosen (Ten Goose Boxing Club in L.A.), a former major league catcher, is an up-and-coming trainer/manager who has handled Michael Nunn, Michael Moorer, and Hawaii's own Jesus Salud. Teddy Atlas is a dynamite trainer. He handled Mike Tyson early in his career and Moorer (who didn't listen to him) when he lost to Foreman. Atlas also threatened Tyson with a gun while Tyson was still an amateur over allegedly trying to force Atlas' sister to have sex. It may be too bad he didn't pull the trigger. Legendary trainers (dead, retired, or semi-retired) include: Eddie Futch (Joe Frazier, and a host of fine Philadelphia fighters), Angelo Dundee (Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali), Pat and Goody Petronelli (Marvin Hagler), Gil Clancy (George Foreman), Ray Arcel (Willie Pep, Ezzard Charles, Roberto Duran). I could tell that DeLa Hoya's people wanted a more proactive approach from him in the later rounds of the Trinidad fight. They were right, but Oscar was certain that he had put away enough rounds "in the bank," and went against their advice. A smart fighter will listen to his trainer--that's what the trainer is paid for. If you don't trust the trainer's advice, fire him and hire another. The bulk of the trainer's work is done when the fighter steps between the ropes, but the smaller and most important job begins then. Keeping the fighter focused, motivated, positive (without bullshitting him if he is behind or doing something stupid) and working as a second pair of eyes, noting weaknesses in the other fighter's defense that the fighter might not notice. Maybe the opponent doesn't snap his jab back after throwing. A good trainer would pick up on that and tell his fighter to continually hrow a counter lead right over the lazy jab to take advantage of the opponent's open chin. If a fighter does a good job of covering the head, the trainer will remind the fighter to "take the body, the head will follow." (Cliche, but tried and true.) Teddy Atlas kept telling Moorer to circle to his right against Foreman, which Moorer did for most of 10 rounds (the fight was scheduled for 12). That gave Moorer, a southpaw with better hand and foot speed than Foreman, the advantage of getting his quick r ght jab off into the left side of Foreman's face, and also kept Moorer out of harm's way from Foreman's thunderous straight right. Moorer put the first nine rounds in the bank, but then started to go against his advice, standing still to trade and eventually circling to the left. Moorer was moving to his left when Foreman connected with a short, sweet right ro the chin that Moorer neither saw nor felt on his way to dreamland. Angelo Dundee noted that Sonny Liston hadn't taken Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) seriously enough and had sloughed in his training before their first bout. He told Ali to keep baiting him with the "big, ugly bear" line, which truly pissed Liston, an incredible physical specimen, off. He told Ali to keep jabbing and talking, jabbing and talking, and keep moving to the right, away from Liston's right. Liston finally realized he couldn't catch his younger, faster, constantly tauting challenger and refu ed to come out for the seventh round. A new champion and legend was born.

Wow! This is really interesting stuff! We used to watch the Tuesday-night fights on ESPN, but not sure if they still carry it. I always wondered what exactly the cut man was using and the efficacy of the stuff...it is truly impressive. You make it sound like an art form...!

You're probably the reason they call it the "Sweet Science" ... or am I confused and mixing metaphors? 'Twould not be the first time...!

They do call it the "sweet science" but I'm not the reason. I'm not sure, but I think that nickname started from the beauty and sheer physics of Sugar Ray Robinson's ring mastery (he won his first 123 fights).

When I was a kid and all these now-legendary boxers were active, they were tall, their muscles well defined and they had a grandeur about them. Now they are shorter than I am and almost as slender of frame. What happened?!

You got bigger and less impressed. Finely trained boxers are still wonderful physical specimens, but most eschew weight training in the belief that it makes their muscles too bulky and slow. Some, though go on specialized regimens of weight training designed by consultants such as Mackey Shilstone, who helped bulk up Michael Spinks from light-heavyweight to heavyweight.

I am sure your analysis is correct. To a little kid, they looked like giants - like that statue of David by Michelangelo, even. But, I did get bigger and was impressed more by other things, I suppose. Call me jaded! Michael Spinks was had a great physique as I recall...they are still out there. And, I understand about all that muscle - nothing but heavy weight hanging around on you not being used if it is not utilized in your sport. Good point to remember. Thanks!

eeeek...Michael S. had a....(kill the "was")

That was a great explanation of the cornerman's role, worthy of being a magazine article or something, informative as hell. What is the role of the promoter and what are some of teh great promoters of today and the past. Specifically, how has Don King affected boxing?

The biggest thing a promoter is is a salesperson. The promoter has to put up the money to put on a fight card. The promoter can use his or her own money. If he or she is wealthy, so much the easier. But then, the promoter singularly assumes any and all risk. Most promoters use OPM (other people's money). It's not necessarily unlike being a Hollywood producer. The promoter is a person with a dream--in this case of getting two fighters together (the main event on a fight card). The promoter tries fi st to sell other investors the dream, then when all the elements are put into place (money is there to pay the purses of the main eventers, the undercard fighters, the arena, security, advertising, transportation costs, on-site training expenses, hotels, performance bond--a necessity in today's shaky market, especially since a fighter could get injured in training and pull out, referees, judges, sanctioning fees if it is a title fight, and of course, the promoter's employees salaries) the promoter goes ab ut the business of selling the public the dream as well. Advertising is a must, but smart promotion also means getting the media interested to get as much copy and air time possible to generate word of mouth among fans and other possible spectators (consumers). Don King, like him or not, is the ultimate promoter. He knows exactly how to sell the dream. He is keenly intelligent--if amoral--and preternaturally media savvy. He first comes up with a slogan to position the fight as more than a fight. It is an event. Then he uses the media to plant that slogan as a mantra in the collective public mind. "Rumble in the Jungle, "Thrilla in Manila, "The Pride and the Passion," "The Power and the Glory"...King knows how to make his fight a must-see in the minds of fa s. He has redefined the role of the promoter, or perhaps refocused it. King, who likes to be the master of all he surveys, has taken a proactive approach that has essentially cut others out of the loop. When he finds a fighter whom he considers promotable on his terms, he tries to cut ties with that fighter's manager, if the fighter has one (e.g.: how King got Tyson to cut ties with manager Bill Cayton, who allegedly had an iron-clad contract with Iron Mike). King: "Do you need Satan?" Tyson: "Huh?" King: "I meant, Cayton, but the question still applies." King will take over all facets of the fighter's career, including hiring a trainer--with the fighter's money-- who answers to King, not to the figh er. If King is unable to cut the ties, but the fighter is determined to go with King, the manager is paid off to become a low-level consultant and in effect, King has become the fighter's manager as well as the promoter (would you want Don King to be accountable for distribution of money in your camp?). But King has the heavyweight division almost all wrapped up, and nearly all fighters seem powerless to tell him no. George Foreman has made sure that King has no paper ties over his career. Foreman will fight a King promoted and managed fighter, but will sign no pact with King himself, other than just to fight. The main person Foreman is beholden to for his career (he is self-managed) is Seth Abraham, programming czar at HBO. Fighters like Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez have become virtual slaves to King. Some fighters are perfectly happy with the situation, but King, like what Colonel Tom Parker did to Elvis, e acts a much larger share of any purse than what I would consider fair, reasonable, or even conscionable. There is also little doubt in my mind that King has at least three sets of books: his own, those he shows fighters, and those he shows the IRS. King's top fighters, although they have fought for all the alphabet soup sanctioning organizations' belts, are almost always a lock for a WBC (World Boxing Council) title. It is said that the WBC, which is headquartered in Mexico City, is basically just another arm of Don King enterprises, and that WBC President Jose Sulaiman is basically just King's translator and entree into the seemingly endless supply of talented Latin-American fighters. The only other huge event manager out there is Bob Arum (Top Rank, Inc). Arum seems benign compared to King, but he is a cutthroat New York lawyer who just happens to have a much nicer public face. He is more of a delegator than is King, but really has no more interest in a fighter's well-being than King has. If I were a fighter and wanted to go with a full-service stable (management, promotion, training), I would try to sign with Lou and Dan Duva. The Duvas run a family fight business out of New Jersey. Father Lou is a legendary cornerman (manager/trainer), son Dan is a lawyer and handles the promotional end with his sister Shelly. The Duvas have a promotional partner, Shelly Finkel, a New York attorney with experience as a rock concert promoter (which really isn't that much different, and with mosh pits, ould be just as violent). Cedric Kushner, a South African promoter, also has some "juice." He is the promoter/producer of Fox West Sports' "Fight Night at the Forum." The unseen artiste in any good promotional organization is the matchmaker. The matchmaker is charged with putting together good, competitive, fights that will please the public, especially on the undercard. Matchmakers probably know more about boxing and boxers than anyone else in the promoter's employ. King does not have a matchmaker; Arum does it by contract per card; Lou Duva does it himself. Other legendary matchmakers include: Teddy Brenner (Madison Square Garden), Don "War a Week" Chargin (Kushn r, the GW Forum), Joel "the Lip" Lipsitt, who is often contracted by Arum...Lipsitt used to be the matchmaker for the late, legendary Hawaii boxing promoter "Sad" Sam Ichinose. Back in the early 1980s, I worked part-time as a matchmaker for a promoter named Mario Silva, a former boxer and an alleged Puerto Rican mobster who for a couple of years promoted fights in Hawaii (until he killed a man in a bar brawl in New York and went to the joint for manslaughter). Silva, despite his background and alleged c nnections, was always good to me. Casual boxing observers (but never veteran railbirds) would often ask Silva, "Why do you need that hippie as a matchmaker?" He always gave me my propers. He'd smile at people and say, "Because that hippie knows his shit." King, BTW, started off as a numbers runner for the Cleveland mob. It is good training for what he eventually became. He also did time for manslaughter after killing a gambler with his bare hands. A small promoter has to be creative. He has to go low budget and try to get as many things as he can for promotional consideration. He will use posters as much as possible as an advertising medium and look for the best radio/TV deals and go around to writers, radio personalities and TV sportscasters and bang the drum. He'll also try to get discounted or complimentary hotel rooms, air fares, rental cars, etc. for including the hotels, airlines, and transportation companies in advertising (logos on poste s, TV and print ads, and quick mentions in radio spots). Promoters have not yet learned to use the internet as a medium for promoting fights, but I'll bet a guy like King or Arum will figure a way to make it work for them sometime soon.

This is another awesome rundown, these responses are worthy of being a feature article on a major publication website like ESPN! We're lucky that you're sharing these insights with us. I was intrigued about your comment about promoters getting to the Internet, how do you think they'll utilize it? Will there be pay per view events? Are there any decent boxing websites out there? What kind of stuff did you do as Silva's matchmaker?

There are some pretty good websites out there. Mostly run by computer savvy railbirds and gamblers. The official sites (The Ring, WBA, WBC) suck. I'll put some up later when I have time to look (I'm terrible about bookmarking, but have a decent memory). Internet pay-per-view is certainly one avenue, but is not all that viable yet because so few customers have T1 or ISDN connections. Sites devoted strictly to pre-fight hype and mentioned by graphics in TV commericials and voice in radio commercials is a major possibility. As much hoopla as surrounded the Ali-Foreman fight, King could have drilled it home even further if he'd had the web then. How about "www.rumble.com" Is that a memorable URL or what? As Silva's matchmaker it was my responsibility to put together the best fights possible on the budget available (purse, transportation, etc.) He would usually take care of the main event himself, although sometimes one fighter would back out, and if that was the opponent instead of the local fave, I would be charged with the replacement. I would compare records--both numbers and who they fought--look at recent trends, if someone was in their prime or slipping, styles, boxers, boxer-punchers, runner-surv vors, and try to get the best bang per buck. Ideally you would get as even matches as possible between fighters with crowd-pleasing styles. I would use contacts I knew, mostly referees and fight judges around the country, if a fighter looked good to me on paper, but I'd never seen him in person or on TV or tape before. I was starting to get pretty good at it, and we were making a modest amount of money--not losing--which is rare for Hawaii promotions, when Mario got into trouble. I don't have the "kah nes" to promote, myself. Too risky and I'm already a poor man.

Have you thought of doing your own boxing website? You certainly have the expertise and writing skills to pull it off!

I don't have the time...and it would be hard to sell it from Hawaii. I log on to the Spring too much *SMILE* Enjoy most of the smart people here. Here are what I consider the best boxing sites: 1. Honest Howie's @ http://www.boxingranks.com It is a gambler's site, run by an oddsmaker. Gives his own independent rankings. 2. http://www.boxingpress.com good independent rankings, plus the official stuff as well 3. http://www.boxingtimes.com 4. http://www.boxingonline.com 5. http://www.boxinginsider.com All have their own agendae...some are run by writers, some by gamblers, Boxing Insider is a beautiful site with excellent graphics and decent analysis, but the writing appears to have been proofread by fifth-graders. Still, all these sites have their merits.

Great stuff, as usual, John. Much thanks!!! Why do I immediately cringe and become skeptical when your first URL is "Honest Howie's"...?!

Wow, Honest Howie's heavyweight rankings: Heavyweight Division Champion - LENNOX LEWIS 1. Ike Ibeabuchi 2. David Tua 3. Hasim Rahman 4. Andrew Golota 5. Michael Grant 6. Chris Byrd 7. Kirk Johnson 8. Evander Holyfield 9. Mike Tyson 10. John Ruiz Holyfield 8th and Tyson 9th (no surprise). And Lennox Lewis deservedly at number one.

And it the controversy dept: SEATTLE (Reuters) - In the long and checkered history of professional boxing there has never been a match quite like the battle of the sexes on the card at Seattle's Mercer Arena Saturday -- a chance for a man and a woman to slug it out legally. The fight pitting Margaret ``Tiger'' MacGregor, 36, against Loi Chow, 33, the first officially sanctioned male-female bout, has attracted international media attention along with howls of outrage from professional boxing circles. The Association of Boxing Commissions, citing ``very real health and safety concerns,'' is recognizing the fight only as an exhibition. One well-known trainer offered $5,000 to call off the match, and a state representative wants to make mixed-sex boxing illegal. ``We really think it's a dangerous precedent, and it's something that women's boxing is not embracing in any form,'' said Rick Kulis, a longtime sports promoter and founder of the International Female Boxers Association. ... more at http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19991007/sp/boxing_sexes_1.html

I saw some coverage on the subject of the mixed sex boxing match on ESPN's SportsCenter. Very weird. No matter what the outcome, someone will have valid excuses for it.

I'd posted an AP story about it previously with a remark about the apocalypse being upon us. I just plain don't like it--and it doesn't matter who wins.

It is worse than having women in combat as far as I am concerned. This is complete idiocy and they can count on my not watching it!

BTW, Marcia, yes the name "Honest Howie" is used-car laughable, but you'll get the straight scoop from him long before you will from the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, IBA, IBC, NABF, or Don F-----g King. I'm also quite partial to the Boxing Press site, as well.

Ok, I will take your word for it because I trust you! Howie and the Boxing Press for my boxing news...the rest are "waste time"!

Here are Honest Howie's takes on some upcoming big fights. Naseem Hamed vs. Cesar Soto October 22, 1999 Hamed by middle to late round KO. Soto can be hit, and Hamed sure can hit hard, so the ending should favor Hamed, who has looked awful in his last couple of outings and has a tendency to get knocked down. Soto is on another level than Paul Ingle, who gave Hamed a scare, and so there should be good exchanges and ebb and flow, but Hamed's superior quickness and power should win out. Hamed needs to buckle down and win impressively if he's going to silence the critics of his wrestling-style entrances to the ing. Hopefully we'll be spared the backlit effect where Naseem's Dumbo ears look like giant alien elongated protruberances of unknown origin, and I must admit I'm secretly hoping that the insufferably arrogant Hamed takes a pratfall doing his patented over-the-ropes flip. Erik Morales vs. Wayne McCullough October 22, 1999 Morales by middle to late round KO. Wayne McCullough is still tough and gritty, but he's older and slower and smaller than the harder-hitting Erik Morales. Wayne's heart should carry him for a while but, barring a lucky punch, Morales' two-fisted attack should wear down the past-his-prime McCullough. Mike Tyson vs. Orlin Norris October 23, 1999 Tyson by early to middle round KO Orlin Norris is tailor-made for Tyson: Norris is always in front of you and looking to trade, a disastrous situation against the bigger, stronger, harder-hitting Tyson. That's why Tyson is fighting Norris, because Mike needs and wants some easy money fights before setting his sights higher. I don't know if Tyson can still beat a young up and coming heavyweight contender, but he can certainly still starch the Orlin Norris types. Roy Jones vs. Graciano Rocchigiani November 6, 1999 Jones by decision. This should be Jones' toughest test since the first Montell Griffin fight, when Jones, behind on the judges' cards, hit Griffin while Montell was on the canvas and was disqualified. Roy Jones was always a legend in his own mind, but he used to be able to back it up in the ring. Jones seems to me to be slipping, with his quickness receding like his diminishing desire to fight. By contrast, this is the chance of a lifetime for Rocchigiani, who is definitely a top tier light-heavyweight c ntender. I don't think Rocchigiani will pull off the upset, but I think he'll do better than expected, leading others to question whether Jones still has the goods to back up the attitude that makes Naseem Hamed seem humble. Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfield November 13, 1999 Lewis by middle to late round KO. This is the end of the line for Evander Holyfield. Lewis fought cautiously last time, and I expect a lot more aggression from Lennox this time around. Lewis now knows for sure he can beat Holyfield, while Evander is older and slower than last time. Holyfield is used up after all his wars over the years, and his confidence must have eroded. Lewis is both bigger and stronger than Evander, and also has the edge in quickness. Combined with the psychological anger fueling Le is, and Holyfield's knowledge that this is probably his last fight, win, lose or draw, I think Lewis will be able to take out Holyfield in a thrilling if sad KO that even the judges can't take away from Lennox. I would be surprised if Holyfield has enough left in the tank to make much of a contest of the rematch. Michael Grant vs. Andrew Golota November 20, 1999 Golota by late round KO. This should be a terrific fight for the fans, with lots of heavy exchanges and maybe more knockdowns than Foreman v. Lyle. Grant looked awful beating Lou Savarese, a club fighter, and seemed to be low on stamina. By contrast, Golota has fought better opposition and has gone the rounds. On the other hand, Golota is what is known in classical Freudian psychoanalytic technical jargon as a nut job, and you never know if he'll have his head screwed on right come fight night, or do a d psy-doodle like he did against Lennox Lewis. My guess is that Lou Duva has had enough time and a few fights with Golota to get his man in the zone or the cagey Duva would not have matched Andrew against Grant. This is Grant's big chance to shine, but I'm guessing that Golota will be ferocious and will wear down and take out an increasingly tired Michael Grant in the late rounds. John's postscript: I see that Howie doesn't think that Michael Grant is ready for Golota yet. He just may be right. Golota is big, quick, powerful, is now with Duva in his corner--but as Howie so aptly puts it: a nut job. I did not see the Grant vs. Savarese fight, but all I talked to who saw it said Grant looked awful. I hope it was the wake up call he needs. This is a big risk for Golota and a big opportunity for Grant. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Grant's physicality will frustrate Golota, who will be disqualified for low blows (what the hey, take a risk occasionally...Golota has been known to hit way South before). BTW, today is Laila Ali's debut. If anyone hears the results before I do, please post.

