Closer Look: Curiouser and curiouser judging
Posted: Sunday March 14, 1999 10:07 AM
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Unaggressive Evander: Lennox Lewis connects on a vicious right to Evander Holyfield's head. Lewis had 228 more throws than Holyfield. AP |
By Albert Lin, CNN/SI
NEW YORK -- Once again, the sport of boxing has proven itself no better than professional wrestling. Because the Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis fight was not decided in the ring, as everyone at Madison Square Garden and watching worldwide surely knew. It was decided by -- to be kind -- curious judging.
After a dominating performance by Lewis -- in which Holyfield seemed to take at least half the rounds off, throwing 228 fewer punches -- the first inkling of a something shady came when Jimmy Lennon Jr. did not announce a unanimous decision. The first card he read, that of New Jersey judge Jean Williams, was 115-113 -- in favor of Holyfield. South African judge Stanley Christoudoulou had it 116-113 for Lewis. But perhaps the most surprising score came from Lewis' countryman, Great Britain's Larry O'Connor, who ruled the bout even, 115-115.
The result? In the record books, it's like the fight never happened. Holyfield keeps his WBA and IBF belts, Lewis his WBC version.
"This is why we need federal regulating right now," said Lewis trainer Emanuel Steward. "If they're going to have a rematch, what's to stop this from happening again? ... This is the sport I make my living in, and I'm ashamed."
Holyfield seemed to put all his faith into his prediction of a third-round knockout -- going so far to say before the fight that he had no Plan B. Holyfield barely threw any punches in the first two rounds, allowing Lewis to begin to build what seemed to be an insurmountable lead. Before the third round, Holyfield said in his corner, "This is it, this is the round right here. He's outta here."
Except it didn't happen. Lewis did exactly what most observers figured he had to do to win -- rely on his jab. He landed far more jabs (187) than Holyfield landed total punches (130), using his left hand to halt Holyfield rushes and also to measure him for power rights (Lewis had a 161-78 advantage in power punches). "When did he hit me with a jab?" Lewis asked. "I was pasting him with jabs all night."
Said his trainer, Steward: "It looked like Lennox was working with a sparring partner, except that the sparring partner was getting $20 million."
Even when the Brit stopped being the aggressor in Rounds 8-11 -- none of which he won according to any of the judges -- the general thinking was that he was so far ahead it didn't matter. Little did he know that when he finished the fight with a flurry, winning Round 12 on all three cards, he would need every last point just to salvage the draw.
"Every time it goes down to a decision, it usually don't go my way," Holyfield said. "I was blessed today. Thank the Lord."
Or, perhaps, thank Don King, the irascible promoter who immediately called for a rematch, something both fighters seemed agreeable to in a cordial post-fight press conference.
"I felt like I was in complete control the whole fight," Lewis said. "I knew they wouldn't let me walk out with all three belts without some kind of funny business."
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