by Carl Rice
11/12 - Before I go into this Saturday’s Pay-Per-View, let me say that I didn’t do a “Tale of the Tape” for the Kostya Tszyu v Sharmba Mitchell fight because I was in Ohio for the Election and after the results...let’s just say I lost a little respect for my home state. But I digress...my feelings about the fight was that I felt that Mitchell would box with Tszyu, using the ring and his speed to outmaneuver the champion. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that Tszyu would have knocked Mitchell out, let alone in the 3rd round. But Tszyu have once again proven that any road to a championship goes through “The Thunder from Down Under.

There are several fights that are on the horizon for Kostya, most notably Floyd Mayweather Jr. “Pretty Boy” is, in my view, a better boxer, has faster hands, better defense, and better footwork than Mitchell. But it cannot be overlooked that Mayweather is not a natural light welter, as he has only had one fight at the weight. In that fight, against top contender DeMarcus Corley, he was stunned early, which leaves one to wonder how well he could take a punch from the stone-fisted Tszyu. But it signifies the biggest money fight for both fighters, and Mayweather has always taken on the top fighters at whatever weight he’s fought (except for jr. lightweight, where both Joel Casamayor and Acelino Freitas said they wanted Mayweather, but never actually tried to make the fight happen. However, this is a moot point, as Diego Corrales beat both fighters, and everyone remembers what happened when “Chico” and Mayweather met). Before Mayweather can even think about moving up to welter, he’ll have to meet Tszyu.

In other news, everyone knows that hip-hop music and boxing go hand in hand, and there’s been some clowning of Roy Jones as of late. After getting KOed in two consecutive fights, he’s been fodder of the hip-hop community, from which Jones has been trying to get love from with his first solo effort “Round One”, and in his second album, “Body Head Bangerz”, which was just released last month. Apparently, while attending Ja Rule’s release party for his upcoming album, Roy stepped to Bronx native and artist Fat Joe. It seems Roy was upset about the lyrics “even Roy Jones was forced to lean back”; Lean back, coincidentally, is Fat Joe’s single, which is getting much airplay. When Roy asked what was up with the lyrics, Fat Joe said “It is what it is. You were forced to lean back. Twice.”. Roy just walked away after that, but what else could he say? Perhaps being ridiculed by those he’s gotten so much respect from is exactly what Roy needs to get that fire back.

Now, let’s get to this weekend's fights. Called “The Battle for Supremacy” by the marketing master Don King, it presents an all heavyweight offering. Unfortunately, it’s closer to “Heavyweight Explosion” than it is to anything else. Although I will not pay for the Pay-Per-View, hopefully one of my people will get the fight. But as a boxing fan, I feel the need to still analyze the fights and make predictions, so without further adu, here are the matchups.

Evander Holyfield v Larry Donald

Things have gotten thick for Holyfield. Once a top heavyweight champion, he’s been reduced to an over-the-hill big name fighter, according to many boxing writers. It’s hard for me to concede to that title, for I see him as a once great fighter who still has the physique of an Adonis but whose skills have deteriorated to a point where guys who he would have walked through now have a solid chance to beat him. Who can forget the whoopin he took in his last fight against James Toney. Although Toney himself is a great fighter, not many, including myself, felt the former middleweight would have KOed “The Real Deal”. No one wants to see him take a beating like that again.

But attempting to repeat that task is Larry Donald, who is viewed by most as a trial horse. He has taken on many top manes, and when that has been the case, Donald took the loss. And the biggest wins on his ledger? Jeremy Williams, Tyrell Biggs, and Tim Witherspoon. Not exactly a murderer’s row of the heavies. But this time he has to feel confident that he can not only beat Holyfield, but dominate him. But Holyfield will not just lie down on the canvas and give the victory away. In order to win, Donald will have to fight a pretty good fight and also fight with a heart and determination that he’s not yet displayed in his career. But as Donald himself so eloquently stated in the pre-fight press conference, “This might sound like slander, but I’m going to beat Evander." Eat your heart out, Muhammad Ali!

For Holyfield, he’ll not only have to win impressively, but he’ll have to give a reason for anyone to care that he’s still fighting. A controversial decision will not convince any champion that he deserves a chance; a solid split or unanimous decision will show that he’s still holding on, but only by his fingertips. Only a spectacular KO will make anyone have any faith that Holyfield can actually climb back to the top on the Heavyweight mountain.

I don’t feel that Holyfield has slipped enough to lose to Donald. It’s not about Donald, it’s about Holyfield. Holyfield knows that a loss in this fight means that he’s career is over. I think that Holyfield will come into this fight determined to show that he’s not done. Donald does not possess that skill of a Toney or the size of Lennox Lewis or the inside game (or wrestling skills) of John Ruiz, which leads me to believe that Holyfield will win this by unanimous, but not impressive decision.

