The Fight of the Next Millennium

Here's what I see some time in late 2000. The former Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson enters the ring in Uganda thousands applaud him. Then, reigning Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis enters. In recognition of his recent Knighthood he rides a top a horse. The roar is thunderous when the British flag trails behind him somewhere in the stands the "God Save the Queen" is being rendered by the voices of British fans. The flags of Britain and Canada can be seen flying in the air. Tyson enters wearing a traditional African outfit and a pan-Afircanism flag waving behind him the crowds roaring is louder than all the lions in Africa combined. Tyson holds a sling in one hand as he marches solemnly towards the ring. He spots a camera crew leans in toward the microphone, his words almost drowned out between the African chanting and the British fans singing. He speaks "This is David vs. Goliath here... I know it and I' m ready for him. He turns and walks to the ring.
Everybody wants this fight, Lewis wants, Tyson wants it, the Cable people want it, hell myself and most every fan wants to see this go down.
But; there are problems. Tyson is contracted to Showtime and Lewis to HBO. Seth Abraham HBO's representative expressed his hope that all can be worked out other HBO executives say the end of next year at the earliest. "At the right time, the fight will happen," said Shelly Finkel, Tyson's post-Don King manager says. All must remember however that the time is ticking. Tyson while younger on paper is older than Lewis in so many other ways. Jail and Don King have certainly run their course with Tyson.
We all know Lewis hopes to "please the fans" with his Tyson bout. But; a more realistic reason for this venue is the money. Tyson is the most recognizable name in boxing. This pay-perview event will be huge! Does Tyson want to fight Lewis? According to Finkel Tyson called Finkel several times during Holyfield vs. Lewis II and told him "I can beat this guy."
Finkel says Tyson needs a little warming up with some other bouts first. Before Tyson vs. Lewis in late 2000. Looming large on Tyson's horizon is Vitali Klitschko of the Ukraine. This guy's record is an impressive 27-0. His last opponent was blasted to bits in 2 rounds. Oh, yeah that guy was the European Champ. Why Tyson's corner is so confident this fight will be a push over bout is beyond me.
If Tyson can pull even a decision out over Klitschko, then he has a reasonable chance against the much less aggressive Lewis. If Tyson plans to retire after that bout then most assuredly Lewis as #1 contender will begin his another long war to reunify the Heavyweight Championship...again.

COMMANDE's COMMENTS #3

Tyson vs. Norris.
Poor old Mike Tyson a man that ten years ago had it all. Pepsi contracts and even a video game. Then came prison time, Ear biting Evander Holyfield, and more prison time. The NEWEST NEW Tyson is supposed to be kinder and gentler. Look ran to help Botha after the knockout and the way he admits to his past wrongs.
Yet Tyson still is Tyson. The fight with Orlin Norris was supposed to be a return to that kinder vintage Tyson in more ways than one. Back in 1990 Tyson had ruled the heavyweight kingdom for four years and Orlin Norris was inline for his title shot against Iron Mike. Then there was "The Take Down in Tokyo" where Tyson lost to 40-1 underdog Buster Douglas. Six days later Norris lost to Bert Cooper in Edmonton, Canada. He placed the blame on a knee injury and his chance at stardom was over. But; now nine years later Tyson was ready to meet him.
However Norris had other plans and long before that confusing first round began; he was complaining about how he had been shmoozed out of an extra 2 rounds by Tyson's manegement. He claimed he had signed for 12-rounds and that somehow he was not informed of that it was only going to be 10-rounds.
What does that have to do with the fight? Well more than likely Orlin Norris planned and trained to out last Tyson and finish him off when the ex-champ is getting tired in the later rounds. Yet with only 10 rounds his corner was concerned his stratetgy might fail. Look at the last few seconds of the round. Tyson lands punches up too the bell and lands one cheap-left after the bell. The punch floors Norris, yet look at Orlin's face it shows more of a "Hello Iron Head the rounds over!" than " My knee just buckled and I'm in seering pain". He gets up and returns to his corner unphased. Now at the end of the minute. Norris's corner signals he cannot continue. He sites the old-knee injury and is whisked away quickly.
The punch was ruled unintentional by the referee but; this is the third long string in controversial Tyson fights. Which includes Holyfield-Tyson II(Tyson disqualified) and Botha-Tyson(Botha KO'd in th 5th) All have been shrouded in controversy. Even his KO of Botha belittles the fact that Tyson was behind on all the Judge's cards before that and attempted to break Botha's arm. In the last three years Tyson:" The baddest man on the planet" has only been in the ring for a total of nine rounds.
I believe Norris when he claims to have had pain in his knee. But; apparently that didn't stop him from fighting Bert Cooper all those years ago. I also believe Tyson when he commented after the fight "I'm tired if everyting and everybody."

Chicken De La Hoya
Felix "Tito" Trinidad(35-0-30) entered the ring saturday dressed in the traditional clothing of Puerto Rico complete with sword. He predicted a sixith round knockout, however he was to find this fight a challenge.
His opponet Oscar De La Hoya(31-0-25 at the start of the fight) dominated early and got in a good three punch combo towards the end of the round. The next round Trinidad was on the offensive, though a punch started a nose bleed a serious distraction. In the fourth round his nose bleeding heavily Trinidad gave De La Hoya a straight right and a jab. In the fifth Trinidad got in both a left and a right Oscar punished him with a nice combo with less than 10 seconds remaining. This trying to steal the round at the 10 second warning was a tactic of Oscar De La Hoya's the entire fight. In the sixth Trinidad's left eye appeared to be swelling and he desparetly tried to stay on the attack. In the seventh the action was heavy concluding with Trinidad hitting Oscar slightly after the bell. Oscar gave him a look and gave him a furious assualt in the following two rounds clearly winning. In the tenth the tide turneded for the last time.Trinidad got in a short left early and later a combo. This time he stood his ground as Oscar Del La Hoya went all out on him at the warning. Oscar spent these last rounds dancing around the arena trying to avoid a Trinidad who had compesated for his eye. Once Tito got him against the ropes and in the final round he nailed the Golden Boy twice in the head. The judges didn't see this as Hoya's skill but; De La Hoya runnning from a fight.