Holyfield Cleared to Fight Tyson
Armed with a clean bill of health from the Mayo Clinic, Evander Holyfield won approval from state boxing officials Friday to fight Mike Tyson for the heavyweight title Nov. 9.
Boxing commissioners dismissed concerns about the condition of Holyfield’s heart after a complete medical exam done at the Mayo Clinic turned up nothing to indicate there was any heart problem.
“If we deny this man a license, we can’t license anybody,” said Dr. Charles Ruggeroli, a physician for the Nevada Athletic Commission. “Nobody has had the extensive testing of his heart that Evander has.”
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the 33-year-old former heavyweight champion for the fight based on Mayo Clinic tests that included everything from a spine evaluation to a complete neurological exam.
Holyfield’s heart has been a concern since he lost the heavyweight title to Moorer in April 1994. He was diagnosed then as having a non-compliant left ventricle, which is manifested by severe fatigue, and a small hole between the upper chambers of his heart.
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