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ATE: Holyfield, Tyson, Lewis

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In this week’s Ask the Editor, we talk about Mike Tyson mooted return to action on a series of exhibition bouts, Evander Holyfield’s comeback last Friday, consider whether Lennox Lewis could still be the world’s best heavyweight three years on from his retirement and more.

TIME FOR HOLY TO GO
First Name : Lee
Last Name : Holyfield
Country : USA
Your Question : As you can see from my name I have a strong interest in my namesake Evander Real Deal Holyfield. I was glad he got a KO the other night but now he’s not coming off a loss should he fight on? Personally, I would like to see him go now. Go off on a W rather than a L.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: Yeah, exactly. I hear he’s gonna be fighting former European Champion Sinam Samil Sam next - and he’ll be badly beaten up in that fight and then, please, let his licence be taken from him.

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: As you can see from my name, I’m a world class rugby player, and the inventor of Cookie dough ice cream...Seriously though Lee, there is absolutely NO WAY Holyfield will retire after his recent win. Personally, I think Holyfield has achieved more than enough in boxing, and should have retired about 5 years ago. Having said that, he did look rather good last week, despite fighting a no one. His punches were crisp, and he was moving his legs very well. Holyfield claimed his poor performances were a result of chronic shoulder injuries, and there actually might be something too that, and I speak from personal experience here. When you have a serious shoulder injury, it is excruciating even holding your hands in guard position, let alone throw punches. I’m not saying Holyfield is back to his prime, but he may not be quite as used up as everyone thinks. He may possibly be able to compete with Maskaev, as the new WBC champ isn’t exactly Ali. You never know, Holyfield might not be completely crazy.

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: I have nothing but respect for Evander Holyfield. The term Warrior is used far too loosely when referring to some boxers nowadays but certainly not in Holyfield’s case. His heart, fierce determination and durability was unequalled in the prime of his career, unfortunately, though, it is that same inner steel driving him on again.

Like everyone else of course I think he should retire, it is one thing knocking out the likes of Jeremy Bates but quite another stepping up to the world top 10 level again. Like Paul says boxers sometimes need to be saved from themselves, Evander is one of them.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: All fans would love to see their favourite boxer go out on a spectacular fairytale win. In boxing, it rarely happens. As has been seen over the last few years, there is no way Evander Holyfield is going to retire until he is forced to by authorities. The man has such inner determination to succeed, there is no talking him around. In a certain way, I admire Evander for that. That’s what made him such a great champion. The ability to pick himself up off the canvas and fight his way back.
Boxers need to be protected by others when they can’t protect themselves. After his Friday win, there will be plenty of people who would be surprised how well Holyfield spoke and looked in the ring. Let’s be fair. What he was facing wasn’t much. Holyfield will fight on. Because of the current state of the heavyweight division, he will most probably fight for a world title in 2007. Let’s just hope it ends safely for Evander, win or lose.

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WHAT’S GOING ON WITH JOE?
First Name : Richard
Last Name : Caton
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : What the hell is Joe Calzaghe doing going back down to bum-every-nine-months level??? Sakio Bika is a bum. This is the huge opponent Frank Warren was waiting to confirm? I think the Lacy fight will be remembered as the one time Warren let Calzaghe fight a decent opponent. And I just don’t get it. Do you?

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: Bizarre. I cannot for the life of me explain why they have chosen Sakio Bika given there are some huge names out there for Joe to fight. I’m speechless.

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Say what feel why don’t you , Richard. Bika is no bum, he was giving WBC champ a tough time before the stoppage a few months back.

