“Almost heaven…West Virginia.”
Lyrics, of course, from a sappy song entitled “Country Roads” by the late John Denver.
Sure enough, the Mountaineer State did contribute both esteemed trainer Emanuel Steward anf revived female boxing star Christy “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Martin to sport.
What’s laughingly known as the West Virginia State Athletic Commission has contributed nothing to boxing and the board has continued its ineptitude in giving 48 year old former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield a free pass to go on with a bout in Copenhagen March 5.
I just confirmed with recordkeeper Annibal Miramontes of Fight Fax Inc. that the commission did not give former heavyweight champion a medical suspension of any kind.
“No,” Miramontes said Tuesday, “there is nothing listed as to any suspension for Evander.”
Commander Vander, whose bout against Sherman “The Tank” Williams was ruled a no contest after three rounds Saturday night in White Sulphur Springs (Greenbriar Resort) when he complained that he had blood from a cut over his left eye obscured his vision, takes on the decrepit, 45 year old “Super Brian” Nielsen, lumbering Dane who has not boxed a single round since 2002.
((Holyfield was paid $225,000 to fight Bahamian Williams and now will get paid $500,000 in Denmark.)
Instead of “Let’s get ready to rumble,” they could introduce Nielsen-Holyfield, being held in a 2,000 seat venue where the cheapest tickets are above $500, could be preceded by the ring announcer spouting, “Let’s get ready to wheeze a lot!”
When I mentioned those expensive tickets and a PPV price of about $90 in Denmark, promoter Bob Arum said, “Somebody’s been blowing too much weed.”
Any competent boxing board would have handed Holyfield a six-week suspension to make sure that he would not spar and give the cut time to heal but competence and the West Virginia commission do not belong in the same sentence.
Here’s Doug Fischer of RingTV.com describing the bout:
“The 48-year-old Holyfield (43-10-2) was cut in the second round when Williams’ head made contact just above Holyfield’s left eye. The four-time heavyweight champion came out for the third round, and Williams (34-11-2) staggered him with several overhand punches. Before the fourth round could end, the start the fight was stopped and ruled a no-contest. “There’s a good chance [the fight in Denmark does not happen],” Holyfield said.”
I guess Holyfield wasn’t aware that the West Virginia commission was going to give him a free pass.
One crazy sidelight to this sideshow: Williams-Holyfield sold more tickets in West Virginia than in their prime, undefeated world champs Devon Alexander and Tim Bradley have for their Saturday night soiree in the Silverdome.
Weird but true, a 48 year old big name fighting an age 38 journeyman brings in more gate revenue that two excellent boxers in their 20s.
