Don King, Madison Square Garden and eight very different
heavyweight players are just the bare ingredients for this coming weekend's
PPV TV dinner. Four very unique platters will be served up and I personally
reckon that there will be a little something on the menu for even the most
particular of connoisseurs in the house.
Evander Holyfield v Larry Donald
It has been a while since either man has set the world on fire so it is a
shot at redemption for both on this large scale stage show. Larry has
forgotten his lines too often in past auditions for a chance like this and
although looking -and at times- acting the part I can't particularly
remember the last time he chillingly gave me goose bumps and made the
hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Evander may not be anything near what he once was, but a 50% Holyfield
should be able to douse legendary Larry's flames on this occasion. One
thing that Evander does bring each time out is vast experience and a heart
that even now beats to a different beat than most of today's pretenders,
Larry Donald included. Evander knows what it takes to be number one while
Larry hasn't a clue how to grab great opportunities when they come
knocking; God only knows they have come more than once in his 12 years as
a pro.
I expect a reluctant to commit Larry to get out hustled by the superior
knowledge of an Evander Holyfield that knows just too much to fall at a
fence of such importance. If Evander doesn't win, he has no business
boxing any more period; actually if Larry doesn't win neither does he.
Hasim Rahman v Kali Meehan
Hasim Rahman is really a great heavyweight that too often is beaten purely
because he doesn't do that little bit extra to gain the upper hand in
major fights. It takes a really big challenge to motivate the Maryland
heavyweight into reaching for the stars. The stars he left Lennox Lewis
seeing in Carnival City in his finest hour, in that same vein the stars he
himself was left staring into in their Las Vegas rematch...
The big question is ... Can Australia's Kali Meehan and a potential WBO
World Championship shot be enough to jump-start Rahman into another
showing of the greatness we know he is capable of? Kali Meehan for all of
his faults does deserve a fight of this magnitude, his gallant losing
effort against Lamon Brewster was enough for all to see he is ring worthy
in this kind of company. If the Meehan that bruised Brewster meets the
Rahman that sleep walked against Ruiz, we could be in for a very
interesting fight. Both Rahman and Meehan can box and punch and are
physically strong heavyweights; Meehan having the edge in athleticism and
ambition, while Rahman has the edge in power and experience.
This could either be a showstopper or a non starter... Looking at Rahman's
condition at the weigh in it may be explosive. Nonetheless a very nice
pairing...
Chris Byrd v Jameel McCline - IBF Heavyweight
Championship
This IBF Championship duel is the rarest of things, Jameel and Chris are
genuine friends who for this fight have had to separate their brotherly
love for some brotherly glove. This could prove a negative thing, Chris
can be too overcautious too often and Jameel can be overwhelmed on major
occasions (Klitschko and Boswell to be exact) which may rob this fight of
the fire it truly needs.
On paper Jameel is a capable, dangerous, 260 lbs. 21st century heavyweight
who should easily devour any 215 lbs. fighter on most given nights, but
this 215 pounder isn't just the most awkward, stylish, defensive genius
called Chris Byrd, he is also a friendly face.
Bottom line, to steal victory Jameel has to be in the same killer zone he
was when faced by the fearsome Mike Grant four years ago, but I doubt Byrd
will be something Jameel can generate that same mentality for. If Byrd
can overcome McCline's size by staying completely focused, controlling the
whole fight like the champion he proclaims to be, he should have too much
in all departments for Jameel to handle.
Byrd can't stand in front of Jameel, and McCline can't allow Byrd the
luxury of dictating the pace. It is a very interesting fight , but I fear
it may be a hard one for the viewer. It has points written all over it.
John Ruiz v Andrew Golota - WBA Heavyweight
Championship
Last year, Polish terror Andrew Golota proved against Chris Byrd that he
is back in the frame and means business. He is big punching and action
packed, yet can be exactly the opposite, if he chooses to be. Ruiz himself
is a capable, yet unpredictable boxer puncher who gets by on his rugged,
hard to beat style. He is best at frustrating talented performers by
simply not allowing them to have their own way. He turned a motivated
Kirk Johnson into a tired, unkempt and desperate wreck who realized far
too late, in a very painful way, that John Ruiz is a hard man to nail with
conventional skills, and was drawn down to Ruiz's dirty trickster level
where he was embarrassingly disqualified a couple of years back in Las
Vegas. And if a man with a squeaky clean nature as Johnson can be forced
to resort to those gutter tactics by Ruiz, I dread to think what a man
with Andrew's filthy foul history may resort to if put in that same
scenario.
If Golota keeps it clean and boxes with authority for three minutes of
every round at his own tempo, there is no reason why the title won't
change hands come Saturday evening. But if Golota allows John to get into
his head like Kirk did in a frustrating fight that Ruiz begins to dictate,
things could become mighty nasty.
Not the best match up in the world, but good bad or indifferent it's two
proven, highly experienced heavyweights who need to truly showcase what
they have left at this level.
Could be Ugly style wise. Could be period.. I hope once again that I am
proven wrong.
Madison Square Garden brings us a menu with four
different courses not all to everyone's taste, but come Sunday we may have a
clearer indication as to who is past their shelf life in the heavyweight
Kitchen. It is clearly a place where you have to be able to stand the heat.
The proof of any good meal is in the eating... Enjoy the offerings.