I think this is a tough fight for Joe but you must understand how difficult it is to make these big fights. You say ’what the hell is Joe doing going back down to bum every-nine month level??? but it can be very difficult making these big fights happen. Lets face it, Joe looked magnificent taking care of Jeff Lacy last time out so any potential high profile opponent is very likely to price themselves out of the fight.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: On paper, Calzaghe-Bika may look like a mismatch and I can understand your disappointment Richard. But having seen Sakio Bika fight and train up close for a number of years, I can assure you that he isn’t any ’bum’. His skills are improving, but he is a tank in the ring, relentlessly plowing forward. He is almost impossible to hurt with a body and chin of granite. I think many UK boxing fans will be impressed. He will take the fight to Joe and make him fight for twelve rounds. Of course, Calzaghe is a huge favourite. But Bika was making life very difficult for Markus Beyer when their fight was stopped earlier this year due to a head clash. Joe and Frank Warren may think this fight will be easy. It won’t. Calzaghe may well outbox Bika over the distance, but the Welshman will certainly know he is in a fight.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: I agreed with the judge who’d given every single round to Beyer before Bika’s headclash ended the fight. I think we have to accept that Joe Calzaghe isn’t fighter who gets in there fight after fight with elite opposition. However, few fighters actually do that. What Joe is, however, is a man who hasn’t lost a fight since the end of the 1980s who is on a nine-year (nine!) reign as a world champion and has beaten average to very good fighters with some ease over many years. It is a different kind of legacy he is almost finished forging, but an impressive one never the less.

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GOOD LUCK TYSON - BUT I’M NOT INTERESTED
First Name : David
Last Name : Beckett
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : Tyson is a man up to his neck in debt and the only ways he can earn money are through speaking engagements or by punching for pay as he has no educational qualifications and has no other skills that could earn him sufficient to be able to scratch the surface of his debts. Personally, as with Evander Holyfield, I consider him a ’yesterday’s man’ and have no interest in ’Pride’ and would not pay to see him fight again. Like every free man, Tyson has a right to earn a living and, if that is by MMA/Pride, then good luck to him, but he won’t be getting a penny from me.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: IF it happens, I’d be more than interested in seeing Tyson box exhibition matches. Having seen Tyson fight live, it is an exciting experience no matter what the opposition is and, let’s be fair to him, he’s just trying to earn an honest buck by plying the only real trade he has. Legendary fighters like Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and the rest all boxed in exhibition bouts and if Tyson can make a living out of it who are we to criticize him?

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: I doubt Tyson will ever fight anyone with any chance of beating him, so I too will not fork out a penny to watch him.

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Tyson’s financial problems are well documented and if this is the only way he can earn a living fighting these exhibitions then so be it. We all have a choice as to whether we buy into these bouts or not.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: If Tyson can make a buck fighting exhibitions, good
on him. Ultimately the fans will decide if it is worth paying for.

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SUPER FIGHTER - OFF OR ON?

First Name : Dean
Last Name : Marando
Country : Australia
Your Question : Is there anymore information on the Super Fighter tournament originally supposed to be in Melbourne in July? Have the eight fighters been confirmed? Some fighters who are supposed to be in the tourney have since announced individual fights? Will it now be cancelled?

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: The last I heard was it had been put back to December. I think the organisers are finding it hard to arrange eight headline heavyweights at once. It’s hard enough trying to find two to put in the ring together these days!

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: I think the tournament is a very cool idea but I’ve spoken with two fighters attached to it who now believe the whole thing isn’t gonna happen. We shall see, but I think it’s never gonna happen. At least not with eight genuine heavyweight contenders involved.

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LENNOX COULD COME BACK AND WIN
First Name : Paul
Last Name : Wickes
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : If Tyson can earn a few bucks by fighting exhibition bouts, then good luck to him. But will I pay to see him? No. The funny thing is, the heavyweight seen is so wide open. Lennox Lewis must be itching to come back and clean up. And I think he could do just that!

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: I think Lennox could beat all the heavyweights out there today, but he seems very content commentating. Good for him.

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: The heavyweight division may be at its weakest for many years but I very much doubt Lewis would come back, even for a king’s ransom. We must also bear in mind that even though the current champions are very beatable Lewis is well above his fighting weight and has not fought for more than three years. I do not think Lewis is ’itching to come back’ as far as I know Lennox is very happily retired and enjoying his new family.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: With the heavyweight division at its lowest ebb, the legend of Lennox Lewis continues to grow. Sure, he could still be fighting now and winning fights, but what would it mean to his legacy. By beating which current heavyweight would mean more in 10, 20 or even 50 years from now? Lennox made the correct decision to retire on top. He set a precedent that Bernard Hopkins followed and Oscar De La Hoya would love to emulate. Don’t come back Lennox, as much as boxing needs you more than ever. Stay retired and your legend will continue to grow.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: I think Paul put it perfectly...

