Moorer Is Perturbed by Relaxed Holyfield

His ear looks nearly as good as ever. His faith seems as strong as ever. His body appears as solid as ever.

Without a perceptible scar, Evander Holyfield steps back into the ring tonight for the first time since that horrendous evening last June when Mike Tyson shocked the boxing world by biting off the top of Holyfield’s right ear.

If anything, Holyfield seems too relaxed as he prepares to face Michael Moorer in a heavyweight unification bout at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of Nevada Las Vegas.

For example, guess where Holyfield, the 12-5 favorite, was Thursday night? Tucked into bed, resting mind and body?

Not exactly.

Holyfield was out in the bright lights of Vegas, laughing and singing and having a grand old time.

Evander Holyfield?

Yes, but don’t start thinking scandal here. The World Boxing Assn., champion stepped out Thursday night, but, in his mind, he was strengthening his spirit, not sapping his strength.

The bright lights were those at Cashman Field, a minor league ballpark, the laughing and singing part of the Holy Warrior Invasion, a religious gathering that drew about 10,000 who came, free of charge, to hear Holyfield sing hymns with his wife, Janice, and a choir, and then talk for nearly an hour about the power of faith.

Holyfield has spent all week involved in activities outside the ring. He addressed a group of kids Tuesday, chatted online with high-school newspaper editors Wednesday and also has been involved this week with his wife in a program to feed Las Vegas’ homeless.

To those who think this demonstrates a failure to take seriously the challenge of Moorer, the International Boxing Federation champion, Jim Thomas, Holyfield’s manager, says, think again.

“This all goes hand in hand with Evander,” Thomas said. “There is no more training to do. He can spend the final days before the fight sitting around watching TV, or he can use his energy productively, drawing strength from the things he likes to do. Which do you think is better?”

Moorer says he thinks Holyfield is taking him lightly because he keeps hearing Holyfield talk about his next possible fight, against World Boxing Council champion Lennox Lewis.

“He’s looking right past me,” an angry Moorer said. “He thinks he’s going to blow past me. That’s a big mistake.”

It would be understandable if Holyfield were to approach this fight at a lower emotional level than he did the last two. After all, he has twice faced Tyson in the last 12 months and twice beaten him, the first time pulling off one of the greatest upsets in boxing history, the second time winning on a disqualification after Tyson’s teeth did their damage.

How do you top that?

No way. But Holyfield still has plenty of motivation for tonight’s fight. For one thing, he wants to avenge one of the setbacks in his 34-3 record, which includes 24 knockouts. Moorer beat Holyfield on a 12-round majority decision in April 1994, a loss that cost Holyfield his WBA and IBF crowns.

For another, Holyfield has big plans ahead. He’d like to beat Moorer and beat Lewis to become the undisputed heavyweight titleholder, and then perhaps retire, or possibly face Tyson yet again in what would be the richest fight in history.

Moorer is right. Holyfield is looking past him. And Holyfield likes what he sees.

So no, motivation will not be the key factor in tonight’s fight, a fight that will earn Holyfield $20 million, Moorer $5 million.

The key will be Moorer’s style. Two things about Moorer bother Holyfield: He fights from a southpaw stance and has an excellent jab.

Tyson’s style was made for Holyfield. Holyfield loves to sit back and wait for fighters like Tyson, who charge in, angry and exposed.

“Against Tyson, I could sit back and fight my fight,” Holyfield said, “because I knew he was going to be there. With Michael Moorer being awkward a little bit, I want to press the issue.”

Can Moorer hold him off?

Probably not. Yes, Moorer won the first fight, but barely on a night when Holyfield hurt his shoulder in the second round and was suffering from a heart problem.

Since then, Moorer (39-1, 31 knockouts) was knocked out by George Foreman and went the distance in wins over Melvin Foster, Axel Schulz and the less-than-legendary Vaughn Bean. Moorer also had a 12th-round technical knockout victory over Francois Botha.

Not a particularly impressive run. And it figures to get worse tonight.

Prediction: Holyfield the winner via knockout by the ninth round.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Tale of the Tape

Sizing up the heavyweight championship fight between WBA champion Evander Holyfield and IBF champion Michael Moorer to be held tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas:

*--*

Category Holyfield Moorer Weight 214 223 Height 6-2 1/2 6-2 Age 34 29 Reach 77 1/2 78 Chest (normal) 43 42 1/2 Chest (ex.) 45 44 Biceps 16 17 Forearm 12 1/2 14 Waist 32 34 Thigh 22 26 1/2 Calf 13 17 Neck 19 1/2 20 Wrist 7 1/2 8 Fist 12 1/2 12

*--*

TONIGHT’S FIGHT

* MATCHUP: WBA champion Holyfield (34-3) vs. IBF champion Moorer (39-1).

* WHEN: Between 8 and 8:30 (PST).

* WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Nevada Las Vegas.

* TELEVISION: Pay per view.