From Reuters: Ali's Daughter Announces Boxing Debut By Jill Serjeant BEVERLY HILLS (Reuters) - As nervous as a butterfly and as jittery as a bee, the daughter of former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali Tuesday announced her professional boxing debut. She has already been dubbed the ``Madame Butterfly'' of women's boxing despite not having even a fought a single amateur bout. But Laila Ali, 21, knows she has much to prove -- not least to her doubtful father whose dazzling hands and footwork allowed him to ``float like a butterfly and sting like a bee''. ``He's skeptical about it. He's not comfortable with it. He doesn't want me to get hurt. But he's going to support me as a father,'' Ali told a news conference announcing her Oct. 8 debut as a professional heavyweight. Ali, a tall 168-pounder who took up boxing only a year ago, said she would fight April Fowler at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York in what is likely to be the most closely scrutinized bout in the history of female boxing. ``Nervous? Yes. I'm nervous,'' she admitted. ``There is a lot of pressure on me. I know that everybody is going to be watching me. All expectations are going to be very high.'' ``I'm gonna get hit. I'm gonna get my face swollen. That's going to happen. Every other fighter deals with it and so will I,'' she said. The youngest daughter of Ali's nine children, 5 foot 10 inch tall Laila said she had sparred with her father -- now ailing with Parkinson's disease after 21 years in the ring -- and had done some of her training at his private gym in Michigan. But she was reluctant to draw too close a comparison with the man won his first world heavyweight title at the age of 22 and went on to anoint himself ``The Greatest''. ``I think my footwork is very good, like my father's. I'm also very strong, very confident.'' ``I'm coming to this sport with respect to other female boxers. I'm not planning on just coming in and dominating this sport because there are a lot of other women who have been training long and hard,'' she said. Ali, who also runs her own nail salon business in Los Angeles, said she became interested in boxing at the age of about 18, long after her father retired. It started as a form of exercise until she got hooked ``when I felt how good it was hitting a bag.'' For the past year she has been training six days a week, running three or four miles (5-6.5 km) a day. She and her father have not yet decided whether he will watch her take on Fowler -- a former amateur who lost her only professional fight. And she was uncharacteristically tight-lipped about how much she would earn from the bout. ``I'd rather not answer that,'' she said.

For those using metric and have no handy converter, I'll try again: Laila Ali is 5'10" (70 inches) tall (177.8 cm) and weighs 168 pounds (76.2Kg)

Friday, October 8 Ali's daughter wins by knockout Associated Press VERONA. N.Y. -- They called Muhammad Ali "The Greatest." Just call his daughter "The Quickest." With her father watching from ringside, 21-year-old Laila Ali made her pro boxing debut by knocking out April Fowler at 31 seconds of the first round Friday night before about 2,800 fans at the Turning Stone Casino Convention Center. It was no fight at all. Fowler, a waitress from Michigan City, Ind., was inept in the ring, often turning her head as she punched. Ali speared her with several jabs and then knocked her out with a left-right to the jaw. When Fowler hit the floor, Ali stood over her with her fist cocked, reminiscent of how her father stood over a KO'd Sonny Liston in the first round of their rematch in 1965. Her father showed no emotion when the fight ended, but his wife, Lonnie, smiled broadly. The 5-foot-10 Ali, who weighed 166 pounds, could have trouble finding opponents because most female boxers are not that heavy. While the daughter was in the co-featured match, it was the father who drew the crowd. Shortly before 9 p.m., as the ring announcer acknowledged "a man who needs no introduction," the crowd rose to its feet, cheering. Muhammad Ali then entered the ring with Lonnie. Also accompanying him was Hannah, Laila's sister, and one of two daughters Ali had with his third wife, Veronica. Laila's mother, Veronica Kennedy, sat on the other side of the ring from Ali. Laila Ali, who owned a nail salon in Los Angeles, said she got interested in boxing when she took it up as exercise to lose weight. It has been suggested that she is exploiting one of the most famous names in sports. In a TV appearance earlier in the week, however, she said, "It is my name, too, so I don't feel I'm exploiting anything." Fowler, fighting for just the second time -- she was knocked out in the first round 18 months ago -- had said she expects to be back serving tables at her restaurant Saturday night. Fowler, who is divorced, also said she plans to celebrate her son's ninth birthday Sunday. The fight preceded a 10-round heavyweight match between Donovan "Razor" Ruddock and Jose Ribalta. Ruddock knocked down Ribalta twice and stopped him at 1:49 of the first round. There was no question, however, that the main attraction was the Ali name.

No question! She's going to have a tough time finding opponents alright, obviously this first one was a soft touch to avoid embarassment. The fight wasn't televised either. It sounds like she could handle much tougher opponents.

Just from what I saw of her, she could probably embarrass a lot of male middleweights, although I am totally against the idea of intergender boxing and it almost makes me glad that Andy Kaufman is dead.

For those who just have to know, Margaret McGregor (age 36, 130 pounds) pounded out a unanimous decision over Loi Chow (age 34, 125 pounds), in the first intergender professional boxing match sanctioned in Washington state (and the first known anywhere). McGregor, a landscaper and former kickboxer is now 4-0. Chow, a jockey and weightlifter (who moved like his muscles were carved of stone) is now 0-3. No one was hurt, but the crowd was terminally bored by the lack of action, even though the women in th audience were thrilled at the outcome.

There'll be no keeping them barefoot and pregnant now!

That was never my intention. My uncles did plenty of that, thank you. I just don't want to see a woman killed in the ring because this woman was able to beat some tomato can who didn't know how to fight.

But I guess if being killed in the ring--and in combat--is equality, that IS what the women's movement is fighting for. (I'm not against equal pay for equal work, BTW. G.I. Jane should get combat and hostile fire pay.)

I was being facetious...but you make valid points. I never intended to mean you, Joh, dear, but your comment that the ladies in the audience were thrilled by the outcome made me think of that phrase. Ill timed, as is most of what I have posted lately! Sorry!

I saw a brief video clip. The audience was mostly women...and understandably they were thrilled. I don't know if this is true equality--frankly, I'm not sure what true equality is--but it is someone's idea of it.

...as far as I can figure, true equality is such that no one is satilsfied with the arrangement - either sex! Women shall partake in combat when men bear children! The whole notion sounds better than the implementation of same, I am afraid!

I think there are more women ready for combat then there are men ready for childbearing.

You could safely wager the farm on that...or even willing whether or not they are ready!!!

Yet another desultory chapter in the ongoing saga of Mike Tyson, a.k.a. "Count Dreck-u-la." Tyson was disqualified in his bout with former cruiserweight champion Orlin Norris today in Las Vegas. Tyson hit Norris in the head after the bell ended the first round. Norris hit the canvas hard, which injured a knee and rendered him unable to continue. The fight was on pay-per-view, and as usual, I am glad I did not waste my all too meager, hard-earned dollars on watching this escaped psychiatric patient/human train wreck.

I was just listening to ESPN radio about the fight. There are clearly no clear decisions on whether Norris had a knee injury, but they all agree on the cheap shot after the bell. When will they DQ Tyson for all times? Probably after he stops drawing the rich, famous and stupid to pay big bucks to watch his side show!

Tyson-Norris Fight Ends in No Contest Norris injures knee and can't continue after blow lands late ASSOCIATED PRESS LAS VEGAS, Oct. 23 � Mike Tyson knocked down Orlin Norris with a left to the head after the bell ended the first round Saturday night and the fight was declared a no contest. Ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. said the fight was stopped "after an accidental foul." The stoppage of the fight was greeted with loud boos from the crowd in the MGM Grand Garden, which was the scene of Tyson's third-round disqualification for biting Evander Holyfield's ears on June 28, 1997. As soon as the fight was stopped, a host of security personnel flooded the ring. Several minutes after the fight ended, Norris remained sitting on his stool. Abel Sanchez, co-trainer of Norris, said the fighter could not continue because of a twisted knee. After ringside doctor Flip Homansky examined Norris and conferred with Nevada Athletic Commission members, the commission took its action. Tyson had his right glove on Norris' arm when the bell rang to end the first round. Then Tyson shot home a short left to the head that dropped Norris. "He threw it (the fight)," Tyson said. "How (did) I hit him in the jaw and he hurts his leg?" After Norris went down, Tyson went to a neutral corner and was followed there by referee Richard Steele, who lectured him. Steele then turned and signaled he was penalizing Tyson two points. Meanwhile, Norris got up and walked slowly to his corner as Steele beckoned Homansky to come look at Norris. While this was going on, many in the crowd of 12,987 were venting their displeasure. Tyson, fighting for the first time since he knocked out Francois Botha with a single right on Jan. 16, put pressure on Norris from the outset. He landed a couple of hard rights, but he was mostly wild. Norris got in a punch or two, but was mostly wild, too. Then came the left after the bell that ended the fight as Norris left the ring with an ice bag on his right knee and was helped by Sanchez. Those remaining in the arena booed him. It was another bizarre happening in the life and career of Tyson. Because of out-of-the ring problems, the match was only the eighth in the last eight years for Tyson. His career was interrupted by a three-year prison term on a rape conviction, and this year by a 3� month jail term for assaulting two motorists in Maryland after a fender bender. Tyson was supposed to get $8.7 million, but it was not immediately known if his purse would be withheld. Norris' purse was to be $800,000, but because of his manager's cut and an IRS lien, plus a court order involving a lawsuit with former promoter Frank Warren, he was only to receive $264,640. Tyson is supposed to fight Shannon Briggs on Feb. 26 in Madison Square Garden. Before this fight, there was the possibility he would also fight in December. What happens now is anybody's guess. The 33-year-old Tyson weighed 233 pounds, having lost 57 pounds since he was released from jail May 24. The 34-year-old Norris weighed 218. Tyson's record remains 46-3 with 40 knockouts. Norris, a former cruiserweight champion, is 50-5 with 27 knockouts. On the undercard Saturday night, Diego Corrales knocked down Roberto Garcia twice in the sixth round before finishing him off with an overhand right at 48 seconds of the seventh to take Garcia's IBF junior lightweight title. It was the first loss in 33 fights for Garcia, making his third defense of the title he won in March 1998 from Harold Warren. Corrales (29-0, 24 knockouts) hurt Garcia with a flurry of punches in the sixth, finally knocking him down with a short left followed by a right hand with a minute left in the round. Garcia got up, but his legs were rubbery and he went to one knee after a big right hand with 15 seconds late. He managed to get up again and the round ended before he could be hurt further. � 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. JOHN'S POSTSCRIPT: It was announced that Tyson's purse would be held up pending a meeting of the Nevada State Boxing Commission. Tyson was NOT disqualified, as I erroneously surmised earlier. The fight was called a "no contest." This is another bizarre (read that "stinking of Don King") decision. Steele took two points from Tyson after the end of the round, but ring annoucer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. was instructed to announce that the match was a no-contest due to an "accidental foul" on the part of Tyson. Common sense (and boxing rules) would dictate that if two points are deducted for the late blow, how could the foul be accidental? The reason for calling it a "no contest" rather than coming to the proper conclusion (a disqualification) is two-fold: 1) preserve Tyson's record (no, not his criminal record, although this is certainly related), and to keep Norris from getting a victory by disqualification. Norris had a clause in his contract for a rematch at three times the $800,000 purse he fought for, sh uld he win. That would cost Don King $2.4 million dollars for Norris alone, for a match the public probably wouldn't pay to see. This was not a sellout ringside at the M-G-M Grand (big heavyweight fights, title or otherwise almost always sell out in Vegas), and who knows how much was made or lost via pay-per-view. I'm a hardcore boxing fanatic and I wouldn't pay to see it.

YET ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE BOXING APOCALYPSE IS UPON US! Olympic Boxing Champ Arrested: 48-year-old Stevenson headbutted airline employee ASSOCIATED PRESS MIAMI, Oct. 23 � Three-time Olympic boxing champion Teofilo Stevenson of Cuba was arrested Saturday for headbutting a United Airlines worker who tried to stop him from passing a checkpoint to board a flight to his home country, Miami-Dade Police said. Miami-Dade Police Sgt. Steven Leibowitz said the 48-year-old Stevenson was charged with aggravated battery and resisting arrest with violence. Stevenson posted $12,500 bond and caught a later flight to Cuba, Leibowitz said. The injured airline worker, 41-year-old Pedro DeLeon tried to stop Stevenson as the boxer tried to force his way past a checkpoint, police said. Stevenson headbutted DeLeon, chipping DeLeon's front tooth, they said. Airport police arrived to find United Airlines workers trying to restrain Stevenson. When officers stepped in, Stevenson began fighting them. Police were able to arrest the combative boxer without being injured. Alexandra Villoche, general manager for United Airlines in Miami, said DeLeon was looked at by paramedics and sent home. He had cut lips and a chipped tooth, she said. The 6-foot-3, Jamaican-born Stevenson grew up in Cuba and still lives there. He was a super heavyweight champion in the Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1972, '76 and '80. In 1980, Stevenson became the first Olympic boxer to win three gold medals in the same division. He won his first gold in Munich in 1972 by default after Ion Alexe of Romania broke his thumb in the semifinal bout. In 1986, at the age of 34, Stevenson, who always remained an amateur, won the world championship. � 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. JOHN'S POSTSCRIPT: So they let Stevenson go back to Cuba. Hmmmm...no extradition agreements there!

It is amazing how the story permutates as time passes. The ESPN guy was still in the boxing site giving his take on the fight and he called it a DQ. Now it is a "no contest" to insure all of the wrong things about this "sport." Greed triumphs once again and the populace gets their bread and circuses to keep them happy. Pathetic!

OK, John...another case of steroid poisoning??? How miserable...Apocalypse, indeed. (And most assuredly a hero's welcome to the "Fatherland of Castro" from whence come no extradition treaties...!)

Your analysis is right on the $$$, Marcia. At its best, though, I would still not put the sport in quotes. That hurts personally. Unfortunately, very little about boxing lately seems to resemble the sweet science I know and love.

I truly enjoy collegiate and Olympic boxing, and the prostitution of the sport with what has been happening of late is reprehensible. I grieve with you and I am sorry I put those quotes there. Just as Pro wrestling needs a new name to preserve the true nature of collegiate and Olympic wrestling, so does the game of professional boxing. It is no longer a sport in the true sense of the word.

I hope everyone who "paid-per-view" is refunded for a "no-contest" as presumably they didn't pay to view no contest (Of course they won't be - the promoter may withhold the boxer's purse, but far be it from the TV company to withhold the fee from the promoter).

especially considering that the promoter is Don King...

Oh Mark, not a chance for a refund for those willing to pay to view it (I did not) - they did view what there was of it, for better or worse. Hours of call-in show time has been given over to the merits or demerits of the non-event. I do not recall anyone wanting their money back, but I did hear several calling for the retirement (forced, if necessary) of Tyson. Not a chance for that as long as Don King is greedy (forever!) and Tyson gets a fat paycheck! We are doomed to future hype and non-boxing even s, I am afraid!

John will be disgusted (but not surprised) to learn the Nevada Boxing Commission just said some harsh words to Make Tyson on his behavior but issued no jedgement or sanctions against him. A little slap in the wrist for appearances' sake then back to business as usual. How revolting!

It's possible that either you or I misinterpreted this. Here's my reading of it. They would have a legal fight on their hands that they could not win if they had tried to keep his purse. They did the only thing they could. They said they would not renew his license to fight in Nevada when it expires 12/31/99. If they stick to their word, that will be good enough for me. We'll see what happens then. As for Mike--he can take a hike.

I trust your take much more than Mr Mariotti and his like on the all-night sports talk shows. He was the reporter in this case. ...make that a l o n g hike (short pier optional!)

They can use a long pier just as long as Mike keeps on walking when it ends!

Precisely the point!

What's your take on the upcoming Holyfield Lewis rematch? Can Holyfield resurrect himself? Is Lewis not a part of the fix?

Holyfield has done it twice before when everybody said he was finished (prior to the second Bowe fight and the first Tyson fight). Lewis is definitely not part of the fix. Riddick Bowe threw a perfectly good championship belt in the trash can to avoid facing him. I don't see Holyfield honestly beating Lewis in a clean fight, but I think Lewis has to K.O. Holyfield for the powers that be to anoint him. I think he'll get screwed again if it goes to the scorecards again. Despite his infidelities and out- f-wedlock children, Holyfield has the cleanest image in boxing, and boxing, which needs an image boost, doesn't want to let go of that. Lewis is a dreadlock-wearing Goliath who has tested positive for marijuana in the past and dare I say it--isn't American. That wouldn't matter in any other division, but in the heavyweight division, being American--and a proud one, like Holyfield or Foreman--is everything.

A shocking article in the Miami Herald that I saw at http://sportspages.com says more than 50 fights have been fixed or tainted over the last 12 years. Some of those involved are George Foreman, Butterbean and others. One heavyweight admits faking a second round knockout to Foreman in Oct, 88 in Marshall, Texas. He took a dive. Heavyweight Andre Smiley admits to taking 14 fake knockouts bdtween 1990 and and 1997. At least four Butterbean bouts were bogus, either thrown or "tainted with fraud". And Foremans rise to fame was built on at least four faked fights.

Sadly, this no longer surprises me...saddens me, yes!

And this is the tip of the iceberg. Or so the article says.

*sigh* They might just as well do as Pro Wrestling did and make it a side-show in actuality rather than masquerading as a legitimate sport...unless they wish to clean house with a REALLY stiff broom!

