Can Holyfield Win Decision in Las Vegas?

There are concerns in the camp of Evander Holyfield, concerns not for the fighter’s condition nor about his ability to beat Buster Douglas when the two finally step into the ring for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Oct. 25. The concerns are over whether Holyfield can win a decision in Las Vegas.

The concerns become understandable once you become aware of what seems like a cozy relationship between the Nevada Athletic Commission and the Mirage Hotel, the bout’s site, and its owner, Steve Wynn.

Newsday, among other newspapers, has documented the often overlapping relationships in Nevada. And this is not meant to imply that any of the gentlemen named herein are anything less than honorable or are guilty of anything. However, that old bugaboo--appearance of impropriety--is probably more prevalent here than in any other boxing jurisdiction in the United States.

“I get tired of hearing about perceptions,” said the commission’s executive director, Chuck Minker. “Let’s deal with realities.”

For starters, Dr. Elias Ghanem, one of the commissioners and a former chairman, is a close personal friend of Wynn’s. He was on the list of prospective witnesses submitted by Wynn’s side in the lawsuit that pitted Wynn and Douglas against Don King. The exploits of Ghanem have been reported here. Most boxing fans know he is also the personal physician of Mike Tyson, which did not stop him from serving as the WBC supervisor for at least two of Tyson’s title defenses.

Then there is the case of Richard Steele, one of boxing’s finest referees. The problem is, he works as a pit boss at the Golden Nugget, Wynn’s No. 2 hotel. You would think that would automatically preclude Steele from working the fight, and it probably will. But then again, this is Vegas.

And then there is the incident last Thursday, when two of Wynn’s underlings, Bob Halloran and Mike Trainer, were seated at the commission table for a Top Rank fight card at the Hacienda, over the strenuous objections of the promoter, Bob Arum. Arum’s motives notwithstanding--he and Wynn are locked into a blood feud--isn’t that just a little fishy?

So what has all this to do with Douglas-Holyfield, you might ask. Only this: If Douglas wins, he is already signed to fight Tyson at the Mirage in his next defense for a published purse of $35 million. Wynn tried to procure a similar agreement from Holyfield, but was rebuffed when he offered a guaranteed purse of only $15 million. And Holyfield’s promoters, Dan Duva and Co., have said they preferred a fight with George Foreman as Holyfield’s first defense. Simply put, if Douglas wins, Wynn and Vegas win. If Holyfield wins, there’s no guarantee. And strange decisions have happened out in the desert. Remember Spinks-Holmes II?

“That’s a bunch of crap,” Minker said. “If (Holyfield’s) good enough to win, he’ll win. The fight will be fair and square. Will the Mirage have any effect on the judging? It better not, I’ll tell you that.”

The Holyfield camp isn’t so sure.

“People have brought up the fact that the Mirage has an interest in Douglas winning,” Duva said. “Let’s face it, if he wins, the Mirage and Nevada are guaranteed the biggest heavyweight fight in history. But I’m not overly concerned with it. (Commission chairman) Dr. Jim Nave is one of the most honest boxing officials I’ve ever met, and I have a lot of respect for (commissioner) Duane Ford and Chuck Minker. If they weren’t there, then I’d worry.”

Holyfield, currently a 2-1 favorite, also professed to be unconcerned. “I’ve seen bad decisions, but I don’t think it will come down to that,” said Holyfield, who has stopped all four of his heavyweight opponents. “I can’t put that kind of pressure on myself. I just have to think that if I don’t get the decision, then I didn’t kick his butt good enough.”

Noble words from a fighter willing to take responsibility for his own destiny. For those of us who can only sit and watch, however, the question is: If the final bell tolls, can it toll for Holyfield?

Around the ring:

Iran Barkley dedicated his fight Saturday against Nigel Benn to the memory of his father, Frank, who died of throat cancer last week at 72.

New WBA welterweight champ Aaron Davis will fight an over-the-weight match against Warren Williams in preparation for his first defense, probably against Meldrick Taylor in November.

Former two-time lightweight champ Edwin Rosario makes his junior welterweight debut next Thursday at the Villa Roma Country Club in Callicoon, N.Y., against Dwayne Swift, co-featured with a Glenwood Brown-C.J. Duffy 10-rounder. Rosario apparently is headed for a long-overdue rematch with Hector Camacho, possibly as part of a doubleheader with Davis-Taylor, and Brown could get a shot at Simon Brown, another welterweight champion, on the undercard of Douglas-Holyfield.

Bill Cayton, manager of Morrison and, in case you’ve forgotten, still the manager of Tyson, will watch his “other” heavyweight in action for the first time since Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks more than two years ago. At the invitation of Donald Trump, Cayton will attend Tyson-Alex Stewart Sept. 22 at the Atlantic City Convention Hall. And how will Team Tyson react to Cayton’s presence at ringside? “I’m sure they’ll all be delighted to see me,” Cayton said. Who says the man has no sense of humor?