I'm theorizing that neither fighter trained too much, nor did they try too hard, knowing beforehand what the outcome was going to be.
When have you heard Holyfield crow before a fight like he did before this one? Promising a 3rd round knockout? I mean, he would assert that he would be victorious against Tyson, but I always felt that was a stand of confidence before a disbelieving press.
And after the fight, as they're reporting that Lewis was throwing a tantrum, but when they went in with the cameras, I don't know, it seemed like an act.
My brother heard from someone supposedly "in the know", that the formula for the championships is champ loses, champ wins, fight for real. Yep. That's the theory. 2 fixes, and one real fight. Triple your payday. The thinking is that in this case, a Holyfield loss would signify "washed up", so a draw is necessary to have sufficient contraversy for a rematch.
I hope this time, it bites 'em in the ass. And all the folks who said they'd never watch MLB or the NBA again hold true to their promises this time, and boycott professional boxing in masse.
And yes. Holyfield's out of wedlock children, and refusal to be stand-up about this loss have tarnished what could have been a legacy of courage and determination. A damn shame.
And yes again. I'd love to see Naseem Hamed vs. De La Hoya. Ever seen a little guy with the power of Hamed before? Whew. Now, he's good for the sport. Gotta have a villain before the hero can ride into town...
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