WHAT DO BOSWELL & HOLYFIELD HAVE IN COMMON?

By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist

LAS VEGAS, NV (IB – September 30, 2003) – What does Cedric "The Boss" Boswell {21-0, 16 KOs} have in common with Legendary former four-time heavyweight champion Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield (38-6-2, 25 KOs}? They both are looking forward to returning back to Atlanta victorious after a major fight in Las Vegas this weekend.

On Friday night, live from Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in La Vegas, NV, and televised on Showtime, Cedric "The Boss" Boswell, a rising-star in the heavyweight division, finally gets his BIG chance to showcase his skills when he takes on Jameel "Big Time" McCline (29-3-3, 17 KOs). This fight is huge for these two combatants. For McCline, he is fighting for respect after his disappointing loss to Wladimir Klitschko back in December 2002. Many feel that fight exposed McCline as not having the necessary courage to compete at the championship level. Despite being 6'7" and weighing greater than 250lbs, his heart appeared much smaller.

For Boswell, he has been trying to tell the boxing world that he's ready for top ten heavyweight action but no one has granted him an opportunity to prove it. While McCline is not ranked in top ten, he is a big name to earn a win against, especially if you can get a knock out win over him. “Jameel McCline is only a couple of notches below Klitschko. They view him as a good fighter. This gives me a chance to show the people that I am a better fighter and that I am going to become a world champion” So if Boswell is able to defeat McCline, that's big. If Boswell KO's McCline, that’s really big!

As if that isn't enough action, on Saturday Night, October 4, 2003, Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield, at the ripe age of turning 41 years old in a couple of weeks, will take on the current IBF Cruiserweight Champion James "Lights out" Toney (66-4-2, 42 KOs) in a 12 round heavyweight bout. This fight will also take place at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, and televised on Showtime Pay-Per View. If there ever was a match up that is the perfect style to bring out the best in Holyfield, it’s this fight with Toney. For the 1st time since fighting Hasim Rahman {remember the swollen forehead that was caused by a Holyfield head butt}, Evander has an opponent that will be standing right in front of him. This should spell bad news for Toney and result in a KO victory for Holyfield by the 6th round. Holyfield offered, “I think it will be a fast-paced fight. If it goes according to how Toney says he is going to fight, it will be an action-packed fight and will not go the distance.”

If this is not the case, then the questions really will start to ring out "Shouldn't Holyfield retire?"

Only Evander can answer this question. If this fight unfolds as I envision it will, there will be more people asking, "I wonder what other heavyweights can Holyfield knock out like that?"

So if you can't make it to Vegas this weekend, show your support by contacting your Cable provider to order Showtime for Friday's fight & Pay-Per-View for Saturday's fight.

Will the Atlanta Heavyweights come home 2-0, 1-1, or 0-2? Only time will tell. I am going on record with a 2-0 prediction with both Boswell & Holyfield winning by KO.

You have just gone InsideBoxing.com

Ron Brashear can be contacted at brashear@insideboxing.com, ron@brasheargear.com