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Holyfield, Tyson renew hostilities
Tonight, in front of a packed house of 16,331 fans at the MGM Grand Hotel and with millions more around the world watching on pay-per-view, the two greatest heavyweights on the planet will -- in the words of referee Mills Lane -- get it on.
Holyfield, the reigning WBA champ, defied all the odds at the same venue last Nov. 9 with a shocking 11th-round victory over the human tank named Tyson.
CLASSIC REMATCH
To borrow a cliche, tonight's bout has all the makings of a classic rematch, in the mold of Ali-Frazier, Zale-Graciano or Holyfield-Bowe. Everyone, including the mouth that roared, King, is predicting a knockout.
King, of course, is picking his meal ticket, Tyson.
But major questions remain about this mega-match.
Deep into the night Thursday, Tyson's manager, John Horne, pleaded with members of the Nevada State boxing commission to replace referee Mitch Halpern. Halpern was the third man in the ring for the first fight and from all reports did a fine job.
But for reasons that are clear only to Horne and King, the Tyson camp felt that his appointment to work the rematch represented a grave injustice. The commission voted 4-1 not to replace Halpern.
However, sometime early yesterday morning, Halpern, not wanting to be the focus of the $200-million extravaganza, stepped down and the veteran Lane was appointed.
"This is a victory for fair play," King proclaimed yesterday.
Holyfield and his people were just glad the affair was over.
"As far as I know, referees don't throw punches," said Holyfield, 33-3 with 24 KOs.
Holyfield's lawyer/adviser, Jim Thomas, suggested that the controversy was simply the work of "insecure people."
"As I told Richie Giachetti (Tyson's trainer), `If you want to talk about the ring girls, fine. We want it all done to your satisfaction,' " Thomas said.
The referee controversy did raise questions about Tyson's state of mind, always a matter of great debate. In years past, the hurt machine known as Iron Mike never would have allowed his handlers to make a big deal about a referee.
There are those who believe Tyson, a native of one of Brooklyn's toughest ghettos, is beaten up -- mentally and physically -- from all the hard living, fast money and time spent in the pen.
Tyson, 45-2 with 39 KOs, remains an enigma. On one hand, he's a devout Muslim. On the other, he's still an angry young man who trusts absolutely no one.
`THE WAY IT IS'
"People by nature can't be trusted," said Tyson, 30. "That's just the way it is."
To win his third world heavyweight title -- and join Muhammad Ali and Holyfield as the only boxers to achieve that distinction -- Tyson will have to put his total trust in Giachetti, fight insiders say.
After Tyson's defeat against Holyfield, trainer Jay Bright was fired and the colorful and well-respected Giachetti rehired.
As for Holyfield, the 34-year-old is totally confident.
"I don't predict, I tell the truth," Holyfield said yesterday. "I'll win."