KEN RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@herald.com More than 30 prizefights have been fixed or tainted with fraud over the past 12 years, according to men who have fought and lost to George Foreman, Frans Botha, Eric ''Butterbean'' Esch and other top-ranked fighters. Tony Fulilangi, once a world-ranked heavyweight, says he faked a second-round knockout by George Foreman on Oct. 27, 1988, in Marshall, Texas. ''I really hate to say this because it's not good for the sport, Fulilangi said. ''I took a dive." Former heavyweight Andre Smiley says he made thousands of dollars faking 14 knockouts from 1990 to 1997. ''I made a lot of money throwing fights, he said. Some fighters negotiated payments to throw matches. Others, unbribed, fell down merely to avoid injury and get a quick paycheck. Widely suspected but rarely documented, fake fights threaten to remove the last shred of credibility that separates boxing from professional wrestling. ''The fix goes to the issue of integrity and trust in the game, said U.S. Rep. Mike Oxley, R-Ohio, who has sponsored a boxing reform bill aimed at protecting young fighters from unscrupulous promoters. ''Nothing could be more American than believing in a fair fight. And if that is not happening, the public has every right to lose faith in the sport." Fall guys helped heavyweight Butterbean Esch boost his earnings from $600 a bout as a little-known club fighter to $60,000 as a star attraction. Two opponents and two boxing commissioners say at least four Butterbean matches were thrown or tainted with fraud. Boxers told The Herald that many fraudulent matches were arranged by promoters or matchmakers intent on improving a fighter's record and ranking to earn big-money title fights. The sport, some fighters say, is steeped in corruption far worse than alleged criminal misconduct now under FBI scrutiny. GRAND JURY PROBE A New Jersey grand jury is examining allegations that the International Boxing Federation extorted money from fighters and promoters in exchange for elite rankings. Rankings determine title fights and other lucrative matches. In June, federal agents raided the Deerfield Beach headquarters of promoter Don King, seeking evidence that might link him with alleged kickbacks to the federation. The FBI investigation, however, does not center on fighters paid to throw matches. Club fighters or journeymen are often asked to take dives, according to Herald research. Sometimes, well-known fighters are approached. Iran Barkley, a former world light heavyweight champion, has been asked to throw a match. ''They said, 'I'll give you $30,000 to do this, to do that,' he said, declining to identify who approached him. ''They wanted to build up some kid and felt my name would look good on his record. . . . I would never do it. BOXER 'SAT DOWN' Fulilangi says nobody asked him to throw his fight to Foreman. No one had to. Then 28, Fulilangi says he took the match after telling a promoter that he had a bad back and a bum leg and was semi-retired. The promoter insisted and the money was good: $30,000. A Foreman uppercut dropped Fulilangi in the second round. An overhand right floored him a second time. ''He never hit me the third time, Fulilangi said. ''He jabbed me and threw a swinging right hand. I went under it and sat down. Videotape of the fight confirms Fulilangi's account: Foreman missing with a right hand, Fulilangi reeling into the ropes, then falling to the canvas. Announcer Al Albert: ''I don't think he even connected, but it is being counted as a knockdown. Said Fulilangi, ''I went down just to get the money. I went to the airport with a smile on my face." Foreman laughed when told of Fulilangi's account. ''That happened to me all the time,'' said Foreman, 50, who won the heavyweight title for the first time in 1973. ''If they're getting a whuppin', it's up to them to decide if they want to continue.'' NOT SO UNUSUAL Fulilangi's fake knockout is not an isolated incident. The dive is common, boxers told The Herald. According to sworn statements and interviews with more than 60 fighters, promoters, trainers, managers, matchmakers and commissioners: Two former heavyweights, Andre Smiley and Mike Smith, threw fights at the behest of Sean Gibbons, a matchmaker with Top Rank Inc. Smiley told The Herald that Gibbons offered him bonuses during fights to fall down. Smith told the Oklahoma Department of Labor that Gibbons routinely asked him to throw fights. ''A complete lie, Gibbons said. Two other men helped fix matches for the late promoter Rick Parker. Former heavyweight Tim Murphy said he conspired with Parker to throw a 1991 fight with former pro football star Mark Gastineau. Boxer-turned-matchmaker Sonny Barch said that under instructions from Parker, he bought 10 or 11 victories for Florida heavyweight Mitch Sammons in the late 1980s and early '90s. Sammons did not respond to certified letters seeking comment. Little-known heavyweight James Calvin Baker threw four matches, including one on national cable television against Butterbean. Baker said he also threw a fight against Barkley. Butterbean and Barkley said they have no knowledge of opponents throwing fights. Two other Butterbean opponents have been suspended by state commissions for taking dives -- Richard Davis and Bill Duncan. Davis, according to the Illinois boxing administrator, faked an injury to the testicles during a loss to Tony Velasco last year. Duncan, according to the former Oklahoma boxing administrator, ''tanked'' -- or deliberately lost -- a bout against Butterbean in 1997. Obscure heavyweight Darryl Becker once fought Butterbean under an alias. Videotape shows Becker -- introduced by the ring announcer as Jack Ramsey -- falling to the canvas after a glancing blow to the shoulder. Missouri boxing commissioner Tim Luekenhoff, who identified Becker in the videotape, calls the knockout ''a dive.'' Becker denies taking a dive and fighting under an alias. HISTORY ALTERED The comeback that turned George Foreman into an American icon was built on a series of questionable fights. Before winning the heavyweight title again in 1994, Foreman knocked out at least five men who entered the ring with bogus records. One of them, Mike Jameson, was billed as having won 17 fights and lost 15 when he was 13-16 and hadn't fought in nearly three years. Foreman also knocked out one opponent who fought under multiple names. Journeyman Frank Lux suffered a third-round knockout by Foreman in 1988 while using the alias Frank Williams. Promoters listed Williams as 33-13-3 when he met Foreman in Anchorage, Alaska. According to Fight Fax Inc., official keeper of boxing records, Lux, who also fought as Frank Albert, was 14-28. Lux, who denies ever taking a dive, says he learned about fake identities and how to escape injury in the ring from manager Bruce ''The Mouse'' Strauss, notorious in the 1980s for taking dives after two or three rounds and fighting under phony names. Lux says promoters often fabricate records of fighters and splash them on a poster. He doesn't know who gave him the 33-13-3 record for his fight with Foreman. ''I didn't argue with them, he said." ONLY THE SURFACE? Interviews with boxers and matchmakers who refused to be identified suggest that The Herald's investigation identified only a fraction of the fraud. Over the past 13 years, there may have been hundreds of fights thrown. ''People say it doesn't go on but it does, says one former world champion who requested anonymity. ''I've been there when they fixed fights. I'm talking about people paying people to take dives. I've seen the rehearsals. I have first-hand knowledge of that. It still happens. A lot. Herald research editor Elisabeth Donovan and staff writer Manny Garcia contributed to this report.

Sad but true. $-it happens. I'm relieved that Foreman had nothing to do with the alleged fixes here. Many fighters take dives themselves for the payday. In my couple of years as a matchmaker, Mario Silva never once asked me to do anything illegal or dishonest--despite his reputation as a gangster. I have seen "fighters" lay down for a payday before. They were immediately crossed off my list for projected employment. If I ever work as a matchmaker again (doubtful since I want to stay in Hilo), I will resign if ever directed to conduct such monkey business. I love real fighters, those who get in the ring and give their all, whether talented or not. I kn w the duplicity exists--at all levels of the fight game, including some dishonest "journeymen" (and it's hard to blame them...they don't have a retirement plan...most will never see a payday of more than a couple of thousand bucks unless they lay down. I'm not excusing them--there's no excuse. But the rottenness is a top-down phenomenon and the two names most responsible are Don King and Bob Arum. It is enough to make people go to the WWF. At least it bills itself as "Sports Entertainment" instead of a legitimate sport. It's also the reason I seldom pay-per-view for a bout. I have connections at a couple of watering holes locally who will allow me in for no cover to see such bouts. I still believe that Lewis had nothing to do with a fix. They only mentioned when fighters take a dive. They never mentioned paid off judges (which only works if the fight goes the distance). Orlin Norris, on the other hand???? Mike Tyson will never get another penny of my money. I decided that several years ago and have stuck to my guns. But there has been dishonesty in many, if not all sports. The Black Sox threw the 1919 World Series (although it looks like Shoeless Joe, who took the money, didn't realize the fix was on by his statistics). There have been convictions for point shaving in both college football and basketball. Paul Hornung and Alex Karras were both suspended for betting on NFL games. There is evidence that Pete Rose bet on baseball, although not on games involving his teams. It is rampant in boxing. The Mafia has al ays been close to the fight game. But there are honest crooks (oxymoron, maybe, but legal and honest aren't always the same thing--ask any lawyer), too. I worked for one.

Ya mean it all boils down to semantics? (didn't think so...)

No I don't mean it all boils down to semantics. I mean that often honest and legal are two different things. I know that everytime Mario Silva was mentioned in the paper, he was an "alleged crime figure" as well as a promoter. I'm not doubting his mob connections. I do know that I was never asked to do anything mentioned in that Miami Herald article, nor did I do anything of that nature. I also believe that there are honest promoters out there. I believe the Duvas are honest and I believe that Cedri Kushner is also. But I am finding it as hard to defend boxing, which I still love, as Hillary Clinton is finding it hard to defend Bill, whom she claims to still love, as well.

It is very difficult not to be a crusader when something means as much as boxing does to you. There is always a nagging voice talking to your mind that there must be something which could be done...but i think this is bigger than a crusading individual or several, for that matter. I suppose that means tax dollars at work again...and senate subcommittees and I will watch them on CSAN as I always do...

...CSPAN...of course!

I think I like CSAN better. C-SPAN is just an acronym for boring. Maybe if the Republicans took on the Democrats in Senate subcomittee cage match battle royals!

No holds barred??? I'd pay to see that if they were not so old and feeble to begin with...!

Steve Largent for the Republicans (young, by political standards, former NFL star) vs. Al Gore for the Dems (still young by political standards, physically fit...let's see if he is ready for a REAL political battle)

BTW, the president and several executives of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) were indicted for taking bribes from promoters to rig rankings. Again, the only surprise is that they were caught (if there is a conviction...Don King has been indicted several times, but never convicted). I would only feel good about this if the promoters allegedly involved were also indicted, including King and Arum. Yes, again I know that the power players who rule boxing are mostly corrupt. So were the Roman em erors who ordered the mostly Greek gladiators to fight to the death in the Coliseum (has anyone seen "Spartacus" lately?). This is nothing new...which was the subject of a smart-assed commentary by Larry Beil yesterday on ESPN. I have never heard our beloved Hawaii boy quite so sarcastic.

Al Gore, physically fit? Really? Steve I can see - he is a natural athlete... Matchmaker, do your thing! (I thought the only thing Gore was fit for was to be the son of somebody famous...and to hug trees, which I have been known to do as well...!)

I caught Larry Beil yesterday and was amazed...I thought it was funny... and I wondered how you were reading what he was saying. Irreverent, at the very least.

I read it as total sarcasm--the lowest link on the human food chain. Right of course...and it looks like one of the bribes Bobby Lee took was $100,000 from Cedric Kushner to get Axel Schultz the fight with Foreman for the latter's IBF heavyweight championship belt. The first defense for Foreman should have been a rematch with Michael Moorer, who he KOd for the belt. I should have known, but I don't know how it passed me. Foreman was the beneficiary of a questionable decision--likely because his promote , Bob Arum, paid Lee a bigger bribe. Gore jogs and lifts weights...he doesn't get any play for it because the jogging reporters are always following Clinton jogging to McDonalds. Gore is also famous for the (lie if you believe Republicans) (misstatement if you believe him..of course, Reagan was also famous for saying he "misspoke") that he INVENTED the internet--which he certainly did not.

and I mean that sarcasm is the lowest link on the humor food chain rather than human, but I find sarcasm is the tool of those not funny enough to use real irony.

Let's face it. Gore is boring. If I had to cover one or the other, I'd go for the one who at least keeps me awake (don't trust him, so I have to stay awake!) Bravo to Larry B. Too bad it did not get print coverage.

Irony is a fine art and requires a facile mind and wide knowledge. You are an expert at this - Larry is not, I think. But, good, nonetheless! (Listening to Cricket match. Yay!!)

I occasionally resort to sarcasm as well. Roald Dahl is pretty darn good with irony. Larry is a fine sportscaster. I just am bemoaning or to use your word "lamenting" (something I don't enjoy doing) the requirement that any cable network sportscaster be a card-carrying member of "Wiseguy Nation." Larry didn't do that at KGMB, but he got really good at it at KTVU and it got him the national shot. It certainly was intelligent of him to realize that was the only quality he needed other than his knowledg of sports and good looks to make it to ESPN.

Any thoughts on the upcoming Holyfield Lewis rematch, I know I already asked this but the fight is drawing near. Will you watch it in a sports bar or something?

I guess the easy answer is who is being paid to do what? I believe that Holyfield would have to KO Lewis to win legitimately and that Lewis would have to KO Holyfield to not get screwed by a tainted decision. It all makes me want to puke. I'll probably watch it at Fiascos, which is abvout a mile from me or maybe Shooters, which is in the building I live in. The former is the better atmosphere, but the latter is an elevator ride and a fifty foot stagger home without having to put a key in the ignition. My heart like to see Holyfield win--but only if he deserves it. If Holyfield doesn't have enough left for a legit win, I hope Lewis KOs him and that Holyfield retires without being seriously hurt. Sorry for not being more definitive, but I don't know who is being paid for what. I do believe however, that both of these fighters will fight and neither one will lie down. A warrior is supposed to win with honor or be carried out on his shield by the Valkyries. That is, ideally, what I hope for.

You? Stagger home??? I have never seen you like that. Hmmm... (internet proves educational again!) As regards Larry Biel, ESPN has a requirement that all personnel pass the WiseGuy test. I am afraid they are responsible for its proliferation. It gets tiresome!

(Your Valkyries are mere children right now. You will be required to live a long and full life here until they are grown to immortality and can enable your trip to Valhalla. Bonzai! Okole Maluna! Salut!

If Don King were to rig it to make the most future money, how would the fight go? What outcome would most likely result in a rematch?

Post heavyweight championship fight comments, John Burnett? How does the heavyweight division look now? Is a Tyson vs. Lewis showdown inevitable?

I emailed him to post his comments, please...or to email them to me and I would post them for him I talked to guys Saturday evening at Basketball who had seen the fight and found it went the distance with Lewis winning a unanimous decision. I am curious to know John's take on that, as well.

�b Times of London Rob Hughes witnesses a welcome shift in the power base of boxing Finished business brings justice and a place in history The claim that British world heavyweight champions are forever in sepia is no longer true. Lennox Claudius Lewis, child of the East End of London, is bringing home the many belts that divided world boxing. It took him 12 intense rounds here on Saturday. It took ten years of sustained effort and self-belief, and an often unfair battle against loaded boxing politics, to get his chance. And it has taken a whole century, since the Cornishman Bob Fitzsimmons in 1897, for anyone born in Britain to be acknowledged as the outstanding heavyweight on earth. I do not suppose Old Bob's achievement, which also came against an American in Nevada, was accompanied by a chorus of "Inger-land! Inger-land! Inger-land!" as Lewis's was. And wherever the spirit of Fitzsimmons lies, it now has a soulmate. "Its a great feeling," Lewis said before leaving the Thomas and Mack Center. "A lot of people don't realise the years of trial and tribulation of me trying to be the heavyweight champion. But I can't look back and be bitter. Now is the time to be happy - it gets no better than this." With that, he, his mother Violet and their entourage slipped into the night in a white stretch-limo. A matching limousine, with windows darkened to keep out the pain, transported Evander Holyfield, the Gospel Warrior, into what should, if he summons the will to break the boxing compulsion, be an overdue retirement. Holyfield thought that he had won the bout on Saturday but three Nevadan judges were unanimous and, with a dignity that contrasts with his bull-like aggression in the ring, Holyfield accepted the verdict and wholesomely acknowledged the "reality" of Lewis's triple crown. The two limos were barely out of first gear before the neon boards switched off "Search for the Truth - Unfinished Business". Busy, busy Vegas has new acts to sell, new one-night stands, new heavyweights starting this morning with Bill Gates, the Microsoft entrepreneur, in town for a convention. The bruises that both men - and boxing - have absorbed this year are history. But the measure of what Lewis has achieved is registered in the names of the prizefighters that he joins. Since Fitzsimmons, only six non-Americans had been undisputed heavyweight champions - Tommy Burns (from Canada, 1906-08), Max Schmeling (Germany, 1930-32), Primo Carnera (Italy, 1933-34), Ingemar Johannson (Sweden, 1959-60), Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa, 1983-84) and Trevor Berbick (Jamaica, 1986). None lasted long. The United States, with its grip on the purse strings, on television and on the boxing councils, had no fewer than 37 champions in the century. Doubtless, an American will be first to challenge Lewis - Mike Tyson, if the new champion gets his way. "I'm willing to box anybody out there," a triumphant Lewis said. "I'm ready for the younger fighters, but I'd love to box every boxer in my era. I would love to fight Mike Tyson if he's available." Tyson, the discredited. Tyson, the beast who is a has-been. Tyson who needs the money but whom boxing, if it is to regain repute as a sport, does not need. It is not hard to see Lewis's perspective. On paper, Tyson is the big name missing from the Lewis portfolio. Five years ago, when Lewis almost begged a meeting with the fearsome one, Tyson sidestepped him. Now Tyson has fallen into disrepute. Now that the fingers of Don King, Tyson's manipulative manager, are prised from the belts, how could it be good for Lewis, or for boxing to hand back the opportunity. What had seen Lewis through in Las Vegas had been his morale, his greater reach and weight - unlike the bout in Madison Square Garden in the spring, when Holyfield looked a spent force, over-age and underweight in the modern era of giants. Lewis, at 6ft 5in, dwarfs him; Lewis, at 34, is three years younger; Lewis at 17st 3lb has bulk to spare. To his credit, Holyfield changed his training routine from day to night. He hired fitness and movement experts. He rediscovered indomitability to give a far harsher, closer contest than in March. Then the judging, most obviously of Eugenia Williams, who said she could not see what she was scoring, betrayed Lewis. On Saturday night there were times when a draw loomed as legitimate. What would the judges do in this febrile arena? "Stand up if you hate Don King!" sang the 6,000-strong English support group in the top tier. Their chant was pertinent, for King is the figurehead of a mistrusted scene. By night, when King's prices ranged from $200 to $2,000 in the hall, and $50 in clubs and hotels screening pay-per-view, Holyfield v Lewis II appeared deceptively unispiring compared with New York for the first bout. There, the English were brash, loud and clad in Union Jacks. Here, trust in pro boxing appeared to be flagging. The 17,913-seat arena was not sold out. The glitterati assembled in New York were reduced to a few. Boxing, under FBI investigation and the subject of an attempted legal and legislative clean-up, is no place the Beautiful People wish to be seen visiting for the moment. Theirs was the loss. After New York. where the result was contrived and the boxing unmemorable, Saturday in Vegas stirred the blood. Even King praised Lewis. "It is every mother's dream," the promoter shouted, "to have a son who becomes the heavyweight champion of the world. Lennox Lewis is the unmitigated, undisputed champion of the WORRRLD and we have on this platform Mrs Violet Lewis, who is that mother." Nice try. But Violet, like her son, does not appear comfortable in the presence of King. She knew how over-the-top, how banal the peace gesture was. For what mother wants her boy at risk in the ring? The state of health of Muhammad Ali and the decline in Holyfield makes a mother fear. As Lennox Lewis said: "Now I have the championship, everyone will want to fight me."

