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The rematch Fighters vow different outcome this time
Posted: Friday November 12, 1999 01:47 PM
By Nick Charles, CNN/SI (CNN/SI) -- We all know that the first time Lennox Lewis met Evander Holyfield last March at New York's Madison Square Garden, nothing compelling happened. And even they would agree. "It wasn't my very best fight," said Holyfield, "but he didn't do anything either." "He" is Lennox Lewis. "Yeah I realize the world is waiting for a great fight," added Lewis. "And this is my opportunity." The only memorable element of the fight was the odd conclusion that nobody won. Neither the fans who are disgusted, nor the fighters who are dissatisfied and anxious to clear up unfinished business when they meet again Saturday night in Las Vegas. "I think both guys as a result of looking back at the first fight and considering the criticism both have received to some degree, means that it's gonna be a more aggressive fight on the part of both fighters," said Lewis' trainer Emanuel steward. Holyfield must bring more to the party this time and maintains he'll begin by outboxing Lewis. "I have to show more ring generalship by fighting on the outside a lot. Then to make him feel that I'm very effective from the outside," Holyfield said. "Then it will be a lot easier to come inside." Lewis scoffs at the Holyfield camp strategy. "I say they live in a fantasy world. Why didn't they do that the first fight? I don't think they have an answer for me." Lewis isn't intimidated by Holyfield and has the blueprint to dominant. His weight, height and reach advantage means he can again keep Holyfield at the end of his jab. "Very seldom has Evander been effective fighting tall fighters," observed Steward. "So we keep him at bay with the left jab." The shutdown moves Steward devised for Lewis to take away Holyfield's rhythm in the first fight included grabbing him around the neck, jabbing, and then stepping back with the right foot and shoving his left hand in Holyfield's eye. "I don't think he'll be poking his hand out like that no more than one or two rounds," says Holyfield's trainer Don Turner. "Because he's going to get a message of what's going to happen and he's not going to like it." Steward countered by saying, "I think once the jab starts landing you'll see much bigger, harder punches coming in. Particularly body punches coming in. Particularly body punches as well as head punches." Lewis knows what he has do to win. "I have to make sure I pick up the pace, making sure that I'm under control," he said. "And make sure that when I throw my combinations, they're not wide combinations. They're effective combinations without being wild or reckless." Meanwhile the only way for Holyfield to penetrate Lewis' armor is to keep punching. "That's the absolute truth," acknowledged Turner. "You've got to start throwing punches from the opening bell and just throw, throw, throw." As in most sporting events, the deciding factor could come down to a numbers game. "If he's averaging 75 punches a round, the other guy's in trouble," said Holyfield's assistant trainer Kenny Weldon. "If he's not, if he's down under 50, then we've got a problem."
Holyfield has to make it an inside fight, take away Lewis' punching room and not get abused in the process. "Yeah he knows he has to put heat on him," Turner said of Holyfield. "That's the way to beat Lennox Lewis, there's no getting around it. You can't stand outside and box a guy with an 84-inch reach." If that's what Holyfield brings, Lewis says he'll be waiting. "If he wants to come in and try and get to the body," said Lewis, "then he's going to get punched on the way in and the way out." Evander? "I don't think he actually wants to get in a fight close with me. I feel that he knows that it's to my advantage when we can swap punches." Lennox? "I say I'll be there and gone before he even thinks about throwing a combination. I think my speed is much superior than his." Holyfield's assistant trainer says no way. "If Lewis starts moving it's over," weldon said. "Because Lennox Lewis' hands and his feet don't work together. Lennox Lewis is a guy that has a very small arsenal of punches. Evander has nine punches in his arsenal." But if Holyfield falls behind on the scorecards he'll be forced to become desperate and try to find the power to catch Lewis with a fight-saving knockout blow. While Lewis may welcome a slugfest, so does Turner. "I hope that's exactly what he does because you know when Evander fights on instinct, there's nobody greater than he is. You know if he makes a dogfight out of it, he'll definitely win the fight." Lewis' trainer contends power will be in his fighter's corner. "Lennox Lewis still is the bigger puncher," Steward said. "Between the two of them, Lennox Lewis is the one who has proved he can knock a man out with one single blow." And if Lewis gets his chance, he says it will be lights out for the competition. "You know I don't get paid for overtime," Lewis said. "If the opportunity presents itself, I'll definitely take him out." As for Holyfield, there's no knockout prediction this time. Only victory to show the world he's not through. So, is Lennox Lewis about to be impressed? "Well if he's not, he will be when he wakes up," Holyfield said.
Holyfield knows to get old against Lewis could be a torturous experience. Lewis understands that to kill Holyfield's fighting spirit won't be easy. Both fighters have taken steps forward and back. Neither is getting any younger and victory Saturday night will be the only way to solidify their claim to greatness as the one and only heavyweight champion of the world.
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