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COULD TYSON RULE AGAIN?
First Name : james
Last Name : coffey
Country : Ireland
Your Question : I think Tyson is only in to make a few more bucks and good luck to him its not like he saying he going for the title again, but what if wins the first three fights and draws a big crowd, whos to say he wont come back to try and fight at the top level. what do you think?

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: I hope Tyson stays retired. He has nothing to gain by fighting again. Let him make some cash by fighting exhibitions. I want to remember him at his best from 1986 when he pulverised Trevour Berbick to his ultimate destruction of Michael Spinks in 1988. Over those three years, Tyson was in his prime and would never be the same again afterwards.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: Nah, if Tyson boxes exhibitions I think he’ll stay there. I am sure he’ll never fight professionally again.

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TYSON SHOULDN’T RISK IT
First Name : Mark
Last Name : Deakin
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : If the people around Mike Tyson allow him to step between the ropes again they should be hung drawn and quatered. Mike Tyson was one of the modern greats and a massive attraction. As a fan I don’t want to see Mike Tyson or any fighter risk there lives to pay the bills when clearly passed it. As Kevin McBride a fringe contender at best showed Tyson is there to be hit and Iron Mike has nothing left to give with all the will in the world. I understand he has bills to pay but he also has kids to look after. Tyson has said himself he is finished and doesn’t have it anymore. I just hope he has the sense to stay retired from boxing or from any sport that involves taking shots. Its over time to find some new blood and leave Tyson alone.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: I don’t see anything wrong with him boxing exhibitions, Mark. I’ve seen exhibition bouts conducted so gingerly there was no chance of anyone getting hurt.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Agreed. Let’s keep Mike out of the professional ring. He is 40 years of age. Let him commentate, make appearances or even exhibition spar for a few dollars. But I don’t want to see him fight as a professional again.

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TYSON WWE STYLE SHAME
First Name : Gavin
Last Name : Whalebone
Country : Australia
Your Question : Hi Guys. I think Mike Tyson’s decision to "cap" (maybe) his career off with a series of gimmicky exhibition bouts is apropos of the type of marketing juggernaut that Tyson became, following his association with Don King. Tyson has never conducted himself with any sense of dignity or integrity, and has seemed more content to settle for dollars rather than sense. And PRIDE FC, with its WWE style theatrics and pyrotechnics, would appear the most appropriate of stages for Tyson to conclude (hopefully) a career that was marred by self-destruction and the avarice of his associates. The tattoo on his bicep that reads "days of grace" becomes more and more ironic with every report on Iron Mike’s new escapades.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: I don’t understand how an ex-champion boxing exhibition bouts is somehow supposed a disgrace or indignity...

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Boxing is becoming more and more like pro wrestling every day. I just hope that whatever money Tyson would make from any exhibitions, is going into his pocket to pay bills and not being sliced and diced behind the scenes for those around him who don’t deserve it.


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EXHIBITIONS GOOD IDEA

First Name : Jason
Last Name : Evans
Country : USA
Your Question : I think if Tyson can stay out of trouble and really train this time, people will come to see him. After all nobody since Ali and those years captured the publics attention more than Tyson. And i’m referencing him inside the ring. It wasnt just that he knocked guys out, it was the fashion in which he did it. I think Tyson should do some exhibition bouts and pay off his debt. In an ideal world he would go back under trainer Kevin Rooney and start training like he did when he was younger, recapture the titles and then retire with a good ending.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: The legend of Rooney is an interesting one, esp considering Rooney achieved nothing after Tyson left him. Personally, I think Tyson’s peak was a very, very brief one and that he was already a fading force by even 1989. It wouldn’t have mattered who was training Tyson, he was in decline and that’s that.

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Jason, your right, I too was a massive fan of the Rooney/Tyson partnership. Who knows what they could have achieved if they had stayed together. Unfortunately we will never know.

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