Way too may articles to post here are contained in the Sports Section of the Times of London. Each is a very good read and gives insight no US periodical will. Until John posts, read here: http://www.sunday-times.co.uk:80/news/pages/tim/99/11/15/timsptbox02004.html?1319194

From John Burnett It was a boring fight but the decision was the right one. I feel sorry for anyone who paid $50 to see it pay-per-view. The fight certainly doesn't call for a rematch. A postfight poll on MSNBC showed that 67 percent of respondents wanted Lewis to defend against Tyson next (9 percent picked Michael Grant--as did I, 7 percent picked Henry Akinwande, 4 percent picked Holyfield, and almost 13 percent picked "somebody else"). If the public wants to see Tyson, they'll get him. Lewis is the best heavyweight out there right now, but has all the excitement of a bologna sandwich. Tyson is outrageous, unpredictable, undependable, sometimes criminal, but he is never boring, which is why I guess more people pay to see pro wrestling than boxing. I personally think that Tyson ought to make his living in pro wrestling--along with Dennis Rodman.

I agree, he's a precarious sideshow. But let him be put on the sacrificial alter of Lennox Lewis, who comports himself much more admirably than any other fighter in memory. He comes across as honest, humorous, and seems to have pretty clear vision. But is he actually managed by Don King? If so, it seems so incongruous.

Lewis is not managed by King, but by Panos Eliades, a London businessman of Greek extraction, who rather amusingly takes very little cr*p from King. King is allowed to hog the stage as the promoter, as usual, but Eliades does not back down on money issues. I remember reading that some provision in the last promotion catered for Lewis to do very well out of the purse of a re-match in the event of a draw, and King didn't know it was there, tried to jolly the match back to the previous terms, and got completely rebuffed. Lewis, as John says, is a good but uninspiring fighter (with a sense of humour).

That's a relief that Don King doesn't have his mitts on Lewis. Maybe this Greek promotor has more scruples than the typical lot. The problem with boxing is there's only a top level tier, there's no middle. Or at least no one's interested in the middle. That's why Tyson surfaces again so easily, purely out of name recognition. He's the only one folks know about. And he's notorious.

HBO is showing the Holyfield Lewis fight tonight. IBF went home with it's belt rather than give to Lewis. Should Lewis just throw all these belts in the trash? Maybe the BCS or whoever does the football rankings for bowl games should rank the boxers and do away with all these belt scams? The IBF wanted a $300,000 sanctioning fee. What the hell is a "sanctioning fee"?

From John Burnett No, Lewis shouldn't pull a Riddick Bowe and throw away any belts (Bowe threw away the WBC belt when they told him he would have to fight Lewis after Bowe had beaten Holyfield in their first fight that's how Lewis got his original title). All of the "governing bodies" of boxing demand a "sanctioning fee" for recognizing the fight as a title fight for their organization. That helps to pay for the belt itself, officiating and other administrative charges, plus a tidy but hopefully not excessive profit. For a fight of the largest magnitude, $100,000 is usual, customary and perhaps reasonable, $300,000 is excessive, like someone is being bribed--maybe IBF Prez Bobby Lee? NO! NOT THAT PARAGON OF INDICTMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's FAR too honest and honorable for THAT!!! (Ooh, am I resorting to sarcasm? Sorry, Lee's not worth the effort of real irony, and I apologize to Larry Beil, as well!)

Paragon of Indictment?! *LOL* Love it! Thanks, John

I saw the fight over the weekend and thought it was a lot closer than the first fight. Lewis has a kinds of hands down at his side, laid back style. But his long reach really helps him out. It was David (Holyfield) and Goliath (Lewis), but more of a friendly Goliath.

FROM REUTERS: Boxing: Lewis Plans to Defend Title Next April LONDON (Reuters) - Briton Lennox Lewis plans to defend his undisputed world heavyweight title next April following his points win over defending champion Evander Holyfield of the United States on November 13. Promoter Panos Eliades told a news conference Tuesday the Lewis camp hoped to arrange a home fight in April and manager Frank Maloney said they would now sit down and discuss a possible opponent. North American Boxing Federation champion Michael Grant is one possibility while Lewis said he would also consider a bout with the former undisputed champion Mike Tyson. ``It would be a great fight,'' Lewis said. ``I would love to fight Mike Tyson.'' Eliades said he had received offers from China, Japan, South Africa and Canada to stage Lewis's first title defense.

Lewis Makes Muted Return to British Life LONDON (Reuters) - Beyond a trio of bored Soho nightclub bouncers, Lennox Lewis made a muted return to British life on Tuesday on an appropriately drab November day. For all the interest shown in the heart of London's West End, the bouncers would have been better employed chucking people in rather than keeping them out of the first British news conference staged by the new world heavyweight champion. The indifference of the crowd hurrying through Leicester Square reflected the ambivalence in Britain to Lewis. If often too passive for many fight fans' taste, Lewis is the genuine article in a way that Frank Bruno never was. Yet if Bruno had defeated Evander Holyfield for the undisputed world title there would have been calls for a ticker tape parade, freedom of the City of London and a place in the new House of Lord's. Bruno's ability was in inverse proportion to his impressive physique. Lewis has proven himself the best of an admittedly lackluster crop of heavyweights. STEWART PRAISES LEWIS Lewis chose to tour the U.S. talk shows for a week rather than return home to a hero's welcome and he shows no taste for cheap publicity. It was left to his trainer Emmanuel Steward to provide the requisite soundbites on Tuesday. Lewis, opined the veteran American, was the best heavyweight he had ever been associated with. Furthermore, he said, the best was still to come from the 34-year-old. ``He has got so much talent that is in reserve,'' Steward added. ``In his next fight he will really display that.'' Promoter Panos Eliades said Lewis hoped to stage the first title defense next April, although no opponent has yet been decided. North American Boxing Federation champion Michael Grant, whose points defeat of Poland's Andrew Golota was watched with interest by the Lewis camp last Saturday, is a possibility. So too is Mike Tyson, unless the troubled former world champion self-destructs in the meantime. ``It would be a great fight,'' said Lewis. ``I would love to fight Mike Tyson. ``His fans would like to seem him fight me and my fans would like to see me fight him. But he has been a naughty boy.'' Steward said he believed Lewis could fight any of the present contenders at the rate of one every five to six weeks, raising conscious echoes of Joe Louis's ``bum a month'' campaign. ``He can knock them all out in six months,'' Steward continued. ``I would like to seem him fight every other month.'' Lewis, meantime, intends to bask in the luxury of his new found status. ``Even to be undisputed champion I had to box 24 rounds,'' he said in a reference to the controversial draw in the first Holyfield fight. ``Now I am undisputed champion, I will set some other goals. ``There are some big guys out there. But none really as good as Evander Holyfield.''

From John in re the article above: Tyson's unreliable and Lewis is uninspiring...what a bore-snore that could be, unless Mike took another bite. As for Emanuel Steward, of course Lewis is the best heavyweight he ever had. He has never had a decent heavyweight before. He's had tons of good lightweights, welters and middles, though.

Of course Lewis would love to fight Tyson, it's the biggest possible payday and the easiest fight. And as far as Michael Grant, he wasn't totally convincing the other day, he came close to being KOed. Tyson's the only guy with name recognition, well, I guess there's George Foreman.

John: Michael Grant isn't ready yet. He may be one day, but he got a late start and frankly, is looking like Riddick Bowe used to--like a worldbeater one day and a chump the next. It looks like we are going to have to take another dose of Iron Mike, like it or not.

Wednesday - 14:56 12/01/99, EST Tyson to Fight in Germany in August - Manager BERLIN (Reuters) - Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will fight Ukraine's Vitali Klitschko in Germany next August, Klitschko's manager was quoted as saying Wednesday. ``The fight will take place in August,'' manager Klaus-Peter Kohl told the daily Bild. Kohl said he would like the fight between Tyson and Klitschko, the German-based World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight champion, to be staged in Hamburg's main soccer stadium. The manager said the fight, which was originally scheduled for January, would be Tyson's first since his October 23 no contest against Orlin Norris in Las Vegas. Norris injured his right knee and could not continue after falling to the canvas when Tyson punched him after the bell at the end of the first round. The Norris bout marked Tyson's return to the ring after a nine-month absence during which he spent 3-1/2 months in jail for assaulting two motorists after a minor traffic accident last year in Maryland. Previous Article: Olazabal Plays Down Garcia's Million Dollar Chances Next Article: Torrance Named European Ryder Cup Captain

...and the side-show continues... Tyson to Fight British Champ Next Month in London LONDON (Reuters) - Mike Tyson will fight British heavyweight champion Julius Francis on Jan. 29 in his first fight outside the United States since he lost three world belts in Tokyo in 1990. Tyson, 33, will be hoping to avoid a rerun of his shock 10th-round knockout by longshot James ``Buster'' Douglas when he meets Francis in Manchester. ``Iron'' Mike is trying to resurrect his career after being banned for biting Evander Holyfield's ears in their 1997 title fight. His last outing against Orlin Norris in October ended in farce when Tyson punched Norris after the bell had sounded for the end of the first round. Norris retired injured and the bout was ruled no contest. ``We're hoping for a happy experience here in England, without the darkness and anger that has surrounded previous fights,'' American fight promoter Jay Larkin told a news conference Tuesday. ``We're looking at it as a relief from the whirlpool Mike's been living in in the States.'' British promoter Frank Warren said only 3,000 seats remained for the fight at the 21,000-capacity M.E.N. Arena after tickets went on sale Sunday. Warren would not reveal Francis's likely purse for the January fight but confirmed it would be more than the 15,000 pounds ($24,250) he was due to earn defending his Commonwealth title this week. Francis has had to relinquish his Commonwealth belt as a condition of taking the Tyson fight. The 35-year-old Francis, who has won 21 of his 28 contests with 11 knockouts, said he feared nothing after life as a bouncer, a kick-boxer and a fighter in unlicensed bouts. ``I know how to get down and dirty too,'' the ``Woolwich Warrior'' told the news conference. ``I'm not going to let Tyson intimidate me with his dirty tactics. Tyson feels pain and bleeds like any one else. Let the best man win.'' After serving a jail term for grievous bodily harm 10 years ago, Francis now lectures at schools and prisons on the dangers of a life of crime. The father of four has successfully defended his British title three times this year but has struggled to take a step up in class. Francis lost a European title challenge to Croatia's Zeljko Mavrovic in 1997 and was beaten by German Axel Schultz and current WBO champion Vitali Klitschko of the Ukraine in 1998. One cloud still hangs over the bout as Francis's promoter Panos Eliades last week told Reuters he had knew nothing about the Tyson fight. Eliades played no part in Tuesday's official confirmation of the January event, where Welshman Joe Calzaghe will defend his WBO super middleweight title against top-ranked contender David Starie.

John's considered view of the contest upcoming: It's sad. Barring bad knees and ear bites, Tyson will demolish this glorified doorman inside of 3.

Tuesday - 23:23 12/14/99, EST Angry De La Hoya to Return to Garden NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oscar De La Hoya returns to Madison Square Garden without a title but with plenty to prove when he takes on welterweight contender Derrell ``Too Sweet'' Coley on February 26. De La Hoya is coming off his first career defeat a contentious majority decision awarded to Felix Trinidad last September in Las Vegas after De La Hoya danced away the last three rounds thinking he was far ahead in the scoring. ``I'm going to come out with a different style,'' vowed De La Hoya, who said he was ``programmed'' during training to stay up on his toes and box the dangerous Trinidad. ``You cannot let these judges juggle your career around. ``You have to come out and be very, very aggressive. I'm going to come out with such anger ... I'm really looking forward to it.'' The 26-year-old De La Hoya, who relinquished his World Boxing Council title to Trinidad, thought he was safely ahead after putting on a boxing clinic against the Puerto Rican International Boxing Federation champion. But after running away from Trinidad in the final rounds, American judge Jerry Roth scored it 115-113 for Trinidad and fellow-American Glen Hamada had it 114-114. Bob Logist of Belgium scored it 115-114 for Trinidad. De La Hoya, whose record fell to 31-1, said he still believes he won his bout with Trinidad despite admitting that he lost the last three rounds. ``Every time I watch that fight I gave myself another round,'' he said. The Mexican-American said he is convinced he could have knocked out Trinidad and longs for a chance to recapture his title. In the meantime, De La Hoya says he will go back to more base instincts when he goes against the 29-year-old Coley, 34-1-2, in the 12-round, WBC welterweight eliminator. Coley's only defeat was a controversial split decision to Oba Carr in 1995. ``No more boxing on my toes and this and that,'' said the handsome boxer. ``But it's very sad that a lot of people don't really appreciate that skill anymore of boxing. But, hey, if I have to please the fans and please the people then I'm going to go out and go back to my old style and duke it out.'' The Garden card will also feature a junior welterweight match between Arturo Gatti (30-4-0) and Joey Gamache (55-3-0).

John: Coley is a worthy opponent--an excellent puncher with decent defensive skills, but if De La Hoya remembers who he is and how he got to be champ in the first place (and it wasn't by sticking and moving), he'll win an exciting bout.

What's the HBO schedule for these fights, are they going to be carried on HBO?

Don't know, but I will ask the resident boxing wizard. I am pretty sure he will know

Wednesday - 19:24 12/15/99, EST Sweden to Review 30-Year-Old Boxing Ban STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The Swedish government is to review a 30-year-old law that bans professional boxing, a senior government official told Reuters on Wednesday. The government has decided to reconsider the ban because it feels it has become illogical given the increasing popularity of other fighting sports that are not prohibited, said Ursula Berge, a political adviser to the minister for sport. Borderline sports such as Ultimate Fighting Championships and No Holds Barred, which have minimal rules and are less regulated than boxing, are not banned in Sweden. ``The law as it stands today only prohibits professional boxing and that is not logical. We have to decide what is legal and what is illegal in our society regardless of what sport it is in,'' Berge said. Sweden banned professional but not amateur boxing in 1969, saying the sport was medically unsafe, prone to unsound economic practices and ethically flawed. ``It is not right that someone can gain an economic advantage by fighting someone else,'' Berge said. The sports ministry recently asked Sweden's sports umbrella body to look into fighting sports in relation to the boxing legislation. ``The umbrella body was of the opinion that, in the light of the evolution of other martial arts, the boxing law should be reviewed,'' Berge said, adding the ban could be widened to include other sports or completely repealed. ``We are going to have a hearing in February where all the different parts of sporting society doctors, boxers and organizations can discuss the issues,'' she said. ``We have no view as to what the outcome of these discussions should be,'' Berge added. Condemnation of the law by Swedish boxers who are forced to compete abroad and a number of high-profile fights involving Swedish boxers had brought the boxing ban to the government's attention. Last month Sweden's Armand Krajnc became the World Boxing Organization middleweight champion while Paolo Roberto, another Swedish boxer and chat show host, failed in a bid to win the World Boxing Council super-welterweight title in September.

Austin Keeps IBF Bantamweight Crown With Knockout TUNICA, Miss. (Reuters) - Tim Austin needed less than two minutes to retain his International Boxing Federation bantamweight title Saturday as the American knocked out Bernardo Mendoza of Chile in the first round. Austin, 28, successfully defended his title for the fourth time by stopping the IBF's number one contender just 1:49 into the fight at the Grand Casino. Austin, known as ``The Cincinnati Kid,'' dropped Mendoza to the canvas midway through the opening round. He then caught the Chilean with a solid right hand that ended the bout moments after the challenger had gotten to his feet. The champion, who had not fought since March 27 when he stopped Mexican Sergio Aguila in Miami, improved to 20-0-1 with 19 fights ending inside the distance. A pair of American heavyweights looking to resurrect their careers also won easily on the undercard. Oliver McCall, who defeated world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis for the World Boxing Council title in 1994, stopped Wil Hinton in just 77 seconds. McCall (34-7) posted his sixth consecutive victory since suffering an emotional breakdown in the ring during his 1997 rematch with Lewis. He knocked Hinton down with a stiff jab before referee Elmo Adolph ruled that Hinton could not continue. Former World Boxing Organization champion Ray Mercer (26-4-1) needed just 43 seconds to knock out Jim Haynes.

Boxer Andrew Golota Cited in Fatal Iowa Car Crash DAVENPORT, Iowa (Reuters) - Polish-born boxer Andrew Golota was slightly injured while his trainer was killed on Monday when the car Golota was driving crossed a highway and was struck head-on by a truck, police said. The early morning accident, which may have been caused by icy road conditions, killed Tadeusz Godlewki, 49, while leaving Golota, 31, relatively unscathed, a Davenport police spokesman said. Golota (34-4) was ticketed for failing to control the vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz, but the police spokesman said there was no sign that he had fallen asleep. Golota achieved a measure of boxing infamy when twice in 1996 he was disqualified for low blows in fights against former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe. Yet Golota, who was born in Warsaw but moved to Chicago and now lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, was still considered a box office draw, in part because he is white. In his last fight, Golota went up against highly-touted Michael Grant in November. But once again Golota imploded. Golota had knocked Grant down twice in the first round and was thoroughly thrashing him for most of the bout. But after getting knocked down briefly in the 10th round Golota quit.

Hawaii team leaving for Olympic boxing qualification bouts Star-Bulletin staff The 2000 Hawaii Boxing Team, headed by undefeated Samson Guillermo from Waianae, will leave next Friday for the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The 11-member team will compete from Jan. 10-15 with the top two medalists in each division receiving automatic berths into the February's Olympic Trials. The team members include Guillermo, a two-time national and world junior Olympic champion at 112 pounds. The Waianae Boxing Club representative will put his 34-0 record on the line as he steps up to the open (17-34 year-old) age group. Other members are: Tony Rodrigues, 119, Wailuku B.C.; Lyndon Patricio, 125, Waianae B.C.; Shirrod Victoria, 132, Kalakaua B.C.,; and Kili Madrid, 139, Wailuku B.C. Also, Jason Tomlin, 147, Valentinos B.C.; Clay Lewis, 156, Kakaako B.C.; Tyson Lee, 165, Kalakaua B.C.; Tommy Pestana, 178, Waianae B.C.; Jose Ortiz, 201, Wahiawa B.C.; and Tuese AhKiong, 201-plus, Hawaii Warriors, B.C. The team manager is Bruce Kawano. The assistant coaches are Jeff McKee and Todd Bristowe.

