Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 23, 1994 TAG: 9404230063
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LAS VEGAS LENGTH: Medium
It would be a left-handed compliment to call Michael Moorer the heavyweight champion.
But that's what Moorer is after outpointing Evander Holyfield to win the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association titles Friday night and become the first left-handed heavyweight champion in history.
Moorer, unbeaten in 35 fights, got up from a second-round knockdown and controlled the match the rest of the way, landing countless right jabs, short hooks and slamming body shots.
The official decision, however, was close.
When it was announced that judge Dalby Shirley had the fight even at 114-114, boos erupted from the crowd of 13,000 outdoors at Caesars Palace.
Ring announcer Michael Buffer said judge Chuck Giampa scored it 116-112 and Jerry Roth 115-114 "for the new heavyweight champion of the world."
The Associated Press card favored Moorer 118-111.
Moorer was dominating the second round with his right jab and a couple lefts to the head when at 2:41 of the round Holyfield landed a left and right that knocked Moorer down.
"I was stunned for a minute," said Moorer, who took an 8-count on one knee before getting up.
Moorer's jab from then on was the key punch. Holyfield simply had no answer for it.
Moorer, 26, cut Holyfield over the left eye in the fifth round and pounded his face lumpy.
Holyfield, the warrior to the end, kept coming, although Moorer probably backed him up more than did any previous opponent.
"Everyone talked about the fight going 12 rounds," Moorer said. "I just had to keep up my jab."
Moorer kept his poise throughout the match and sometimes became too complacent for trainer Teddy Atlas, who several times hollered for Moorer to keep jabbing.
At the end of the ninth round, Atlas shouted at Moorer during the rest period after Moorer had done little the previous round.
In the 12th round, Moorer opened up and had Holyfield, 31, showing the age and the effects of the many battles he had in a career dating to 1984.
Holyfield tried to go toe-to-toe with Moorer in the final round but Moorer had him reeling backward on several occasions, mainly from the right jab.
In the final seconds, Moorer began nodding his head and at the bell ran to his corner and leaped onto the bottom strand of the ropes.
by CNB