Patience Becomes Key for Holyfield : Boxing: Awaiting chance to prove himself against Tyson, Holyfield defends title tonight against unranked Bert Cooper.

Everyone credits unbeaten Evander Holyfield with possessing speed, strength and stamina. But the heavyweight champion, who will defend his title against Bert Cooper at the Omni in Atlanta tonight, also has infinite patience.

Holyfield remains stoic and unruffled while critics continue to suggest that he is a bulked-up light-heavyweight masquerading as a heavyweight. He is accused of serving as a caretaker of the heavyweight crown until former champion Mike Tyson clears up his personal problems.

Although Holyfield won the title 13 months ago by defeating Buster Douglas, the man who upset Tyson, cynics said that Douglas that night in Las Vegas was simply looking for a soft spot to rest his head.

Critics also have credited “Team Holyfield” with adroitly sidestepping Tyson, who faces a January trial for alleged rape, while taking minimum risks against the likes of Cooper, who has been stopped by Carl Williams, Nate Miller, George Foreman and Riddick Bowe.

Holyfield’s promoter, Dan Duva, has implied that the champion can survive without Tyson and a $30-million guarantee by fighting less menacing opponents for $10 million to $15 million. But Holyfield is intent on facing Tyson, realizing that only a victory will certify Holyfield as a great heavyweight champion.

Trainer Lou Duva, the camp coordinator and unofficial spokesman for Holyfield, recognizes the champion is in a “no-win” situation against the unranked Cooper. Anything short of a lightning knockout will be viewed as a disappointing performance, especially before a partisan audience in Holyfield’s hometown.

“People make impossible demands of Evander,” Lou Duva said. “He’s beaten everyone they’ve put in front of him.

“They compare him to ‘Robo-Cop,’ but I don’t care if he’s 126 pounds, he still wins all the time. He weighed 210 (Thursday), but that was with shoes and a sweat shirt. He’s really 206, but just as solid as a rock.”

Because of Holyfield’s civilized comportment outside the ring, his image suffers. Fight fans prefer their heavyweight kings to be menacing, snarling individuals in the mold of a Sonny Liston or Tyson, or wise-cracking braggarts such as Muhammad Ali.

As Tyson snickers, “Evander can’t draw flies in a dump.”

Holyfield acknowledges his lack of charisma.

“Tyson gives the people what they want,” Holyfield says. “He fits their role. He says what he wants to say and knocks people out. I just respect people. Being a heavyweight champion doesn’t give me special privileges.”

But promoter Bob Arum says that, in time, fans will appreciate Holyfield’s quiet, confident manner the same way they were won over by Joe Louis.

“Tyson is charismatic for different reasons,” Arum said. “But if Holyfield keeps winning, he’ll become a big attraction. For now, you’ve got to match him with interesting guys. In the meantime, Evander is laughing all the way to the bank.”

Holyfield will earn a reported $6 million, compared to $700,000 for Cooper, who is substituting for injured Francesco Damiani of Italy.

Said Cooper, “I owe this fight to the big man upstairs. . . . It’s a dream come true.”