Lewis/Grant Eyed for Madison Square Garden in April NEW YORK (Reuters) - Undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis likely will defend his title for the first time against Michael Grant in Madison Square Garden in April, a spokesman for Lewis's U.S. promoter said Tuesday. ``They're talking as we speak and hopefully they can wrap the deal up as soon as possible,'' said Main Events spokesman Donald Tremblay. ``Both sides are eager for the fight to be made.'' Tremblay said Main Events and Lewis's British-based promoter Panix Promotions are negotiating with HBO's pay-per-view arm TVKO for the April 29 fight. One source close to the talks said the American would receive $3-4 million and Lewis would get $10 million for his first fight since becoming undisputed champion by beating Evander Holyfield on a unanimous decision last November. Based on his last fight Grant would likely be a substantial underdog against the Briton. Grant was taking a beating from Andrew Golota for most of their Nov. 20 fight, getting knocked down twice. In round 10, Grant knocked down Golota, who bounced up at the count of two apparently not at all seriously hurt. But when the referee routinely asked him if he wanted to continue, the Polish-born Golota quit. Lewis (35-1-1) would return to Madison Square Garden after his controversial draw there with Holyfield March 13, a bout clearly dominated by the only British fighter to hold the undisputed heavyweight title in the 20th century. At 6-6 Lewis will be shorter than the 6-7 Grant, who is 31-0.

Promoter Says Tyson Flying to Britain on Sunday LONDON (Reuters) - Boxer Mike Tyson will fly to Britain for this month's big fight against British heavyweight champion Julius Francis despite warnings he might be denied entry, promoter Frank Warren said Wednesday. He said the American would only cancel his travel plans if British authorities say once and for all that Tyson's criminal record stood in the way of entry.

UK Hopes to Rule on Mike Tyson Before He Flies LONDON (Reuters) - The British government denied on Thursday that one immigration officer will have to square up to fearsome boxer Mike Tyson Sunday and possibly boot him out of the country. ``There is no question of whoever happens to be on the desk Sunday night...having to decide on this,'' Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman told reporters. Britain's immigration service union reacted angrily to reports one of its officers at London's Heathrow Airport would be left alone to decide whether the former world heavyweight boxing champion can enter the country for a fight. The volatile American has confirmed he will arrive at Heathrow Sunday despite warnings from the British government that his previous convictions would normally bar a foreign citizen from entering Britain. He is due to fight British heavyweight champion Julius Francis on January 29 in Manchester after training in London. ``Everybody would think it is sensible to get this sorted before Tyson flies,'' Blair's spokesman said. He said boxing promoter Frank Warren had handed in a 67-page submission which officials were considering. But he insisted that it remained a matter for the Immigration Service and one that government ministers would not interfere in. HOME OFFICE GOES MISSING, IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL SAYS John Tincey, of the Immigration Service Union, said it was crazy that an official in the glare of the world's media -- may have no choice but to refuse the 34-year-old boxer entry. ``It reflects the way the Home Office has generally collapsed into a state of leaderlessness at the moment,'' he told BBC radio. ``We're faced with a no-win situation. If you send him back you make boxing fans unhappy. Let him in the country and you'll make people who follow anti-rape groups and some aspiring politicians very unhappy. ``That's possibly why people in the senior offices of the Home Office are seeking not to be in their offices at the moment.'' Tyson was convicted of rape in the United States in 1992 and sentenced to six years in jail. He then served another term for an attack on two middle-aged motorists and was freed eight months ago. British rules state that anyone convicted of a crime which carries a sentence of 12 months or more in Britain should not be allowed into the country unless they could demonstrate ``strong compassionate reasons'' to do so. Tyson told reporters the prospect of him being barred from Britain were ``preposterous and it just couldn't happen. I'm hated worldwide, not by the common people but by the authoritarians.'' Although the fight was scheduled weeks ago, it was only on Tuesday that the Home Office stunned boxing fans by saying it was still weighing up his desire to enter Britain. Warren's argument is believed to center on the thousands of tickets sold for the fight and money invested in the bout.

From John Burnett regarding the above post So much for the fabled British organizational skills and stiff upper lip. Sadly, I think they should let him in. This fight has been scheduled and hyped for months, tickets sold, and they are trying to bar the door at this late date. I never thought I would be siding with Mike. I'm not opposed, however, to have him under 24-hour-a-day "house arrest" or "armed guard" designed to protect not Mike, but the local citizenry. Unfortunately, Bobbies don't carry guns. This sounds like a job for Bond--James Bond.

From the BBC US heavyweight Mike Tyson will be allowed to enter the UK despite his rape conviction, the Home Office has said. Home Secretary Jack Straw made the decision because of the "exceptional circumstances" of the case and the huge sums at stake. The move comes after fears of a high-profile stand-off with the duty immigration officer at Heathrow airport when Tyson arrives in London on Sunday for a fight. The government stepped in after criticism by immigration officials that it had failed to take a leading role and use its discretion to end the confusion. Mr Straw said: "It would be invidious for an individual immigration officer to weigh the competing considerations involved. "I have looked very carefully at the representations that have been submitted today to the Immigration Service by Mr Frank Warren and I consider that there are exceptional circumstances that justify my decision." Mr Warren, the fight's promoter, had handed over a 67-page dossier arguing for Tyson to be allowed to enter the UK. Mr Straw said the cancellation of Tyson's bout with Julius Francis in Manchester on 29 January could have a potentially devastating effect on businesses providing services for the fight. 'Disappointment' He added: "I have also taken account of the effect on business in the Manchester area and of the inconvenience and disappointment of the many thousand members of the public who have purchased tickets for the fight." Mr Straw said he was not satisfied that the rules on people with criminal convictions entering the UK had been applied consistently in the past, and they would now be reviewed. At present under British law, anyone who has committed a crime abroad that would carry a 12-month sentence in the UK cannot enter the country unless there are "compassionate reasons". Tyson was convicted of rape in the United States in 1992 and sentenced to six years in jail. The decision ends days of confusion over who could make the decision on Tyson's entry. 'Hated worldwide' On Tuesday, Downing Street said the decision was solely for the immigration service - a position reinforced by Mr Straw on Thursday. But hours later, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman said a decision would after all be made at the Home Office before the boxer's arrival. Tyson had described the prospect of him being barred from the UK as "preposterous", adding: "I'm hated worldwide, not by the common people but by the authoritarians." The news was welcomed by Mr Warren, who said the saga had been "unnecessary and embarrassing". Julius Francis' manager, Frank Maloney, said the confusion could have been avoided "if politicians had not tried to score brownie points". Tyson will be allowed to stay in the UK until 30 January.

Norris Files Complaint Against Tyson Over Rematch NEW YORK (Reuters) - Attorneys for heavyweight boxer Orlin Norris have filed a complaint against former champion Mike Tyson, accusing him of reneging on a promise for a rematch worth $2 million to Norris. Tyson's October bout with Tyson was stopped and ruled a no-contest after the first round when Tyson knocked down his opponent well after the bell and Norris, with a swollen knee, refused to come out for the second round. The referee said the punch was unintentional. In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Norris's attorney Judd Burstein said that Tyson's manager, Shelly Finkel, had agreed that Tyson's next match would be against Norris if Norris publicly exonerated Tyson for the incident. ``Finkel informed me that he was very concerned that Mr. Tyson would be suspended or barred by the (Nevada State Athletic Commission) if Mr. Norris expressed a public view that the foul had been intentional,'' the complaint quotes Norris's manager Scott Woodworth as saying in a sworn affidavit. ``And that if Mr. Norris made the requested public statement, Mr. Norris would be granted an immediate rematch ... in December of 1999 or January of 2000,'' Woodworth said. Tyson is scheduled to fight journeyman Julius Francis on Saturday in Manchester, Britain. The complaint seeks a restraining order requiring Showtime, America Presents and Finkel to withhold payment of $2 million of Tyson's purse from Saturday's bout pending the hearing of the motion. A spokesman for Tyson in New York, Peter Seligman, said Tuesday ``there is absolutely no merit to this lawsuit,'' and pointed out that Tyson's lawyers filed a complaint in Las Vegas Friday seeking a ruling that he had no such oral agreement. The contract for Norris's Oct. 23 bout with Tyson provided Norris with a purse of $800,000, and a clause that he would receive a purse of $2 million in the event of a rematch, Norris's representatives said. They said that on the morning after the aborted bout, Finkel again requested a public statement by Norris exonerating Tyson. ``Finkel also stated unequivocally that he had secured the approval for a Tyson-Norris rematch from Mr. Tyson, America Presents Inc., Mr. Tyson's exclusive promoter, and Showtime Networks Inc.'' which has the television rights to Tyson bouts. Norris spoke to the press Oct. 24, saying he believed the foul ``to have been unintentional,'' according to the complaint. ``The defendants broke their word and contracted Tyson to another boxer,'' it said. ``Plainly Tyson is afraid to fight Norris,'' Bernstein said. ``He prefers to fight only those fights he feels sure he can win. At the rate he is going, his next opponent will be (teen pop singer) Brittany Spears.'' The NSAC ultimately ruled that Tyson could keep his $8.8 million purse from the one-round Norris bout, but one member said the controversial fighter ``should pack his bags and not fight in Las Vegas in the future.'' The commission also warned that Tyson's action would come under further scrutiny upon his bid to renew his Nevada boxing license.

Tyson in Mood to 'Kill' Francis LONDON (Reuters) - Mike Tyson is in the mood to ``kill'' Briton Julius Francis when they clash in a non-title heavyweight bout in Manchester Saturday. ``I think I'm going to kill Julius Francis. I'm ready for this fight and I want it bad,'' the former undisputed world champion said Tuesday. Tyson made his prediction on Sky Sports television, whose interviewer suggested the American meant he intended to knock his opponent out rather than kill him. ``Well, I hope he gets up if he gets knocked out,'' Tyson responded. ``But that's just the motivation I have. I just want to fight and do well.'' The controversial Tyson there were attempts to stop him coming to Britain because he had a rape conviction in the United States tried to explain that the boxer and the man were two different people. ``To my wife and children I'm Mike and daddy, but I'm Tyson here, just a freak who generates a ton of money. ``Collectively, the only thing people care about is the Tyson who is going to put on this freakshow in Manchester. No one cares about Michael personally. Where I come from I'm the piece of gum on the bottom of your shoe.'' The American has a poor recent record but pronounced himself to be ``in great shape, doing better than ever.'' Tyson agreed with the interviewer's suggestion he seemed more relaxed in England than at home. ``Your guys treat me with kid gloves compared to what they do over in the United States,'' the boxer said. ACCUSTOMED ``There's almost been a witch-hunt against me back home but I've become so accustomed to it that it doesn't affect me any more,'' Tyson said. ``I've lost all my sensitivity about being embarrassed, about being shy. When you have something in life that you want to accomplish greatly you have to be willing to give up your happiness. ``I've made a lot of mistakes in my life and hopefully I won't make as many as drastically as I did in my youth. I don't know if I'm any different now but I'm more aware and I wasn't aware as a kid of 19 with a ton of money in my pocket.'' Asked about a likely meeting with Britain's undisputed world champion Lennox Lewis, Tyson said: ``When I do meet Lewis I will knock him out. I'm better, I'm at the top of my game.'' Tyson felt such a meeting might not be too far ahead. ''Maybe at the end of the year, three or four more fights.'' The American was less certain about how long his career in the ring would continue. ``Sometimes I wake up and I want to stop tomorrow and sometimes I wake up and I want to go on for 20 more years. It depends on what kind of frame of mind I'm in,'' he said. Of his place in boxing history, Tyson said: ``The only thing that matters to me is that my peers know where I belong. ``I don't care what the trainers say about me because they never took a punch in their life.''

Promoter Discussing More Tyson Fights in Europe LONDON (Reuters) - Promoter Frank Warren is negotiating to bring former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson back to Europe for more fights. A spokesman for Warren said the Briton was in New York on Tuesday discussing arrangements with the boxer's manager, Shelly Finkel, and Jay Larkin, the head of the Showtime cable television network. British newspapers have suggested Warren is trying to line up an April 8 fight in the Italian city of Milan as well as what would be a controversial return to Britain in the summer at Cardiff's Millennium stadium. Tyson demolished British champion Julius Francis in a Warren-promoted fight in Manchester last month after the failure of attempts to keep the U.S. boxer out of the country because of his 1992 conviction for rape. Denmark and France have also been mentioned as possible venues for future Tyson fights. The boxer has a big fan base in Europe and his Manchester fight was sold out in two days. Tyson is scheduled to fight American Lou Savarese next in New Jersey on March 25 but the Guardian newspaper said on Tuesday that fight was likely to be shelved.

Oh yeah, Tyson won the last fight...sorry (for those who did not hear...)

Viloria wins U.S. Olympic Team Trials Star-Bulletin staff Waipahu's Brian Viloria won the light flyweight/106-pound division title in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday, with an 8-6 decision over Nonito Donaire of San Leandro, Calif. The 19-year-old Viloria, who captured the world amateur title last summer in Houston with a victory over 1996 gold medalist Maikro Romero of Cuba, is the favorite for the gold medal this summer in Sydney. Hawaii has not had a boxer in the Olympics since flyweight Ray Perez and bantamweight Choken Maekawa qualified for Melbourne 43 years ago. Viloria, who stands 5-foot-4, waged a close battle with Donaire throughout the Olympic Team Trials bout. He never got more than a two-point lead on his opponent. Viloria opened the fight peppering Donaire, trying to nail him with his left hook at the end of combinations. Donaire countered and waited for Viloria to make a mistake. Viloria trains on the campus of Northern Michigan at the USA Boxing Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich. His record is 26-2 since the beginning of 1999. Besides the world amateur title, Viloria last year won American titles at the National Golden Gloves, the National Amateur Boxing Championships and the U.S. Challenge, and he defeated China's national champion at the Multi-Nation Festival of Amateur Boxing (Liverpool, England).

HBO's KO targets new boxing fans NEW YORK (Variety) - HBO is trying to woo younger viewers ringside with ``KO Nation,'' a new Saturday afternoon boxing series hosted by former MTV personality Ed Lover. Oscar De La Hoya will serve as an expert analyst for the program, which will debut May 6. Created expressly to attract a new generation to boxing, ``KO Nation'' will feature cutting-edge music and dancers. The show, which will match up prizefighters from virtually every weight division, will tape at various venues, including college campuses. ``Today's boxing audience is predominantly made up of men 50-plus. 'KO Nation' will be formatted with an innovative and contemporary production style, developed to appeal to younger viewers,'' said Time Warner Sports president and CEO Seth Abraham. In addition to hosting ``KO,'' Lover best known as the former co-host of MTV's ``Yo! MTV Raps'' will also serve as the ring announcer. Fran Charles, sports anchor at New York's WNBC, will call the blow-by-blow action and Julie Lederman, daughter of HBO's ``World Championship Boxing'' judge Harold Lederman, will serve as the unofficial ringside scorer.

Former Boxing Champion Bowe Faces Sentencing CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Reuters) - Brain damage inflicted on world former heavyweight boxing champion Riddick Bowe from years in the ring was a factor in his decision to kidnap his estranged wife and children as he sought to reconcile his marriage, his psychiatrist said in court on Monday. Bowe, 32, who pleaded guilty to the February 1998 kidnapping, suffers from injuries to the frontal lobe of his brain that leave him impulsive and unable to think things out clearly, psychiatrist Neil Blumberg testified at the boxer's sentencing hearing in a Charlotte federal court. ``I think that it directly led to the behavior in question,'' Blumberg said. ``I think that these conditions directly contributed to his involvement in these offenses.'' According to prosecutors, Bowe kidnapped his estranged wife Judy Bowe and their children from their home in Cornelius, North Carolina, north of Charlotte, to take them to his home in Maryland in hopes of reconciling with his wife. He was arrested in Virginia after his wife, using Bowe's cell phone, called for help at a McDonald's restaurant. Bowe had brought along a knife, hand cuffs, pepper spray and duct tape, but witnesses said he never intended to harm his family. Instead, Blumberg said, he would have used them to subdue any men he might have found at his wife's home. Although Bowe has signed a plea agreement calling for an 18-month to 24-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen agreed to hear testimony on Bowe's mental state from the boxer's former manager and psychiatrists before handing down a sentence. Judy Bowe, who is divorcing the boxer, did not appear at the hearing. Blumberg testified she had told him she did not want Bowe sentenced to jail, but instead believed he needs counseling. Bowe defeated Evander Holyfield in November 1992 to win the undisputed world heavyweight title, but lost to Holyfield a year later. He retired after a brutal fight in December 1996 with Andrew Golota, who was ahead on points but was disqualified for punching below the belt. ``He took a severe pounding,'' longtime manager Eugene ''Rock'' Newman said, adding that he grew increasingly concerned about Bowe's inability to think rationally over the years. In 1997, Bowe lived out a lifelong dream by joining the Marine Corps, but left basic training after 10 days, saying he could not take the loss of control over his life. Blumberg said that as recently as last week, Bowe remained preoccupied with joining the Marines, and for the past two months he had been in training to resume his boxing career. ``He has this tendency, when he latches on to something, to just stick with it,'' Blumberg said. Mullen was expected to hand down a sentence on Tuesday.

Reid, Trinidad Put Undefeated Ring Records on Line LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Undefeated David Reid of the United States defends his World Boxing Association super welterweight championship against unbeaten former World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight champ Felix Trinidad of Puerto Rico on Friday. A non-sellout crowd of about 10,000 is expected to attend the 154-pound title bout scheduled for 12 rounds in a temporary outdoor arena at Caesars Palace. The reason for the anticipated turnout could have something to do with the unseasonably damp, cool and blustery weather forecast. Or it could be that the fight does not have the allure of Trinidad's recent outing against Oscar De La Hoya at least not to people who are not true boxing aficionados. But the unheralded Reid has a relatively good chance to upset Trinidad, who is considered by many, pound-for-pound, one of the top three fighters in the world today. Las Vegas oddsmakers make Trinidad only a 2 3/4-to-1 favorite, although that is up from the 2 1/4-to-1 pick he was earlier this week. ``I have all the tools to win,'' said the 26-year-old Reid, who has a record of 14-0 with seven bouts ending early and is making his third defense of the crown he won last March. ``I'm too fast, I hit too hard and I'm stronger than Trinidad. But I really think my hand speed will decide the fight. That's why I'm confident.'' Reid has vacillated between predicting a win by knockout and victory by decision. ``If I do my job there won't be a decision. I will knock him out,'' he has said. But on another occasion he said, apparently with equal conviction, ``If I were a betting man, I'd bet me to win by decision.'' ``We have to come to fight,'' said Reid's long-time manager-trainer, Al Mitchell. ``We have to get in there and fight Trinidad. If David stays disciplined and focused it's an easy win. If he doesn't, then it's going to be a long night.'' Reid may be the quicker of the two, but to answer the question of who is the stronger, harder hitter. Trinidad need only point out that 30 of his 36 fights have ended early. ``I don't know how David Reid plans to fight me,'' the 27-year-old Puerto Rican said, ``but I'll be more than happy to slug with him. Bring it to me.'' Trinidad has experience, superb boxing skills and the best right hand in the division. He had made 11 defenses of his IBF welterweight championship before Reid, a gold medal winner at 156 pounds at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, turned pro during 1997. Trinidad is taking a considerable risk by fighting Reid. If Trinidad loses the fight, he also loses his opportunity to meet De La Hoya here June 10 in a rematch that guarantees the Puerto Rican an eight-figure payday. ``If I overlooked David Reid, I wouldn't be doing my job,'' says Trinidad, who is believed to be receiving $3.5 million for this fight compared to $1.625 for the champion. ``This is a very important fight and I'm taking it very seriously.'' ``Forget about De La Hoya,'' said Trinidad's trainer and father, Don Felix. ``He has to worry about David Reid, because this is an important fight with a big risk.'' While Trinidad defeated and dethroned De La Hoya, then the WBC welterweight champion, last September, it was not his typical, stellar performance. Trinidad displayed neither his usual craftsmanship nor aggression. He had difficulty cutting off the ring and seemed more tentative than he had in years while taking a close and controversial decision. ``Felix is a good fighter,'' said Reid, who himself was knocked down by three of his past four foes. ``But Oscar exposed him. Oscar proved that he has trouble with speed. Felix comes straight in to wear you down. ``So I have to make him go backwards, and there's only one way to do that. You hit him when he comes in. I won't run from him like Oscar did. I'm going to make him respect my quickness.'' Said Trinidad: ``I'm ready for someone who I think is going to be very good and very difficult to beat. But he has something I want. That title will be mine, that's for sure.''

