Holyfield Will Fight Damiani on Nov. 23
Heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, who was to defend his title next month against Mike Tyson until an injury sidelined the challenger, will meet Francesco Damiani in Atlanta on Nov. 23, promoter Dan Duva announced Thursday night.
The unbeaten Holyfield will be returning to his hometown and to the site of his first world title fight to meet Damiani at the Omni.
The Holyfield-Tyson fight, expected to be the richest fight in history, was scheduled for Las Vegas on Nov. 8. It was postponed when Tyson sustained a rib injury and promoters were unable to reach a rescheduling date.
Tyson is scheduled to go on trial in Marion County Court in Indianapolis on Jan. 27 on a charge of rape.
Duva said any fight with Tyson would be rescheduled “for sometime after January 1992.”
Damiani, 33, the silver medalist for Italy in the 1984 Olympics, won his first 27 professional fights, then suffered his only loss against 1988 Olympic gold medalist Ray Mercer on Jan. 11.
Holyfield will get about $8 million for the Damiani fight. The challenger will get about $750,000, according to the promoter.
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