Holyfield Sizes Up His Next Opponent

Evander Holyfield, whose challenger will tower over him in their fight next Saturday, isn’t concerned about any height and reach disadvantages.

“I’m in great shape and have done all the things necessary to beat a giant,” said Holyfield, who puts his World Boxing Assn. and International Boxing Federation titles on the line against Englishman Henry Akinwande in New York.

“He’s 6 foot 8 [actually 6-7] and I’m 6 foot 2. I’m not going to get any taller before June 6 and he’s not going to get any shorter,” Holyfield said Friday at a news conference to hype their bout.

“I will still be able to hit him. I’ve never fought someone that I couldn’t hit. And if I can hit a guy, I can win.”

Akinwande didn’t put up much of a fight against World Boxing Council champion Lennox Lewis last July 12, getting disqualified in the fifth round for constantly holding and grabbing.

“I only did it [clinch and hold] one time,” Akinwande said at the news conference with Holyfield. “Just because I lost one fight, that doesn’t mean I’m a bad fighter. I just put that fight behind me.

“Emanuel Steward [his new trainer] has shown me some different things.”

Holyfield is 35-3 with 25 knockouts. Akinwande is 33-1-1 with 19 KOs.

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Carlos Palomino, a world welterweight champion who defended his crown seven times and retired in 1979, continues his comeback when he takes on Wilfredo Rivera in the main event tonight at the Grand Olympic Auditorium.

Palomino is 31-3-3 with 19 knockouts and Rivera 27-3-1 with 18 KOs.

On the undercard, International Boxing Assn. lightweight champion Diego “Chico” Corrales takes on Eduardo Contreras and unbeaten Mia St. John is featured in a women’s bout.

The first fight is scheduled for 7 p.m., and Channel 34 will televise the card, delayed, at 11:30 p.m.