When asked about the fight, John volunteered: This should be a very good fight. I would not venture a prediction except to say that it would be fun to watch.

WBA May Strip Lewis of Title NEW YORK (Reuters) - The World Boxing Association (WBA) will hold a meeting Monday to decide whether to strip undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis of its version of the title. The WBA, according to one of Lewis' lawyers, says Lewis must fight its number-one contender Johnny Ruiz as a WBA mandatory defense before fighting Michael Grant as scheduled in April. Lewis won the undisputed championship last November when he outpointed Evander Holyfield in a rematch of their highly-controversial draw of a year earlier. Pat English, a lawyer representing Lewis' U.S. promoter Main Events, said Friday he will strongly object to the WBA's position at Monday's meeting in Philadelphia. English said Main Events had been told before Lewis-Holyfield II that their second fight would be considered a mandatory bout by all three of the chief sanctioning groups the WBA, World Boxing Council (WBC) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF). Usually a champion has 12 months to defend his title against the number-one contender, unless an agreement is reached for a dispensation. English said he was informed of the agreement to make Lewis-Holyfield II the mandatory by all three groups by Frank Maloney, one of Lewis' managers. English said WBC President Jose Sulaiman told Maloney of the agreement and that Main Events proceeded with the bout under that assumption, although there was no official notification that the WBA had come to such an agreement.

I asked John for his opinion on the article and he referred me to Honest Howie's rankings with the this comment: Here's the only rankings worth the money paid for them, because they were paid for by legal gamblers, not by sleazy managers looking to get their fighters a championship shot they don't deserve. Honest Howie's Top Ten: and not a Johnny Ruiz in the bunch. The only name fighter Ruiz has beaten is Tony Tucker, an over-the-hill blown up light heavyweight in 1998. Every one of the alphabet soup sanctioning "organizations" (more like "syndicates") is crooked. Honest Howie's Rankings Heavyweight Division Champion - LENNOX LEWIS 1. Ike Ibeabuchi 2. David Tua 3. Michael Grant 4. Andrew Golota 5. Oleg Maskaev 6. Hasim Rahman 7. Chris Byrd 8. Kirk Johnson 9. Evander Holyfield 10. Mike Tyson

Ask John why Ike is number one, what has this guy got going for him?

I emailed him with you question Ayala to Defend WBA Bantamweight Title LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Paulie Ayala returns to the site of his biggest victory when he defends his WBA bantamweight title against once-beaten contender Johnny Bredahl of Denmark on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Also on the card, Nestor Garza of Mexico risks his WBA super bantamweight strap against Clarence ``Bones'' Adams. Ayala (29-1, 12 KOs) rose from anonymity to stardom as he battled toe-to-toe over 12 grueling rounds with two-time division champion Johnny Tapia in June. In the thrilling war, Ayala handed Tapia his first loss as he took a razor-thin unanimous decision and won the WBA 118-pound title. Ayala returned to his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas for his first title defense and kept his belt with a hard-fought victory over durable mandatory challenger Saohin Condo of Thailand. The 29-year-old later was honored by Ring Magazine as Fighter of the Year and his memorable bout against Tapia earned Fight of the Year. Bredahl (45-1, 23 KOs), the reigning European bantamweight champion, will be looking to make the most of his second chance at a world title. In 1995, he traveled to Ireland and was stopped in the eighth round by local favorite Wayne McCullough, then the WBC bantamweight champion. In the 122-pound title fight, Garza will be hard-pressed by Adams. The once-beaten Garza (37-1, 29 KOs) won the title in a grueling battle with countryman Enrique Sanchez on December 12, 1998. He survived a first-round knockdown, dropped Sanchez in the third and slugged his way to a bloody unanimous decision. Both of Garza's title defenses have come by knockout. In his last title defense in November, Garza traveled to Japan and stopped local favorite Kozo Ishii in the 12th round. Adams has won 14 straight fights to run his record to 38-3-3 with 18 knockouts. He is ranked 11th by the WBA in the 122-pound division. The bouts will be televised by TVKO on pay-per-view beginning at 9:00 p.m. EST.

John's answer about Ike (per Terry's question): Ike is the guy nobody wants to fight. He's 6'2", 245 pounds, thickly muscled with power and excellent speed for that size. He throws far more punches than most guys that weight and they are punches with bad intentions. He has beaten the strong and talented David Tua and has knocked out the elusive Chris Byrd. Although I think Michael Grant has even better physical tools, right now nobody has put them together like Ike (with the exception, of course, of Lewis, who is effective but uninspiring). Lewis's people do not want him to meet Ike (that should tell you something). They know that a fight with Ruiz is not going to do them any good--win or lose--but they would rather face Tyson, because they know he can guarantee a crowd and a big payday, and because--outside of a lucky punch--he is not likely to put together the type of fight it takes to defeat a specimen like Lewis if it lasts the distance.

Lewis Will Shun WBA If Stripped of Title LONDON (Reuters) - Undisputed champion Lennox Lewis will never again fight for a WBA belt if the body strips him of their version of the world heavyweight title on Monday, his promoter Panos Eliades warned on Sunday. ``If he's stripped tomorrow then obviously we won't be fighting for the WBA (World Boxing Association) ever again,'' Eliades told BBC radio. He said he was not optimistic and that the Briton was prepared for the worst. ``My gut feeling is that he will be stripped but I hope that they actually prevail and do the right thing.'' Eliades said that if the WBA decided to take back the title ''there will be an almighty publicity campaign in America and the WBA will also be brought into disrepute.'' The WBA have told Lewis he must fight their number one contender Johnny Ruiz in his next mandatory defense before any other fight and have called a hearing in Philadelphia on Monday to decide what action to take next. Lewis is already scheduled to meet Michael Grant at New York's Madison Square Garden on April 29. Eliades warned that the FBI, probing alleged corruption within the International Boxing Federation (IBF), were sending two agents to the WBA meeting. ``They think they should be there to see what's going on...I think the FBI will want to look closely at the WBA now and see what they are going to do tomorrow,'' he said. LEWIS PREPARED TO FIGHT RUIZ Eliades said Lewis was willing to fight Ruiz but only after the Grant fight was out of the way. ``We are putting toward the WBA the case that they have to be sensible, boxing needs them to actually be seen to be doing justice,'' he said. ``Lennox chose to fight Michael Grant because there was no available contender for the WBA. ``We will fight Ruiz after Grant and they've got to do the right thing by boxing.'' Lewis took the undisputed heavyweight title in Las Vegas last November when he outpointed Evander Holyfield in a rematch of a controversial draw a year earlier. That fight gave him the American's WBA and IBF belts in addition to his own WBC version. Lewis had immediate problems with the IBF, who initially withheld their belt in a controversy over a $300,000 sanctioning fee for the fight and declared the IBF title vacant. An agreement was worked out between Lewis's lawyers and the IBF, whose president Bob Lee is facing charges of taking bribes to fix world rankings and secure bouts. Lee and three other defendants say they are innocent of charges. Eliades said he was concerned that the influence of Don King, who promotes Ruiz and who he said had taken legal action against him over the WBA affair, might prevent any agreement being reached to enable Lewis to keep the belt. ``What worries me is that there are two very strong associates of Don King that are sitting on the council tomorrow,'' he said. ``It doesn't suit the WBA or Don King for Lennox to have the belts.''

WBA Could Decide to Strip Lewis This Week PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Lennox Lewis could learn this week whether the World Boxing Association (WBA) will strip him of its version of the heavyweight title, ending his reign as the world's undisputed champion. At a 4-1/2 hour hearing in a hotel ballroom Monday, WBA officials heard testimony from a half-dozen witnesses, including promoter Don King, regarding Lewis's failure to make his next mandatory defense against the association's No. 1 contender, Johnny Ruiz. ``Fight or vacate the crown,'' King, who represents several WBA contenders, said in describing what he claims to be Lewis's only choice under association rules. ``That's what the deal is today, as we speak.'' WBA Championships Committee Chairman Elias Cordova of Panama later said through an interpreter that seven committee members would reach a decision on whether to strip Lewis of its crown ''within a few days.'' If the WBA strips its title from him, Lewis will never fight for a WBA belt again, his promoter Panos Eliades told BBC radio Sunday. ``My gut feeling is that he will be stripped, but I hope that they actually prevail and do the right thing,'' Eliades said. Lewis has held the heavyweight belts from the three major worldwide boxing organizations the WBA, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) since capturing the WBA and IBF titles from Evander Holyfield last November. The British fighter has not faced a WBA contender since, but has scheduled an April 29 bout with highly-regarded American Michael Grant at New York's Madison Square Garden as part of a multimillion-dollar deal with cable-TV channel Home Box Office. A Grant representative asked the WBA panel Monday to sanction next month's fight as a WBA title bout. Meanwhile, Lewis attorney Patrick English said the WBA had no legitimate contender until two weeks ago, when Ruiz was elevated to No. 1 status. Backers of former WBA top contender Henry Akinwande have disclosed in a New York lawsuit that the fighter suffers from cirrhosis of the liver as a result of a hepatitis B infection and that he has been taking the drug interferon for six months. The Lewis camp said the champion could fight Ruiz three months after his bout with Grant. ``We've offered to do a Ruiz fight in July. It's the quickest we can do it,'' English told the WBA officials. But Ruiz attorney Anthony Cardinale said if the April Lewis-Grant bout is allowed to go ahead as planned, it would deny his client the championship challenge he deserves under WBA rules should Lewis lose to Grant. ``I plead to the WBA that it would be an honor for me to fight for their belt and I will be a champion for them,'' the Puerto Rican-born Ruiz said.

Women's boxing becoming a real joke by Tim Graham (ESPN.com) This is turning into a joke, even by boxing's comical standards. And it doesn't show any indication of improving. Women's boxing of late. (Rim shot here). Only a couple years ago, there was a foundation of legitimacy in women's boxing. Laid by talented ladies like Christy Martin, Lucia Rijker, Sumya Anani and Kathy Collins, the base seemed in place. It wasn't implausible the sport one day might be mentioned in the same breath as basketball or tennis. Now it sadly may have gone past the farcical point of no return. Women's boxing is turning into the most shameless one-on-one athletic combat exhibition since the advent of cockfighting. Compared to women's boxing, American Gladiators is off the respectability chart. Over the weekend, 38-year-old Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, the daughter of Joe Frazier, turned pro. Keeping in mind her father retired when he was 37 because he felt his days were through, Frazier-Lyde showed skill comparable to a preschooler in a playground scuffle. Frazier-Lyde scored an embarrassing first-round technical knockout when her opponent turned her back to avoid some less-than-spectacular punches. As expected, Frazier-Lyde immediately challenged Laila Ali, another boxing novice who happens to have bloodlines of a legend. They probably will make a lot of money for their matchup of mockery. Sadly, it's the only reason they took the sport up. Oh, yeah. The daughters of Archie Moore and Roberto Duran also want to fight. And let's not forget the other cadre of commercialized boxing ladies out there: the sex symbols. Mia St. John is the poster girl for that group. Meanwhile, the respectable talents of Martin, Rijker, Anani, et. al. go unappreciated. "It's women capitalizing on their father's names or their sexuality and not going out there and doing what some of the other women have done," Rijker's manager, Stan Hoffman, says. "These are women who spent years and years learning their trade like the guys do. These women paid their dues and can seriously fight." Martin was the first to prove it to a widespread audience. She started captivating global audiences on Mike Tyson undercards -- usually upstaging the main event -- and she eventually appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But what promoters and most fight fans saw wasn't a chance to celebrate women in sports. They saw dollar signs. They had found another way to make money off a woman's body, and fans had discovered a new form of cheap entertainment. Why did Bob Arum forego former client Rijker, inarguably the most talented female fighter in the world, to pick up St. John, a woman who knows more about T&A than TKOs? Because St. John, a woman who will get seriously hurt and probably disfigured if she ever were to fight anyone with talent, was relatively inexpensive and was more marketable with her nude modeling past. Arum, with sexual innuendo and double entendre one-liners at his press conferences, doesn't conceal his reasoning. "Bob Arum himself said to me, 'People like to see her rear end. That's why they come,' " Hoffman says. And Arum was financially -- if not morally -- right. St. John appeared on the cover of Playboy last year, an honor that garnered more attention than Martin received for being on SI. Yes, Katarina Witt also appeared on the cover of Playboy and Steffi Graf was featured prominently in SI's swimsuit issue. But they were world-class athletes long before. They didn't need to display themselves for validation, while Arum and St. John must use her body to drive ticket sales. Arum and others of his ilk are selling sex over skill, flesh over athleticism. And in that regard they can be likened to pimps. Promoters easily can be viewed as such when it comes to male boxing, too. But the fact of the matter is, male boxing isn't always a spectacle, while female boxing has turned into nothing more. "It really disturbs me," says Hoffman, who also manages WBA middleweight champion William Joppy, former IBF middleweight and super middleweight champ James Toney and heavyweight contender Hasim Rahman. "Sexism rears its ugly head." There is a beautiful art to behold even when two anonymous men go toe-to-toe in a smoke-filled auditorium. The crowd admires the spirit, the skill, the will not only to win but to survive one more round. Women boxers could be enjoying that same art. And if people think they do, they're only fooling themselves because most are watching not for the appreciation of the sport, but for the titillating amusement. Remember the male vs. female bout in Seattle last year? The dog and the pony must have had the night off. Most people watch only to laugh. Right now, no one's giving us any other reason.

Send Page Friday - 18:24 03/17/2000, EST Tyson to Box Savarese, Milan Braces for 'Mike Mania' MILAN (Reuters) - Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will fight American Lou Savarese in Milan May 20 in what promoters vowed Friday would be a more even contest than his four-minute demolition of Julius Francis. ``This is a fight Tyson can't afford to lose,'' said Frank Warren, who promoted Tyson's fight against Britain's Francis in Manchester in January. ``Savarese has a good record and he knows this is a good opportunity to upset the odds. I think Tyson, from what I've seen in the gym and in England, is in top shape. He will continue on his march to regain the world title.'' Warren conceded that Francis ``wasn't the greatest opponent'' for Tyson on his European debut and promised that the encounter with Savarese ``will be a great treat for boxing fans.'' Savarese's record is 39-3 with 32 knockouts. In his last fight in June last year he lost on points to Michael Grant who is challenging Lennox Lewis for the unified world heavyweight titles April 29. Promoters of the Milan fight said they expect a repeat of the ``Mike Mania'' that gripped England ahead of his January fight when Tyson hogged the front and back pages of the British press. WELL-SUITED IN MILAN Tyson insisted that his latest fight be held in Milan so he could spend time shopping at the fashion capital's chic boutiques, said Warren. ``Mike loves Milan and he's really looking forward to coming back here,'' he added. The boxer's Manchester fight was sold out in two days and the 10,000 tickets for his Milan contest, which go on sale next week, are likely to be snapped up just as quickly. Ringside tickets are already being priced at a reported 1,000 pounds ($1,570), twice the cost for his Manchester fight. Tyson has said he would like to return to the United States and fight undisputed champion Lewis, but Warren said his managers would like to have him fight a few more times in Europe first. ``Tyson's return to the U.S. will be decided after this fight,'' he said. Warren said Tyson, who has won 47 of his 51 bouts, would arrive in Italy 10 days before the fight for training. He declined to comment on the purses for the fight, which will be broadcast in 120 countries.

Viloria can lockck up U.S. Olympic berth this week By Pat Bigold Star-Bulletin Brian Viloria can officially become the first Hawaii athlete to claim an Olympic boxing berth in 43 years this week. Having already won the 106-pound Olympic team trials and a qualifying box-off, all he has to do is finish runner-up at the North American qualifier tournament in Tampa, Fla., which began today. It's an exercise to thin the ranks of the crowded 2000 Sydney Olympics boxing field. Viloria is expected to ease through the test against boxers he's already beaten. While relaxing in his hotel room on Friday, he told the Star-Bulletin that he finally feels like a complete boxer. "The right hand is coming on and the jabs are coming," Viloria said. "Every combination I throw is crisp, hard punches. "My body punches are getting stronger. As a boxer, I'm just becoming stronger." Viloria has been getting to bed by 10 p.m. and gets up before dawn every day to run five miles. He prefers to have five snacks a day rather than three meals. He is also avoiding sweets and fried foods. And alcohol? Forget it. "I don't see what satisfaction you get from drinking," said Viloria. "My satisfaction is coming out on top and reaching the goals I set out to reach." When he's bored, he goes out to a mall to buy a novel, plays the guitar or writes music. Viloria, who owns a lap-top computer, also taught himself to create his own website. "But I'm going to study more about HTML and go back to improve it," he said. Staying out of trouble has never been a problem for Viloria, whose Olympic journey began a few days after he graduated with honors from Waipahu High in 1998. "I never had a graduation party," he said. He was bound immediately for the nationals. Viloria's travels have taken him all over the world, but last year was his most eventful. He beat Cuba's 1996 gold medalist Maikro Romero for the world amateur title last August in Houston. Viloria won American titles at the National Golden Gloves, the National Amateur Boxing Championships and the U.S. Challenge. He also defeated China's national champion at the Multi-Nation Festival of Amateur Boxing in Liverpool, England). Success hasn't changed Viloria, according to close friend and former sparring partner, Arthur Valeriano. Valeriano met Viloria at Waipahu High and stays in touch with him via email when he's away. "No matter how good he gets and no matter how many titles he claims, he'll be the same Brian I met in history class," Valeriano said. "The way he presents himself in the ring and outside the ring, there's perfect balance." Viloria, a broadcast journalism student at Northern Michigan University, said he likes to meet and converse with students. When he came back to the islands last month after winning the Olympic team box-off in Connecticut, he made visits to local schools, including his alma mater. On a visit to talk with Filipino immigrant youngsters at Radford High, he said one student asked if he gets mad when he's in the ring. It was the right question. "No, I try to be a controlled fighter rather than a wild, angry fighter," Viloria said. "You have to be cool in the ring, show a poker face. If you hurt somewhere, you can't show it." Having already beaten Cuba's best fighter for the world belt, and being the personal student of former U.S. Olympic boxing coach Al Mitchell, Viloria knows his chance of medaling at Sydney is considered golden. But he refuses to get comfortable, not even during the qualifier. "I know it won't come to me," Viloria said. "I have to just go out there and take it myself."

