Dear Santa,
What’s up, big fella? How’s my favorite heavyweight? I know, I know, you’re extremely busy today. And Saturday is supposed to be all about the kids. But I’m more than willing to wait for some belated boxing gifts, as long as you wouldn’t mind delivering them by the end of 2005.
Just so you know, I’ve been a very good boy this year. I’ve used spellcheck to the best of my ability, met all my deadlines and filed stories within my length restrictions. (OK, that last one was a humorous Christmas gift to my editors, but I really have been a good boy overall.) So here’s my list. I don’t want to get greedy, so I’ve limited it to five requests.
1. Evander Holyfield’s retirement. The four-time former heavyweight champ’s stubbornness is getting dangerous. The New York State Athletic Commission’s suspension won’t stand without medical support, but you would think embarrassing back-to-back losses to James “Lights Out” Toney and Larry Donald would make Holyfield walk away. The 42-year-old Holyfield has won only twice in six years, but wants to continue fighting.
2. Lennox Lewis’ return. There have been whispers in recent weeks regarding his comeback, one the division definitely could use. Toney, Chris Byrd and several other heavyweights could provide Vitali Klitschko with much more competition than Danny Williams, but Klitschko versus Lewis would be bigger business because of the controversial conclusion to their championship match 18 months ago.
3. More belt-buckers. Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver were worth their weight in gold (and leather) on Saturday night in Los Angeles. We wish Tarver would not have worn that ridiculous crown into the ring, but “The Magic Man” joined Johnson in showing that the fighters make the titles, not vice versa. The two men that knocked out Roy Jones Jr. relinquished recognized championships to fight for light heavyweight supremacy (and more money) and should be mirrored.
4. Marco Antonio Barrera versus Manny Pacquiao II. Barrera believes he had an “off night” against Pacquiao 13 months ago in San Antonio. The ever-determined Mexican’s amazing performance last month against rival Erik Morales indicated that there’s some truth to that claim, but Barrera needs to disprove Pacquiao’s superiority in the ring. Pacquiao will first face another Mexican champion, featherweight king Juan Manuel Marquez, in another marketable rematch on Feb. 26 in Las Vegas.
5. Bernard Hopkins versus Jermain Taylor. If Hopkins sticks to the promise he made to his late mother, Shirley Hopkins, he’ll retire before his 41st birthday. That timetable would give the undisputed 160-pound champ 13 months to extend his record for consecutive middleweight title defenses. Hopkins has beaten many younger fighters and some better boxers than Taylor en route to 19 defenses, but this is personal, too. The unbeaten, talented Taylor is promoted by former HBO boxing boss Lou DiBella, who won a $610,000 libel lawsuit against Hopkins in 2002.
Mayweather’s ‘Main’ problem
Main Events has reserved Boardwalk Hall for June 11, the date on which those that run the Bloomfield promotional company hope Hoboken’s Arturo Gatti (38-6, 29 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (32-0, 21 KOs) will square off in what would be a heavily hyped pay-per-view showdown. But even if Mayweather overcomes Puerto Rican power puncher Henry Bruseles (21-2-1, 13 KOs) on Jan. 22 in Miami and Gatti gets past formidable former junior lightweight champ Jesse James Leija (47-6-2, 19 KOs, 1 NC) on Jan. 29 in Atlantic City, Mayweather’s problems outside of the ring could sabotage what would be a lucrative event for everyone involved.
A judge in Grand Rapids, Mich., issued an arrest warrant for Mayweather eight days ago because he failed to appear at his misdemeanor assault trial in his hometown.
Mayweather’s attorney, Larry Wiley, quit when one of Mayweather’s handlers told him in the days immediately preceding the Dec. 16 trial that Mayweather would remain in Las Vegas, where he now lives. An arrest warrant was first issued for Mayweather in March, stemming from a Dec. 18, 2003, incident at a Grand Rapids bar, after which William Morris, who was a bouncer at the bar, alleged that Mayweather kicked him while he was down, after another man, Jackie Ray Jones, cracked a champagne bottle over Morris’ head. Mayweather told the Herald News in May that Morris was trying to “scam” him out of money.
Mayweather remains in Las Vegas, where he’s training for the Bruseles bout, but these are anxious moments for Gatti’s handlers.
“This is a great concern to us, because technically (the Gatti-Mayweather promotion) is supposed to begin on Jan. 22,” said Carl Moretti, Main Events’ vice president of boxing operations. “Not knowing what could happen with Mayweather from now until then, and from then until (June 11), is extremely disturbing to us.”
Ruiz seeks elusive Byrd bout
John Ruiz has subsequently beaten the last two heavyweight contenders with whom Chris Byrd (38-2-1, 20 KOs) has struggled, Fres Oquendo (24-3, 15 KOs) and Andrew Golota (38-5-1, 31 KOs). Don King also promotes both boxers. So Ruiz figures that there is no better time than the beginning of 2005 for him and Byrd to face off in a partial unification fight.
Ruiz, the World Boxing Association champ, is especially eager to box Byrd because he read quotes attributed to the slick southpaw that stated Byrd believes Ruiz is a dirty fighter, a common complaint among those who’ve fought Ruiz. Byrd, the International Boxing Federation champ, wants a rematch against World Boxing Council champ Vitali Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) more than any other bout, but former champ Hasim Rahman (40-5-1, 33 KOs) is more likely to become the next Klitschko challenger.
“I’ll fight Byrd any time, any place and he can bring the ref,” Ruiz (41-5-1, 28 KOs) said. “Let him bring two referees if he wants. This fight can easily be made because we have the same promoter. All it takes is a phone call by Byrd. I’ll sign a contract tomorrow. I just don’t want it to be a cat fight because I don’t slap like him.”
Meanwhile, the rejuvenated Golota will likely receive his third straight title shot in March against World Boxing Organization champ Lamon Brewster (31-2, 27 KOs). The Golota-Brewster bout could be staged at Madison Square Garden, if Felix Trinidad (42-1, 35 KOs) and WBA/WBC junior middleweight champ Ronald “Winky” Wright (48-3, 25 KOs) agree to terms for a middleweight showdown on March 12 or March 19. Otherwise, Brewster against Golota could land in Chicago, Golota’s adopted hometown.
Reach Keith Idec at|(973) 569-7073 or|[email protected].
