AP
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Lennox Lewis
Evander Holyfield has offered a variety of explanations for his subpar performance in March: He took Lennox Lewis lightly. He was ill, and suffering cramps. He simply had a bad night. This time, there's no doubt that Holyfield will come into the ring in better shape and better prepared for Lewis' game plan. But it still won't be enough to win.
Even with his warrior's heart, Holyfield (6'2 1/2", 217) has no answer for Lewis's 6'5" frame, 242 pounds and 84-inch reach. He has always had trouble against taller fighters, the prime example being his two losses to the 6'5" Riddick Bowe. True, Holyfield beat Bowe in the Fan Man fight and he floored the big man in the sixth round of their third fight -- but Lewis is bigger, more powerful and smarter than Bowe. If Holyfield takes the chances he must take on Saturday, Lewis will use the advantages he has to make it a painful night.
Many of the questions posed to the champions leading up to the rematch have focused on what the fighters will do differently to win Saturday night's unification bout. Though Lewis and his camp have coyly talked of wanting a knockout, the truth is that Lewis will fight the same fight he did in March. And Holyfield's only saving grace would be another inept panel of judges.
-- CNN/SI's Evan Kanew |
AP
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Evander Holyfield
To write that Evander Holyfield will beat Lennox Lewis is more than a matter of thought. You don't think Holyfield will win; you believe it.
I mean, here's a guy who was once diagnosed with a heart ailment that would end his career. Holyfield didn't believe it. That was in 1994 and he's fought eight times since then. And he hasn't lost (officially, that is).
Almost every expert, fan and interested party thinks Holyfield will lose this time. Holyfield says he believes they are wrong. He plans to be more aggressive, i.e. get inside the big man's jabs. Fight close. It won't be a pretty fight. Holyfield is only interested in proving that, as usual, he's better the second time around. He beat big Riddick Bowe the second time; Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer and Dwight Qawi, too.
And he'll beat Lennox Lewis, too. Not because he's the better fighter or better boxer. But because he believes he should.
-- CNNSI.com's Steve Almasy
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