This is Jon Saraceno's most recent column, originally appearing Monday, Jan. 18 Tyson's win is a 1-punch blunder LAS VEGAS - Just think about this for a moment. The man they used to call "Iron" Mike Tyson, the furious little ring toughie who once blasted fighters out of Nevada's 702 area code, almost got his from a heavyweight named Francois. Last time we checked, South Africa was elbow-deep in the diamond business, but it wasn't exactly minting heavyweight champs. Tyson, meanwhile, looks like a worn-out penny in the ring. Nothing against Botha (or his parents), but, seriously, when was the last time you heard a blow-in-your-doors heavyweight named Francois? Sounds like someone who whips up souffl�s at a French bistro in South Beach. Saturday night, he mostly creamed Tyson, until that disastrous fifth round when Botha stuck his chin out and the slugger cracked it like an egg. Before that? Tyson almost made Botha look like what some well-meaning but misinformed South African boxing fans call him: the "white Muhammad Ali." Here was a marginally talented fighter taunting and humiliating the self-destructing ring bully. Hands down, chin out. Smacking and demoralizing the once-indestructible champ. Backing him up. Abusing him. Calling him names. And, all the while, executing the perfect recipe for victory, one first deployed by James "Buster" Douglas nearly a decade ago in Tokyo. Jab, move slightly, right hand, hold, smother and frustrate. For a little seasoning, just add a few dirty clubs to Tyson's skull while in clinches. There was Tyson, panicking and desperate. Swinging wildly and bleeding. Doubting himself and everything in his world. Losing the first round, then attempting to break Botha's arm by locking it up and attempting to snap it like a dry twig. An ugly but brief ring melee ensued. Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada commission, said, "It was very scary for me at the end of the first round." Tyson lost the second round, then the third. And the fourth. Even the fifth. Well, most of the fifth. Then it was hello, Francois, goodbye chin. Botha couldn't have fallen into a straight hand any cleaner had he choreographed it for the World Wrestling Federation. Tyson's camp knew Botha had a bad habit of dropping his left, and sure enough, he didn't let them down. "I just walked into a punch," he said. "I really thought it was going to be an easy fight after a while. I just got careless." Tyson, meanwhile, has far graver concerns. The heavyweight division is so happy it needs a drool rag. It's open season on Tyson, and don't think the guy doesn't know it. Trainer Tommy Brooks and adviser Shelly Finkel and the fighter tried to cover their tracks to preserve future pay-per-view buys. At the gate, the public appears either suspicious, fed up or both. The crowd of 12,000 included thousands of casino-purchased tickets. Ticket sales were so slow that the MGM Grand ended up dumping 200-plus tickets to employees for $16. Even those who don't know a left hook from a barbed hook can see the Tyson of '99 cannot even imitate the Tyson of '89. "There was a tremendous amount of rust," Tyson said. Rust? He looked corroded. Like a '73 Toyota Corolla. It's not just that his skills have eroded. Tyson was, as he admitted, "gun-shy." His once-unshakable confidence has evaporated. More gym sessions won't return what Tyson has lost forever, the reflex action to fight without having to think about every movement. For a fighter, that's like losing the elasticity in your socks. Once it's gone, it's gone. Then everything falls.

TYSON FIGHT POSTPONED Mike Tyson's planned fight in Milan against fellow American Lou Savarese has been postponed until at least June and might be moved, according to Tyson's manager. Shelly Finkel met with Tyson in Las Vegas to discuss reports that the former heavyweight champion was out of shape and not training. The Italy fight, which had been originally scheduled for April 8, had already been delayed until May 20 and will be pushed back again. http://www.pa.press.net/sport/BOXING_Tyson_104271.html?pab161

He needs to hire Stacey as his trainer.

He needs serious mental work before he can think of body work, I think.

Yep.

Viloria going to Olympics He is the first Olympic fighter from Hawaii in 44 years Waipahu light flyweight Brian Viloria this morning became the state's first Olympic fighter in 44 years as he overwhelmed two-time Olympian Domenic Filane of Canada, with a 10-2 decision, in the semifinals of the Central American qualifer in Tijuana . . .

Grant Prepares for Lewis at His Best NEW YORK (Reuters) - Michael Grant couldn't care less about Lennox Lewis's mistakes. It's what the Briton does correctly that interests Grant as he gets ready to try to take away Lewis's heavyweight titles next week. Surprisingly, Grant said in a conference call Thursday from his New Bern, N.C., training camp that he hasn't watched any tapes of Lewis bloopers as the two men get ready to fight April 29 in Madison Square Garden for Lewis's World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation titles. And there have been a few fights and rounds that would not make a Lewis highlight reel. Lewis was knocked out by journeyman Oliver McCall in 1994 in the second round. More recently Shannon Briggs stunned the big Briton in the first round of their 1998 fight, but Briggs punched himself out, got sloppy and Lewis went on to stop him. And there have other rounds and other fights when Lewis looked less than a world beater. But the 27-year-old Grant isn't looking to build his confidence by banking on Lewis making the same mistakes. In the 10 weeks of training for the biggest fight of his life, Grant said, ``I didn't look for his mistakes. I looked for how he was winning his fights. I was looking for his strengths to see what it is and, you know, how to get out of it.'' He said he has learned that Lewis, 34, is strong and a good athlete and he likes his right hand. The 6-6 Lewis figures to weigh in at roughly the same 250 pounds as the 6-7 Grant. But when pressed for specifics of what Lewis does best, Grant (31-0) was vague, maybe by design. ``His strengths, his strengths, his strengths,'' Grant thought out loud, ``Uh, his style, he carries himself back in the lean position. He uses his athletic ability.'' Grant was quick to pay Lewis respect, saying, ``I don't think I can take anything from the guy. I can stop him from using it. I can stop him from executing.'' Grant said his plan is to ``pressure the guy and take him the full 12 rounds. When you put pressure on a guy sometimes he pretty much doesn't want any part of that. You have to impose your will on that person. I will develop a pace he's not accustomed to,'' Grant said, adding that the pressure is designed to limit Lewis's chances to think. Lewis (35-1-1) has been criticized, particularly by his trainer, Emanuel Steward, for thinking too much in the ring, for taking his love of chess and its contemplation into the ring. Grant said he is completely over his last fight in November when Andrew Golota knocked him down twice in the first round and dominated him for most of the fight before Grant stopped him. ``I was shaken a little bit and was laughing. I couldn't believe I was knocked down.'' Grant finally caught Golota in the 10th round, knocking him down. Golota quickly got up and did not appear to be hurt seriously. But he quit. From that fight Grant said he learned not to take people for granted. ``I got too cocky at some point going into the fight,'' he said. ``I learned patience gives you experience ... I learned about life.'' Steward said earlier this week he didn't see anything other than the right hand that was particularly impressive from Grant in the Golota fight. ``It really didn't prove much,'' Steward said, because ``when things get tough Golota doesn't want to fight.'' Perhaps most significant, Grant learned the importance of keeping his hands up. He worked continuously in camp on that boxing basic. The drill was that if let his guard down he had to start the round over again. Grant is not worried about working on his power against Lewis. It's already there.

Hi y'all. Long time, no see! I can honestly say that I read every post in this topic and loved it! John Burnett, if I lived anywhere near you (and hadn't already had my life quota of concussions), i'd take up boxing and you'd be my coach... Back to the topic on women boxers... I watched a fight last night on Showtime, Laila Ali vs Christina King, a 4 round slaughter. Ali has obviously been training, she was buff and very focused and used King as a speed bag for the entire 4 rounds. King, a supposed 3 time "Tough Woman" champion, fought...well, like a girl. And was pulverized for her trouble. She was flabby, slow, had no training, and bad motor skills. I think the only think she could kill would be a six-pack. The comments entered earlier on by Marcia (I think) are pretty much on point. The weight classes seem to each have one or two at best talented women then the rest have no business in the ring. The really talented ones probably will never meet due to disparity in size, i.e Martin fights in the 140 weight class and Ali in the 160 weight class. That and The promoters... the fact that even in mens boxing the current champions fight a bunch of losers to build up their record while the fans wait for that one truly inspirational match-up to come around. I'm quite the idealist. I hope for the day when boxers like Tyson will be banned for life, and jailed for assault and the boxers like De la Hoya will be the norm. I wonder... if womens boxing is contested at the Olympic level, will more talented, better trained boxers will be produced?

Aloha, Gena. I forwarded John your post. You just might make his day! I am delighted to see you posting again. Excellent comments on the fight. I knoly heard it disected by sports reporters, but they did not like it - not her, though. Just the contender she was boxing. Tyson does nothing for the sport and everything for purient interests. I'm with you! I'll let you know what John says when he gets a moment to comment. He is working on his Masters Thesis and for the duration is avoiding Spring.

Olympic level boxing might be the ONLY way to make women's boxing a viable and credible sport.

hey!Lookee what I found! It's a site all about womens AMATUER boxing... http://www.usaboxing.org/womens.htm It also lists what is required for it to become an Olympic contest.

Ooh...You did! Shall go there and hunt up the answers to the questions you asked in email - if you don't beat me to it *grin*

From John in answer to Gena's comment: (Gena): I wonder... if womens boxing is contested at the Olympic level, will more talented, better trained boxers will be produced? Gena: The answer is undoubtedly yes. If women's boxing became an Olympic sport, there would be a much better international amateur infrastructure to support them and all gyms who accept amateur males for training would have to do the same for women as well. More trainers would get involved with women fighters. Weight class difference would not be a reason to keep Christy Martin (or anyone else within 20 lbs.) from fighting Ali, if the money and billing was right. The match could be made if a contract could be agreed upon. Martin is still a more experienced and better skilled fighter. Ali does have a great deal of natural genetic talent. She is also obviously getting excellent training. For a person with her limited time in the ring, she is quite well schooled and with continued motivation and barring injury, she will only get better. I love watching GOOD women fighters. I don't recommend professional boxing, however, for anyone, male or female, who has a decent education and middle class opportunities. I would also hate to see Leila Ali's lovely face defaced. She's a beauty, and as a (sometimes chauvinistic) red-blooded heterosexual male, I appreciate that as much as I do her talent.

O.K. John... Lets do a "tale of the tape" like the big commentators do it. The match is, hmmm, Lucia Rijker vs Leila Ali (I'm giving you two "lookers") Granted, Rijker has held several martial arts titles, the latest of which were in kickboxing (4 different world titles), but what the hey. So, let's also give Ali another year of preperation. Now let's also make it a real match, at least 10 rounds, televised. Ali: 5'10'' 165 lbs Rijker: ?? in the 'up to 140 lbs' class (IFBA) (Same as Martin, who by the way, refuses to fight Rijker) check out http://sportsplacement.com/lucia.htm for a write up on Rijker. I find it interesting that one of her nicknames is 'Lady Ali' Who wins? can we petition somebody to get this fight for real?

From John in response to Gena O.K. You probably know more about it than I do, because I don't go out of my way to look for women's bouts...I usually only see those that are on undercards of a main event featuring men. I have seen Rijker fight, though, and she is special, although about 20 pounds lighter than Ali. She is too skilled and experienced for Ali at this point. Ali would need the year of serious training and "tune-up" bouts. Most of the good fighters are in lower weight classes than Ali. Other fights that would make sense for Laila Ali (you spelled it right the first time, then I misspelled it "Hawaiian style) would be Trina Ortegon for Ortegon's IFBA middleweight (160 pounds) title (again Ali would need about a year's seasoning)...or Sandra Reihart (rated #1 junior middleweight, 154 pounds). Dakota Stone (#3 junior middle IFBA) would also make a good matchup for Ali...good skills, moderate but not overwhelming power). The IFBA junior middleweight title is vacant...I don't know if Ali can lose the 7-8 pounds necessary or if that would interest her. What the promoters really want is kind of a round-robin "Daughters of the Legends" tournament. Freeda Foreman (beautiful woman, laughable boxing skills, I'm surprised she's not a "Georgianne" or "Georgette"), Jacqui Frazier-Lyde...crude mauler, 7-11 defense (open all night), and J'Marie "Lady Mongoose" Moore, daughter of legendary light-heavyweight champion Archie "Mongoose" Moore. Moore is heavier than Ali, fights light-heavy (175 pounds, which by the way was MY division over a quarter-century ago). She is also beautiful (men WILL watch) and has noticeable boxing skills (no one will laugh). That may be really the best fight for Ali. Give her a year of serious training, though, and I think she will be ready for anyone. Good jab, keeps her hands up in good defensive position, is confident but less of a hot dog than Dad was, values her pretty face and does her best to keep it from getting hit (boxing is ultimately the art of hitting and not getting hit). As for Rijker-Ali...Rijker would only do it if there was big money involved. Ali could gain more respect with a win over Rijker despite the size difference because of Rijker's obvious skills (pound for pound, probably the best at this moment). The only thing there would be in it for Rijker would be money. She would be giving up a lot of size, but she has excellent power and great fighting instincts. I don't know about petitioning promoters (their only interest is usually self-interest). If Martin doesn't want to fight Rijker, her opportunities in her weight class is limited as Rijker has the IFBA belt (the most respected belt in the women's fight game). I'd still like to see Martin-Ali or Stone-Ali. Moore-Ali might actually be the best fight, but the "Daughters of Legends" hype has a certain odoriferous quality to it, good fight possibility or not. BTW, Gena, you are welcome to e-mail me anytime: beaufordb@hotmail.com.

Lewis Lighter Than Grant for Heavyweight Title Bout NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lennox Lewis weighed in at 247 pounds and Michael Grant was 250 pounds Thursday for their heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden Saturday. Lewis, 34, was five pounds heavier than he was for his last fight in November against Evander Holyfield when he won the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. The 27-year-old Grant (31-0) weighed 252 pounds last November when he came back from a beating and two knockdowns in the first round to knock down Andrew Golota in the 10th and win when Golota quit. A crowd of about 300 people watched the weigh-in outside Madison Square Garden. A contingent of British fans cheered their hero who weighed in first. When Grant, wearing stylishly thin-rimmed eyeglasses, stepped on the scales he was greeted with a smattering of boos. The 35-1-1 Lewis, who will earn about $10 million to Grant's estimated $4 million, will defend only the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation titles on Saturday. A recent court order effectively stripped Lewis of the World Boxing Association title. The court ruled that Lewis violated an agreement he had with promoter Don King to fight the group's No. 1 contender and said if he fought Grant the WBA's No. 5 contender it could not be for the WBA title. The WBA originally had sanctioned Grant to fight Lewis. Grant is ranked No. 2 by the WBC and the IBF.

Grant is the real number 2 right? How did John Burnett's rankings go?

From John in response to Terry's question: I thought I had given plenty of thought to that one. Grant still looks too raw. He could get lucky, but the last time Lewis got careless in a fight was when he lost to Oliver McCall in 1994. Lewis is a big hitter and capable of one punch K.O.s. Grant is more of a clubbing puncher. I'll take Lewis by late (10-12 round KO) or decision. I'm a notoriously terrible prognosticator, though. There's no way I would put my money where my fingers are on it.

From John regarding Grant's claim to Number 2 ranking: Grant's a legitimate #2, and I think he may be a legitimate champion in a few years, but right now, you can bet Lewis's folks are glad they have Grant in front of him instead of Ike Ibeabuchi.

Lewis-Grant Bout Trainers End Their Feud NEW YORK (Reuters) - There was a time when the two veteran fight trainers could not be trusted to be in the same room with each other, let alone to sit down and share jokes, without the threat of mayhem. But these days, as their boxers prepare for their heavyweight title fight Saturday, Don Turner, who guides challenger Michael Grant, and Emanuel Steward, Lennox Lewis's gym guru, seem to have put their disdain for each other on hold. They even sat down together for interviews with reporters this week. That's not to say that Turner wouldn't relish finally having one of his fighters beat a Steward fighter, especially Lewis. Turner has gone up against Lewis and Steward three times and has come away with very good paydays but no bragging rights. Lewis made that very point the other day in reaction to a Turner quote that Lewis was a good fighter when coming in but far from great when back-peddling. That, added to other disparaging remarks by Turner before other fights, prompted Lewis, a 12-5 favorite in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, to beat Grant, to say that Turner ``is just batting zero right now. Three strikes and you're out.'' Lewis was referring to Turner losing to Lewis with both Henry Akinwande and Evander Holyfield. Actually Turner's record is 0-2-1 against Lewis, who fought to a highly controversial draw with Holyfield in their first fight last March in Madison Square Garden. Turner has not risen to the bait as he might have just a few months ago and even defended the British champion. ``You hear that Michael has more guts than Lennox. I don't buy that. It's the way he fights. Sometimes (Lewis) fights too economically for the public to accept. But he's a two-time champion and an (Olympic) champ, and you don't get that because you can't fight.'' Turner says his anger toward Steward stems from Steward's attempt to steal a fighter from him several years ago. Steward would not discuss the issue publicly, instead focusing on his own impressive accomplishments, which include working with a long list of champions. Steward, the founder of Detroit's famous Kronk gym, guided journeyman Oliver McCall to a second-round knockout of Lewis in 1994, the only defeat for the world champion. That was the fight that finally convinced Lewis's camp that they needed a change and they hired Steward. Steward was something of a culture shock for the members of the insular Lewis camp who are fearful of outsiders, especially those who aren't pom-pom waving cheerleaders for the their fighter. Such adulation, Steward said, was not doing Lewis any good. It's important ``to be real with him,'' Steward said earlier this week. ``Other guys tell him what he wants to hear. I'm telling him more negative things than positive things.'' That approach has miffed some of Lewis's long-time counselors. But they bow to Steward's insistent and successful methods, which includes teaching Lewis better footwork, which was ``terrible'' says Steward when he first began working with the Briton. Even now with Lewis a world champion, Steward says he emphasizes proper balance more than anything else in camp. Another change Steward says he made was ``to bring in quality sparring partners, young undefeated fighters, not guys he can beat up.'' Steward has had a long campaign for Lewis to be much more aggressive and meaner, to use his impressive 6-5 size, excellent, if often lazy, jab and powerful right hand for spectacular victories instead of doing just enough to win. Steward said he keeps his own score as the fight progresses and ``I tell the boxer the score. I'm always very honest with the fighter.'' In the first Holyfield fight, ``I knew (the judge) they brought in to give Evander the advantage,'' Steward said, adding that he told Lewis in the late rounds that he had to be more aggressive to win. ``The rest of the corner was upset with me pushing him. If I hadn't he wouldn't have gotten the draw,'' Steward said. Turner, a former average welterweight and middleweight from Cincinnati, worked with former champion Larry Holmes toward the end of his career before he got his big break when Holyfield hired him for his first fight with Mike Tyson. Turner, who never seems to be far from a smile that lands somewhere between bemusement and a smirk, had his greatest moment as a trainer when Holyfield won the World Boxing Association title in one of the biggest upsets ever. Turner, of course, is looking for another big upset and says his 6-7 fighter also at 250 pounds is just three pounds heavier than Lewis has the strength, desire and athleticism to beat Lewis, who at 34 is seven years older than Grant. One upset already went into the books when the two trainers buried their feud this week.

