European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 26 b the stars and stripes saturday june 13,1992 Boxin Holyfield gains nothing is. Old men by Dave Raffo United press International evander Holyfield has been undisputed heavyweight Champion of the world for 20 months without proving himself the undisputed Best heavyweight in the world. Recognition As the Best heavyweight will have to wait until autumn. No matter what happens Friday in Las vegas. Holyfield will earn no Praise against 42-year-Otd Larry Holmes. Holmes is a 6-1 underdog about 10 years past his prime and considered a lot less dangerous than Young contenders such As Riddick Bowe Lennox Lewis and Michael Moorer. And even if Holyfield goes on to Knock off that Trio he May never escape the Shadow of Mike Tyson. A Wevander Holyfield has to still prove he can fight a Holmes said. A a lot of people think including me that Mike Tyson would have knocked him Holmes will be Holyfield a third title defense and second against a 42-Ycar-old challenger. Holyfield went 12 hard rounds against George Foreman 15 months ago before winning a decision. His last defense was against Journeyman Bert Cooper last november. Cooper a substitute for a replacement handed Holyfield his first pro Knockdown and nearly pulled a shocking upset before falling in the seventh round. Even Holyfield realizes he needs to fight a younger fitter Boxer before proving himself the Best around. He has agreed to fight Bowe next if Bowe gets past South african Pierre Roetzer on july 18. The Best Holyfield can Hope for next week is a one sided Victory Over Holmes that diminishes the memory of his struggle against Cooper and runs his record to 28-0. A the Only thing people have to look Back on is my last fight How Well i did against Bert Cooper and what Bert Cooper did against me a Holyfield said. A a when you become heavyweight Champion of the world its always like that. When Youte heavyweight Champion of the world you re supposed to be the Holyfield May not be the Best heavyweight but he is certainly the most opportunistic. When Buster Douglas stunned Mike Tyson in 1990, Holyfield cashed in on his status As no. 1 contender by gaining the first crack at the new Champion. Holyfield knocked out an overweight Douglas with the first Good punch of the bout a a right hand counter in the third round a to become Champion oct. 25,1990, Holyfield quickly cashed in on the Foreman phenomenon earning $20 million for a title defense against a contender few people took seriously. He will pick up another $20 million against Holmes who at least earned some credibility on his comeback by defeating 1988 olympic Champion Ray Mercer in february. While Holyfield admits his Choice of contenders have been business decisions he denies taking the easy Way out. He Points out he twice signed to fight to son but the first fight fell through when Tyson was upset by Douglas and the second when Tyson was injured in training and then convicted of rape. Tyson is serving a six year prison sentence in Indianapolis. A when we did take on George Foreman first we were looking to take on Mike Tyson that fell through a Tyson said. A we did have a fight lined up with Riddick Bowe and his manager messed it up by asking for More Money evander Holyfield punishes out-of-sh8pe Buster Douglas to take the heavyweight title on october 25,1990 a Ray Mercer lost so Here i am fighting Larry Holmes and i have agreed to fight the Winner of the Riddick Bowe Pierre Roetzer fight. If something weird happens and Roetzer wins. Ill fight Roetzer. In a not ducking any one but if in a going to fight the Winner of a fight 1 have to fight the Winner. I have although he would like to see an age limit in boxing Holyfield also denies Holmes and Foreman Are soft touches because of their age. A older Guys do have experience they have More Confidence they tend to not give up a Holyfield said. A younger Guys have a lot of Energy but they tend to crack. A Larry Holmes fought smart against Mercer he showed flashes. He a one of the boxers you can to take for Holyfield a most difficult task could be considering his next challenger a real Challenge. While Holmes is trying to become the oldest heavyweight Champion Ever Holyfield is facing just another no win situation. He has put aside talk of retirement for now but just before beginning training for this defense he was rocked by news his older brother Willie was shot to death. If Holyfield had trouble concentrating on Cooper he could also have problems with Holmes. Holyfield 29, said he was disappointed after his two previous defences. He did not get the recognition he Felt was owed him after a Tough fight against Foreman and he did not fight Well against Cooper. A Foreman fought a great fight and i fought my heart out and did no to get anything out of it a Holyfield said. A when i fought Bert Cooper i did myself an injustice and did no to fight a smart fight. I fought like an average Boxer who goes in just wanting to knockout somebody out. A training Camp was a lot longer than it should be been because of the Tyson cancellation. I probably overstrained and was distracted then you have to give credit to Bert yet Holyfield can to be too disappointed with his reign As heavyweight Champion. He a become a millionaire Many times Over remained unbeaten and at least is More Well known than when he toiled As Cruiser weight Champion. As for being considerate a great fighter Holyfield believes time will take care of that. A i get my share a he says of recognition. He also says there will be plenty of time for younger challengers. A was Long As boxing a around there la always be contenders a said the Champion who keeps reaching into the past for denies doping accusations by Earl Gustkey the los Angeles times if Larry Holmes wanted to get under evander Holyfield a skin during the preflight buildup to their Friday bout at Caesars Palace he succeeded. He brought up the sword. Steroids. When Holmes raised the subject during a recent interview the heavyweight champions response was eight typewritten lines. Eight lines is a career High for Holyfield. He did no to even have eight lines to say when that yugoslav referee threw him out of the 1984 olympics or after he had flattened Buster Douglas and won the heavyweight championship. There have been whispers of Holyfield and steroids for several years or Ever since his body made the transition from string bean Light heavyweight in 1984 to its present configuration. He has heatedly denied using body building drugs and instead credits intensive High tech conditioning and weight training. So when the Champion was asked what he thought of Holmes comments he said a they should test for steroids. If you want to catch someone Why say anything just go and test them. In a ready. 1 never took steroids and it does no to bother me to take the test. A Larry should realize there Are a lot of kids who May think a maybe Larry Holmes is telling the truth. A maybe evander Holyfield does use steroids. Then it must be of for me to use a a that a wrong. Lets take the test and put this behind us. Its an irresponsible statement for him to Holmes also brought up the of word. Old. A anybody can Excel at a certain age a said Holmes who is 42. Holyfield is 29. A John Mcenroe might not be Able to compete in Tennis with 21-year-Olds when they play 3yi hours in the hot Sun. I think its the Wear and tear. A but there a a Lack of Competition in the heavyweight division. If there was Kenny Norton Joe fraziers George foremans Quarry an Youngrok Lyles Jerry d Alt those Guys around i have even thought of coming Back. Id have been Holyfield Holmes said does no to hit hard enough. A i saw him hit George Foreman with shot after shot and George did no to even have one Bruise a he said. A i saw him hit Bert Cooper with uppercut after uppercut left Hook after left Hook. He did no to Hurt him. In a just going to bite Down on my mouthpiece grit my Teeth and go at him. A the Larry Holmes of today would have beaten the Larry Holmes of yesterday. Its because i have More patience. I used to throw 80 to 90 punches a round. Now i throw 50, but i land 40 of
