Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 6, 1995 TAG: 9511060133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LAS VEGAS LENGTH: Medium
At a news conference Sunday, Newman talked about a Bowe-Mike Tyson fight, one day after Bowe's eighth-round victory in his rubber match against Evander Holyfield. Bowe was not present because he couldn't stay awake after talking on the telephone to his five children in Maryland at 5:30 a.m. PST.
``I called Don [Tyson's promoter Don King] about an hour ago and we had a very pleasant conversation,'' Newman said. ``If we don't make an attempt, Tyson-Bowe won't be made, and I will make the attempt.''
While Tyson remains boxing's main attraction, Bowe laid a legitimate claim to being the world's premier heavyweight in the ring with his victory over Holyfield at Caesars Palace, a victory he achieved by getting up from a sixth-round knockdown.
The 33-year-old Holyfield's future is uncertain. Despite scoring the knockdown, he looked like a tired old fighter Saturday night.
``If he were my fighter, I'd be very careful in taking future matches because the wear and tear have begun to show,'' Eddie Futch, Bowe's trainer, said.
Newman said he will meet with King next week ``probably in the evening.'' King is on trial in federal court at New York for wire fraud.
``To regain credibility, they [Tyson and King] have to do something dramatic, and we want to be part of the drama,'' Newman said. ``I think it would be a perfect fight for Riddick.''
Tyson's fight Saturday night at the MGM Grand against Buster Mathis Jr. was called off last Tuesday because of Tyson's fractured right thumb. With only 89 seconds of fighting (his victory over Peter McNeeley Aug. 19), it is unlikely Tyson will fight the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Bowe in the near future.
Tyson could fight Mathis in January and he is expected to challenge Frank Bruno of Britain for the WBC title March 16 at the MGM Grand. Should he win, he then could challenge for the WBA title now held by Bruce Seldon. Bruno and Seldon are promoted by King. Bowe isn't. Nor is Lennox Lewis, also of Britain.
Newman might have been negotiating a Bowe-Lewis fight by talking about a Bowe-Tyson bout.
It is a bout favored by Seth Abraham, president for sports for Time Warner, operator of HBO and pay-per-view TVKO. Bowe's victory Saturday night was carried by TVKO.
``It could happen if we make it quickly,'' Newman said of a fight against Lewis. ``There will be no monkeying around.''
The message Newman was delivering to the Lewis camp probably was that it shouldn't try to negotiate a 50-50 purse split.
When Lewis called Bowe a chicken at the post-fight news conference Saturday night, Newman said, ``All contenders who got knocked out by Oliver McCall, wait your turn.''
Lewis lost bargaining power when he lost the WBC title by being stopped in the second round by McCall last year. McCall, in turn, was outpointed by Bruno.
Lewis talks about challenging Bruno, but he knows he can make more money and gain more respect if he fights and beats Bowe.
Bowe remains the WBO champion, a title Holyfield had said he wouldn't accept if he won.
The undisputed title was at stake when Bowe scored a unanimous decision over Holyfield Nov. 13, 1992. The IBF and WBA titles were at stake Nov. 6, 1993, when Holyfield scored a majority decision in a fight in which the Fan Man (James Miller) crashed against the ring in a paraglider in the seventh round.
While the rubber match didn't have the sustained excitement of the first two bouts, it did have moments of high drama.
A crowd of 12,174 came to its feet roaring when the 6-21/2, 213-pound Holyfield knocked down Bowe with a crunching left hook in the sixth round. Bowe got up at five. He obviously was dazed, but he was able to keep the fading Holyfield at bay with his left jab. Bowe had the best of the last two minutes of the round.
The two were going toe-to-toe in the eighth round, when Holyfield crashed face down after being hit by a right to the jaw. He struggled up at nine, and appeared out on his feet. After two glancing rights to the head dropped Holyfield to a knee, referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight 58 seconds into the round.
Bowe again showed a remarkable ability to fight in close for a man his size. He also exhibited a savage body attack that took all the spring out of Holyfield's aging legs.
by CNB