Hasim Rahman v Kali Meehan - Meehan Video Interview

Meehan had a pretty action packed fight with WBO Champion Lamon Brewster, and some people even though he pulled it out. But Brewster also hurt him a few times; even though Brewster KOed Wlad Klitschko, that happened more because of his ability to take a beating and due to the stamina of Klitschko. Before that fight, no one outside of New Zealand (and perhaps Australia) knew who Meehan was. And let’s not forget, the only guy he fought who anyone would even recognize is Danny Williams, and Meehan lost that fight via a 1st round TKO, and no one outside the UK knew who Williams was before he KOed Mike Tyson. But after the Brewster fight, he made (or forced to make) the right choice and remained with the Don in order to move on to bigger events.

This time, he’s taking on the former Undisputed Champion (for 1 fight) Rahman. “The Rock” is quite the enigma, which is to say that fans and even his trainer don’t know what their going to get. Are we going to witness the determined, in shape fighter that came in and KOed Lennox Lewis, are they getting the warrior that came in, gave all he had is a slugfest against Corrie Sanders, or are they getting the Black Butterbean, coming in the ring totally out of shape? Rahman has stated that with his new trainer, Ronnie Shields, he’s in the best shape of his career, but haven’t we heard that before? After the loss in the rematch to Lewis, he left Adrian Davis and hooked up with the legendary Bouie Fisher. But after that didn’t work out he hooked up with Roger Mayweather and said he was in great shape. But then after another loss to John Ruiz, he changed trainers and hooked up with Shields. He changes trainers more than Oprah changes dress sizes.

Meehan is a pretty good hitter, but he never put Brewster down once in a fight that he landed everything. This leads me to believe that he won’t have the power to KO Rahman, who’s not know for having a cast iron chin. But this fight is not about Meehan; it completely depends on how Rahman comes into the fight. If he comes in under 240, he gives himself a pretty good chance. If he comes in over that weight, unless he can get to Meehan early, he will tire, which could lead to him getting KOed. I will believe that Rahman will come into this fight in good shape, use his piston-like jab to put Meehan off balance, and then, after being hurt himself, he’ll put him Meehan out for the count in round 4.

John Ruiz v Andrew Golota

Let’s be honest...watching John Ruiz fight on a PPV card is like going to a strip bar and getting a lap dance from a 250 pound stripper. You’re there because you like what goes on, but then you’re treated to something you’re not quite ready for. But people have to admit that Ruiz has something that other fighters just can’t figure out, as he’s taken on some good fighters and have come out victorious. The only fighter that have beaten him in the past 4 years have been Holyfield, and Roy Jones. His herky-jerky style, grappling infighting, and his heart have made him not only the first Latino heavyweight champion, but also the most undesirable champion to watch.

Let me get this out of the way early, Andrew Golota does not deserve another championship fight. Yes, he has a spirited fight with Chris Byrd, but if anything, he should have been fighting Byrd again. But the politics of boxing for Don King made sure that wouldn’t happen, so King maneuvered his newly signed fighter to take on another one of his champions. If he can keep himself under control, this can be a good fight, as Golota does have some skills. But if Ruiz can get into his head in the ring, who knows what can happen.

If Golota can control himself in the ring, use his size and boxing ability, he can actually pull this fight out. But if he comes in unfocused, he’ll lose by his own undoing. I think it’s the latter; Ruiz has made everyone except Jones fight his kind of fight, and Golota will be no different. Ruiz’s tactics will get to him and he will do something that will cause the referee to get on his case before getting disqualified after about 9 rounds. Hopefully Golota will leave the ball bouncing to the NBA.

Chris Byrd v Jameel McCline

So it has come to this...Chris Byrd and Jameel McCline are the main event of a PPV card. Wow. And I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way (well maybe a little) because I like Byrd and McCline. But the fact of the matter is that Byrd hasn’t had a superior performance since he won the vacant title by fighting Holyfield. And McCline hasn’t been much more impressive. After getting stopped by the little Klitschko, he’s stopped all 3 of his last opponents. Unfortunately, those two were Charles Shufford (TKO 3), Cedric Boswell (TKO 10 in a fight he was losing) and Wayne Llewelyn (TKO 1). Those guys will not prepare someone for a Championship fight or even a fight with a tackling dummy.

But remember we are talking about Chris Byrd, the new millennium version of the Will o’ the Wisp...well, at least until he fought Holyfield. In that fight, he stood more with Holyfield, who did not show the continuous combinations that he displayed in his youth. This gave Chris more confidence and since then he’s stood in with Fres Oquendo to the point where Larry Merchant said he resembled Joe Frazier. And with Golota, he leaned against the ropes more than Ali did against Big George. And in both of those fights, many thought he lost.

It’s hard to pick against McCline in this fight, as he’s going to come in at or over 270. He’s a pretty big guy and will have the weight advantage by no less than 50 pounds, but Byrd is no punk; he’s been in the ring with some big, tough, strong guys, and as long as he comes in and does what he’s best known for, which is slipping, sliding, and showing how defense can take over a boxing match, he’ll win easily. If he tries to show how tough he is by standing in with the much bigger McCline, he’ll be steamrolled. But my guess is that he’s learned his lesson and will be the boxing wiz we’ve all come to love and pull out a unanimous decision.

So there you have it folks, two decisions, 1 KO, and 1 DQ. Sounds like a great night of boxing for those with money to throw up the monkey’s butthole.

Please send all comments/opinions to crice@catsmpo.com

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