Forwarded to me by John: Ibeabuchi not competent to stand trial Associated Press LAS VEGAS -- Former heavyweight contender Ike Ibeabuchi will spend time in a state mental health facility before facing charges he sexually assaulted an outcall dancer who was sent to his hotel room. Over Ibeabuchi's objections, a judge ruled that he should be sent to a state facility for mentally ill offenders until doctors determine he is competent to stand trial. The ruling came late Wednesday after three doctors interviewed Ibeabuchi to see if he understood the charges against him. "He doesn't share the same reality as the rest of us in this courtroom," Dr. Thomas Bittker told District Judge Joseph Bonaventure. Ibeabuchi, considered one of the top heavyweight title contenders before his arrest, at first refused to acknowledge the judge in the courtroom. But he nodded his head when asked if he would agree to be interviewed by the doctors. Ibeabuchi told the judge he did not want to be sent to Lakes Crossing, the state's facility in Sparks, Nev., for the mentally ill. "I'm not suffering from any psychological or mental ailment," he said. Ibeabuchi, 26, faces multiple felony charges stemming from the incident last July at the Mirage involving the dancer, who testified earlier that she was sexually assaulted after she was sent to strip for him in his room. Bittker said two hours of talking to Ibeabuchi showed he had an overwhelmingly narcissistic personality that prevents him from perceiving others' point of view. He said the boxer has some paranoia and does not grasp the relationship between behavior and consequences. Bonaventure ordered doctors at Lakes Crossing to keep Bittker apprised of Ibeabuchi's treatment. "I'm going to try to get you back as soon as possible so we can clean up this matter," he told the boxer. Ibeabuchi had to be removed from the courtroom during an appearance after his arrest when he became unruly. He did not display the same attitude in his latest appearance, although he made his points with force. "My life is already messed up, and I don't care which way it goes from now on," he said. Ibeabuchi, a native of Nigeria, was 20-0 with 15 knockouts and ranked No. 2 by the IBF when he was arrested.

Long Live the King by John Burnett Lennox Lewis bounced Michael Grant like a beach ball in a 2nd round kayo. Three kmockdowns in the first round (right cross, two right uppercuts) and a right uppercut coup-de-grace in the second round. This was not beautiful. It was also not boring or uninspring. Grant, after having dissed Lewis in a pre-fight press conference ("suspect chin," "suspect body," "suspect haircut"), and having eschewed boxing (he's crude, but he can box at a rudimentary level) went right after Lewis. It played perfectly into Lewis's hands. No one else has as much one-punch power as Lewis, and few have been more reluctant than he has in the past to use it. Lewis's trainer, Emanuel Steward, said that the fight plan would be to use Grant's aggressiveness against him. That worked to perfection. With Ike out of the picture, at least for the time being, David Tua is probably the best challenger out there. Johnny Ruiz is going to have to impress someone else besides the WBA if he is going to get a shot. I certainly didn't see Grant winning this fight, but I didn't think he'd be stupid enough to give it away when there are things he could've done (and didn't) to make it a competitive fight. But after Grant recuperated from an early beating at the hands of Andrew Golota to take a 10th round TKO the low-blow Pole, Lewis commented, "I'm not Andrew Golota. If I get him into trouble, I'll finish him." And finish him he did.

From John Burnett: From Sports Illustrated (May 15, 2000, p.24) Last week in New York City, Lennox Lewis lost his WBA heavyweight title belt even while knocking out Michael Grant, Lewis was stripped of the title for failing to first fight the WBA's leading challenger, John Ruiz, whom most experts agree shouldn't rank among the top five heavyweights. Meanwhile, across the Hudson, IBF president Bob Lee and three colleagues were standing trial in U.S. District Court on racketeering charges for allegedly accepting $338,000 to rig their sanctioning body's rankings. If you have soured on the sweet science and its depraved rankings systems, you may want to visit http://www.Boxingranks.com Last week the site unveiled what it says will be a monthly boxing writers' poll, ranking the top 10 fighters in all 17 pro weight classes. "We hope to establish the boxing rankings like the college football rankings," says the site's founder (Honest) Howie Sirota, a Wall Street lawyer and a boxing fan," and Don King can't buy the writers, certainly not as easily as he can the alphabet-soup governing bodies." Thus far the site's Boxing Writers' Ranking Poll has 25 members, including such venerable ringside pundits as Bill Gallo of the New York Daily News, author Pete Hamill, George Kimball of the Boston Herald, HBO commentators Larry Merchant and Jack Newfield, and Wallace Matthews of the New York Post, none of whom are compensated for voting. Old habits die hard, though. At a press conference last week Matthews remarked, "O.K., I'm voting. Send the graft." --John Walters (I wish they'd rank the Top 20. J.B.)

After John and I exchanged email about boxing and my missing the point, I went into http://www.Boxingranks.com/Departments/monthly_boxing_writers_poll.htm to see what they were talking about. If these writers can stay clean (no payoff for their votes) it surely would be worth while to have some reliable way of measuring one contender against the rest in his category.

Panama's Duran Puts Back Record June Bout PANAMA CITY, Panama (Reuters) - Veteran Panama boxer Roberto ``Hands of Stone'' Duran broke training on Thursday to announce that his record-breaking June bout against Pat Lawlor had been put back two weeks to June 16. Duran and Lawlor were due to meet on June 3, in a twelve-round rematch for the vacant National Boxing Association (NBA) super-middleweight belt, but the fight was put back to accommodate backers. ``We made a contract with CBS television, and they wanted us to change the fight to June 16 for publicity reasons in the U.S.,'' Duran told Reuters at a Panama City press conference. The bout, which falls on Duran's 49th birthday, is set to extend the four-time world champion's 117-fight career to a record fifth decade. Fight sponsors Cervezas Baru confirmed that officials from the Guinness Book of Records will attend the promotion at the capital's New Panama Gymnasium to verify the record. ``It won't be an easy fight, and for this reason I've been training hard,'' a fit-looking Duran told reporters. The former champion, who lost to Lawlor over six rounds in a 1991 clash, added that he was going to ``make him pay.'' FROM SHINING SHOES TO CHAMPION Duran learned his aggressive, two-fisted style in the tough streets of Panama City's El Chorrillo neighborhood in the 1950s and 1960s, where from the age of seven he earned a few cents shining shoes and dancing in the local bars. Making his professional debut in 1968 at the age of 17 in a four-round fight in the Caribbean city of Colon, Duran went on to win world titles at four different weights. The first came in 1972 when he put tartan-clad Scottish lightweight champion Ken Buchanan down in the 13th round of their Madison Square Garden clash. Duran went on to defend the title 12 times before over the next seven years, before moving up to beat Sugar Ray Leonard for the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight belt in an epic 15-round battle in 1980. Two further titles followed at junior middleweight against Davey Moore in 1983, and a final crown at middleweight in a surprise upset against Iran Barkley in 1989. More than a decade has passed since his glory days, but Duran says he has no plans to hang up his gloves. ``This will be my last fight in Panama City, but I will have two more in the U.S. and then I will make a tour of Europe,'' he said. BATTLING THE YEARS Giving away more than a decade in age, Duran will have his work cut out for him to beat San Francisco-based Lawlor. But with ten pounds to go to reach the 168-pound weight limit, Duran has been helped by the two-week postponement. The former champion said he would also be helped by training once again in Panama City under the guidance of his old mentor Nestor ``Plomo'' Quinones. Quinones, who has worked with Duran since he was an eager youngster in El Chorrillo, is overseeing a harsh daily training schedule, including road and bag work, together with eight rounds of sparring. While many in Panama would like to wish Duran an honorable retirement, veteran trainer Rigoberto Garibaldi said the former champion remains in good shape. ``Duran hits hard with both hands, and his reactions are still strong,'' Garibaldi told Reuters with an indulgent smile. ''I've trained three world champions, and he carries on being the best of them.''

Salud rock solid Jesus Salud remains unbeaten in Hawaii with a third-round TKO By Dave Reardon - Star-Bulletin It was back to old times for Jesus Salud. It was back to the canvas for his opponent, Boyke Sillehu. About 2,500 watched Salud dominate Sillehu last night at Blaisdell Arena. He knocked down the Indonesian three times in less than three rounds to remain unbeaten in 35 professional boxing matches in Hawaii. Referee Abe Pacheco called the fight with 28 seconds left in the third, after Salud peppered Sillehu with sustained combinations to the ribs. "I feel he was taking too much punishment, he wasn't fighting back," Pacheco said. The veteran official made many similar calls in Salud fights in the '80s and early '90s, as the Waipahu-trained boxer from Nanakuli built the foundation of a career that would take him to a world title and a new home in San Diego. Many other familiar faces from the past surrounded Salud last night, including former stablemate Paul Lucas (now a police officer) and trainer Al Silva. But even at 37, Salud (61-9) looks toward the future and another shot at the title. "I still believe in my ability," Salud said. "I hadn't fought in a year, but I didn't feel rusty." He certainly didn't look out of tune. While Salud is not as quick as he was in the '80s, he seems stronger. Salud rocked Sillehu (24-5-1) several times, most notably with a flooring left hook to the head 23 seconds into the fight. "Oh, that first punch," Silva marveled. "When he went down, I knew Jesus had additional power." Salud hurt Sillehu with another big right 17 seconds before the end of the first, setting the stage for a flurry of scoring shots nearly to the bell. Sillehu connected with a right to Salud's head midway through the second round, but Salud countered immediately with scoring jabs and a sharp right, left combination to the head at 55 seconds to the bell. Then, with eight seconds left, Salud knocked down Sillehu again with another big right hook. Before Pacheco called it in the third, Salud knocked down Sillehu a third time, with a right set up by a left jab at 1:47. Salud's current trainer, Abe Sanchez, said he was pleased overall. "We wanted to go back to where Jesus was three or four years ago. He'd become complacent," Sanchez said. "We don't like him to sit and react. We want him to make (the opponent) react. I won't say it was an 'A' fight, but he did a lot of good things. "We wanted some rounds, and the kid gave him some rounds," Sanchez added. "There's two guys in there, so (Salud's) gonna get hit." Sillehu and his trainer said they should have had the opportunity to hit the favorite son longer. "This guy was going to knock Salud out," trainer Felix Cazeres said. "The fight was definitely stopped too soon." Sillehu has won 19 of his fights by knockout, including a May 13 stop of WBO Intercontinental bantamweight (118 pounds) champion Don Don Concepcion at the Sheraton Waikiki. "I could keep fighting," said Sillehu, who was visibly nervous before the bout. "I knew I hurt him." Salud acknowledged that Sillehu landed the one good shot, but said it didn't bother him long. "The ref did a good job," he said. "He wasn't protecting himself or throwing punches. He was just winging from the outside, and I was very patient." QUICK JABS: In a co-main event, Andy Tabanas (40-4-1) TKO'd Agus Ray (25-10-4) in the fifth round for the WBO Asia-Pacific Junior Flyweight title ... In the prelims, Mike Jamison (6-0) decisioned John Lopez (5-4), Mark Burse (4-0) TKO'd Pablo Ontiberos (4-11) in the second, Tali Kulihaapai (7-0) TKO'd Gene Valdez (0-2) in the first, and Clay Lewis (1-0) decisioned Jaime Bretado (3-8) ... U.S. Olympic boxing team member Brian Viloria of Waipahu attended last night's matches. He returns to Colorado Springs, Colo., on June 4 to train for USA vs. Ukraine matches June 19 in Dallas. Then he comes back to Hawaii for two weeks before returning to Colorado.

Viloria takes on golden hue of national spotlight Sports Illustrated covers the Waipahu boxer from head to toe in gold paint for a photo shoot By Pat Bigold Star-Bulletin People have been coloring Brian Viloria since he beat Cuba's best for the world amateur light flyweight title last year. The popular shades are gold for Olympic medal and green for the fortune promoters are already lining up to offer him. As if that pressure wasn't enough, Sports Illustrated officially gilded the 19-year-old Waipahu resident this month. "We did a photo shoot and they painted me in gold," Viloria said by phone from the Colorado Springs training center. "I looked like a statue. They put it all over my body. My face. My hair." Viloria, somewhat surprised at being the only boxer selected by SI for the golden boy pose, said the water-based colors "felt cold" being applied. "They did one photo in the boxing ring and one on top of the roof with the sky as the background," he said. A spokesman at SI acknowledged the photo shoot but would not reveal the magazine's plans for the art. "It's a secret," he said. As for Viloria, he was more concerned with getting the paint off his skin after the session. "It came off but I really had to scrub," he said. The photo shoot with Teen Magazine the next day was a lot less complicated. Viloria is a young athlete whose Olympic dream has exploded into a kaleidoscope of publicity. He became a media darling after the world championship and even more so since he secured his 106-pound berth on the Olympic team. He's a devastating hitter, coveted by promoters Don King and Bob Arum, and he's well-spoken enough to draw reporters like flies to honey. He's been called America's "Mighty Mouse" for his diminutive 5-foot-3 stature, as well as "The Hawaiian Punch," an unoriginal nickname given by the mainland press to almost every Hawaii-born boxing celebrity (Andy Ganigan and Jesus Salud also were billed that way). During the Olympic athletes' media session in Houston earlier this month, Viloria was one of the most interviewed subjects. The media exercises are almost as exacting as his training for Sydney. But Viloria can still recall an experience at age 11 that fired his imagination about Olympic glory. "When I met two of the 1992 Olympians at the Waipahu gym, Oscar De La Hoya and Eric Griffin, they encouraged me," he said. "We sparred, trained. We have videos at home." The warmth shown him by De La Hoya and Griffin rubbed off on Viloria. He said he never tires of chatting with youngsters who want to ask all sorts of questions. "Do you get mad when you fight?" "Does it hurt to get hit?" After a scheduled exhibition series of bouts against the Ukraine in Fort Worth, Texas yesterday, Viloria is expected to be in Honolulu until July 10. It's a chance to do what he likes best. "I'm just happy to hang out with my dad, my brother, my old friends, go back to the old gym and talk to my old coaches," he said. Olympic Profile Brian Viloria Age: 19 Hometown: Waipahu Sport: Boxing (106 pounds) Olympics: First Olympic dream quote: "When I met two of the 1992 Olympians at the Waipahu gym, Oscar De La Hoya and Eric Griffin, they encouraged me." Sydney 2000 Olympics

Tyson may have whupped up on Frank Warrent and held him hanging out of a window over some jewelry bill. The guys on CNN Radio are saying "why couldn't they show this, I'd *pay* to see that." If they had fessed to it, Brit copys would have tossed Tyson out of the UK. And Lennox Lewis says he'll fight Tyson before Tua. Will Ruis and Tua fight to unify the IBF and WB titles? Does Tyson stand a chance? Predictions? Tyson tries to eat Lewis children but can't find any anwhere. Butterbean takes Laila Ali on the UnderCard. And Tyson fails to bite off George Foreman's ear during the post fight interview.

Lewis Outweighs Botha on the Scales LONDON (Reuters) - World champion Lennox Lewis weighed in almost 14 pounds heavier than South African Frans Botha before their heavyweight title fight Saturday. The Briton, who defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles, hit the scales at 250 pounds Thursday. The total was three pounds more than the 247 pounds Lewis carried during his last title defense in New York in April against American Michael Grant. Botha appearing to half-hearted boos on the open-air stage in London's central Covent Garden registered 236 pounds. It was heavier than his usual fighting weight of around 228. Both men were late appearing on the sheltered stage in a pedestrian area where crowds usually gather around mime artists and jugglers rather than boxers stripping down to their underwear. They flexed their muscles in turn as ring card models, wearing a uniform loosely based on that of the Beefeaters at the Tower of London, paraded before the crowd. A performing artist with a squeaky voice, a plastic butterfly on his head and two open umbrellas over his shoulder, tried valiantly to keep his audience around the corner. As hard-hatted construction workers craned from their scaffolding for a better view, promoter Panos Eliades sensed a selling opportunity and reminded the crowd that there were still tickets remaining to be bought. ``Buy now, because if you don't buy now, you won't be there,'' he declared.

I sent the above to John Burnett for his opinion. His comment: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...I'll watch if I can find a place to see it for free. Botha may be just good enough to survive, but not good enough to make it interesting. It could end up a spectacular Lewis knockout, but it would come against less-than-spectacular opposition, Botha's ranking notwithstanding. He's an honest, hardworking heavyweight fighter, a good gateway opponent, but hardly a challenger to a real champion. He is tough, though, and takes a great punch. If Lewis had enough savagery in him (he doesn't), it could end up a one-sided, bloody 12-round debacle like the 15-round beating Larry Holmes gave Randall "Tex" Cobb. That was the fight that caused Howard Cosell to stop broadcasting boxing...news which Cobb received with the quip, "I'll go another 15 with Holmes if Howard will stop calling football."

(Terry)And Lennox Lewis says he'll fight Tyson before Tua. Will Ruis and Tua fight to unify the IBF and WB titles? Does Tyson stand a chance? (John)Sorry it took me so long to get back to you on that one...I don't know if Ruiz and Tua will meet. Tua doesn't care who he fights because he knows he is competitive with anyone out there right now. Ruiz is not in Tua's or Lewis's league. As for Tyson, although he has eschewed basic boxing skills (which he once exhibited) and his defense has eroded, he has a puncher's chance in any fight he's in. He has one-punch knockout power. Few people have that and those who do are never out of any fight because one can get lucky anytime before the final bell. Lewis would and should be a solid favorite (I'd go about 8-5 or 9-5) over Tyson. Still, nobody wants to meet Ike, and everybody is hoping that his volatile personality gets him thrown in jail for a long time before he gets his shot. Lewis and Tua would be an excellent match: tall guy versus short guy, both with decent skills and both with one-punch KO power. I'd pay to see that.

"I love boxing. Where else do two grown men prance around in satin underwear, fighting over a belt?... The one who wins gets a purse. They do it in gloves. It's the accessory connection I love." ~ John McGovern