REAL DEAL MEETS REAL SKILL - THE IBF HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist
ATLANTIC, NJ (IB - December 13, 2002) – On December 14th, live from Boardwalk
Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, brought to you by Don King Productions, and televised
on HBO, the former 4-time Heavyweight Champion Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield
(38-5-2, 25 KOs) will take on the IBF #1 contender Chris “Rapid Fire” Byrd
(35-2, 20 KOs) for the vacant IBF Heavyweight crown.
This will be a show that you definitely do not want to miss. Another piece of
Boxing History could be made on this night! Evander will be attempting to become
the 1st 5-time Heavyweight Champion of the World. In order to accomplish this
feat, he must find a way to mitigate the enormous boxing skills that are present
in Byrd. Chris is a very elusive southpaw, who also possesses tremendous hand
speed (Just ask David Tua).
Most Heavyweights, including Lennox Lewis who gave up the IBF title rather than
fight Byrd, are not too eager to enter the ring with Chris and have their skill
sets exposed by this boxing technician. Per Evander, when Lennox and Evander
attended an event in Toronto to honor Muhammad Ali earlier this year, Lennox
even asked Holyfield, why are you going to fight Byrd? His style can make you
look bad.
However, this doesn't apply to the Holy Warrior - Evander Holyfield. This great
Champion has earned the respect as being the most courageous Heavyweight
Champion of our time. Evander has demonstrated what it means to take on any and
all comers. We're talking Bowe - 3 times, Tyson twice, Lewis twice, Foreman,
Holmes, & Douglas, just to name a few. This is what sets Holyfield apart from
the others.
Even the fighters that have been awkward for him such as Moorer and Ruiz, he was
eager to get back into the ring with them. He successfully figured out southpaw
Moorer in their re-match and knocked him out!
John Ruiz experienced success with Evander as a result of his lack of desire to
press the action. Perhaps Byrd will attempt a similar style by keeping his jab
in Holyfield's face, tie him up, and remain on his bicycle while coasting to a
decision win on points. In order for Chris to do this, he MUST fight a
mistake-free bout for 12 rounds.
So can Evander, even at age 40, cut-off the ring and trap the "Byrd"? This is
what it will take for Holyfield to achieve his milestone of 5-time Heavyweight
Champion. If he is able to land just one solid left hook, or a few straight
right hands, we may be witnessing another incredible chapter in the lustrous
career of Evander Holyfield.
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