Subject:
Holyfield stops Tyson to win WBA title
Date: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 2:50:32 PST
From: C-reuters@clari.net (Reuter / John Phillips)
Organization: Copyright 1996 by Reuters
Newsgroups: biz.clarinet.webnews.sports, biz.clarinet
ClariNet story BOXING-HEAVY from Reuter / John Phillips
Holyfield stops Tyson to win WBA title Copyright 1996 by Reuters / Sun, 10 Nov 1996 2:50:32 PST
LAS VEGAS (Reuter) - In one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, Evander Holyfield pummeled Mike Tyson helpless with nine unanswered punches in the 11th round to win the World Boxing Association's heavyweight title Saturday.
Tyson, who was rated an 18-1 favorite earlier in the week, was sent reeling into the ropes by Holyfield's onslaught that ended with a huge
overhand right hand, and referee Mitch Halpern jumped in to stop the fight.
``The man was out,'' Halpern said. ``He couldn't make adjustments, and I didn't want him to get hurt.''
Holyfield, who had dedicated the fight to God, became only the second man to win the heavyweight championship three times, after Muhammad Ali.
From the beginning of the fight, Holyfield, who was thought by many people to be a washed up fighter, stood toe-to-toe with Tyson and constantly beat him to the punch, especially with many right hand leads that stopped Tyson as he was coming in.
``I was washed up with everybody but I wasn't washed up with God,'' Holyfield said.
Early in the sixth round, a cut opened under Tyson's left eye, and Halpern interrupted the bout to call the doctor over to examine it and he quickly said Tyson could continue.
But shortly afterward, still early in the round, Holyfield caught Tyson with a short left to the head sending him on the seat of his trunks.
Tyson got up quickly and the two traded punches. But Holyfield landed a solid left-right-left-right combination just before the bell, sending Tyson into the ropes.
At the end of the round the sellout crowd of 16,325 stomped their feet and chanted, ``Holyfield, Holyfield, Holyfield.''
Both fighters were warned for holding, and Tyson complained of a head-butt in the seventh round. But it was Tyson who seemed to run into Holyfield's head.
Holyfield rocked Tyson again in the 10th round and Tyson struggled to stay on his feet as the bell sounded.
``I really don't know what happened,'' Tyson said. ``My eyes. He head butted me, but I probably did the same too. I look forward to a rematch with anybody. He fought a good
fight.''
``I give the glory to God. He is the credit,'' Holyfield said.
LAS VEGAS, USA, 9-NOV-96: Referee Mitch Halpern pushes Evander Holyfield away from Mike Tyson at the end of the 10th round in their WBA heavyweight championship bout, November 9. Tyson was saved by the bell but lost the fight on a TKO in the 11th round. |
