Boxing News magazine 26.7.2002 Download pdf

Boxing News magazine 26.7.2002 Download pdf
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DAVIS SALUTE
• ACCORDING to HBO's Kerri Davis, the reason Forrest and Mosley fought again is
because the fighters demanded it.
"This match was unique," he said. "You got two of the best fighters in the world fighting each
other because they wanted to and not because they had to.
"They could have insisted on purses to make this match impossible to show on HBO [Forrest
received $3.4m to Mosley's $3.1 m - to pay them more would have meant making it a pay-perview
event],
"The same applied to Antonio Tarver and Eric Harding. Tarver is the No. 1 contender for Roy
Jones, but I applaud him for facing the only man to have beaten him. That's what boxing needs."

What shocking coverage
• MEDIA coverage of boxing in Britain is nothing like what it
used to be in the 1980s and early 1990s, but American
fighters are suffering from the same drought in publicity.
The Indianapolis Star, for instance, did not begin writing about
Forrest-Mosley until the day before the match, even though there was
no other local sporting event last weekend to rival it.
The only reference to the fight in their July 18 edition was on the next
to back page in a basketball column where the topic was Rock Newman
and his client Rod Strickland, who was being linked with the Indiana
Pacers. The Pacers president was quoted as saying: "I don't know why
Rock is here [Indianapolis], unless he's come for the fight."

Holyfield's pledge
EVANDER HOLYFIELD, in Indianapolis to lend support to his friend
and fellow Atlantan Vernon Forrest, was a picture of health and
vitality (right).
" I like Vernon because of how he trains and works hard and
stays in condition," said the veteran former world heavy and
cruiserweight champion. "No one wants to fight him."
Holyfield will be 40 by the time he next boxes, probably in
November. He said his goal remains - to become undisputed
heavyweight champion on the world with or without having to
take on Lennox Lewis again.
" I want to remain active," he said. "I'll fight whoever is
available so long as it leads me to the titles.
"Lennox proved he's a legitimate champion because he fights
other champions and contenders. He was impressive against
Mike Tyson because of how he prepared.

Larry still looks too good
A THIRD big heavyweight match takes place tomorrow, but in this case
the 'big' is not meant for importance. Because at the Scope in Norfolk,
Virginia the 25st-plus ERIC "BUTTERBEAN" ESCH (left) meets ex-world
champ LARRY HOLMES over 10.
It is not a match which the British Board would sanction, but a good crowd
is expected. Holmes is 52 and hasn't boxed since stopping Mike Weaver again
in November 2000. He retired for the third time with pro stats of 68-6 but
left the door ajar by saying he would fight again for $250,000.
Enter promoter Daryl DeCroix of Virginia Beach, who pays him just that
tomorrow and Butterbean "about $100,000".
That's brilliant money for these two at this stage, but DeCroix has struck
a US pay-per-view deal and can recoup his cash. This one has real freak-
 show value.
Butterbean, 63-1, expects Holmes to jab and run, but Larry said: "I'm too
old to run!" The most Esch has travelled is six rounds (once), but he says
^ L he'll have no trouble going 10 if necessary.
We feel Holmes is still good enough to fiddle his way to victory, working
a lot off the ropes, but don't like this fight.