Showtime's Larkin: 'It's 50-50'
Holyfield-Akinwande bout may happen in Georgia Dome
Posted: Thursday July 23, 1998 10:01 AM
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Evander Holyfield might get a fall bout in his hometown AP |
ATLANTA (AP) -- The previously postponed Evander Holyfield-Henry Akinwande WBC heavyweight title bout may be held in the Georgia Dome, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday.
The fight was supposed to happen June 6 in Madison Square Garden, but was postponed after Akinwande tested positive for hepatitis B the day before the match.
Dates in late August or early September have been mentioned for a rescheduled bout.
The newspaper reported that two principals involved in the fight said the Georgia Dome was a possible site.
"It's 50-50," said Showtime president Jay Larkin, whose cable network has broadcast rights. "I think him coming home to fight in Atlanta could be a phenomenal event."
"I would agree," Holyfield's attorney, Jim Thomas, told the newspaper. "I'm becoming guardedly optimistic that we can overcome the various obstacles.
"I would very much like to have the fight here, and Evander would very much like it. It depends largely on how much support we sense," Thomas said.
Holyfield has long expressed an interest in staging another bout in Atlanta. He defeated Dwight Muhammad Qawi in 1986 and Bert Cooper in 1991 in fights at the Omni coliseum, which has since been razed to make way for a new arena.
Showtime, which hired Dr. Donald Kaminsky to test Akinwande, on Wednesday announced Kaminsky's conclusion that it is highly unlikely that the boxer is contagious.
However, Larkin said the New York State Athletic Commission will not relicense Akinwande until the test is negative. As a result, Atlanta and other sites are being considered.
Marina Capurro, vice president of communications for Showtime, said earlier this month that the fight could be August 29 in New York or September 5 at Las Vegas.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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