New York Investigates Holyfield-Lewis Decision

The web of “very twisted” relationships between boxing’s sanctioning bodies and fighters, promoters and judges helped produce the unpopular draw in the Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis heavyweight title bout, New York’s attorney general said Tuesday.

The criticism comes as the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it’s investigating possible illegalities in how Saturday night’s fight was judged.

Atty. Gen. Eliot Spitzer said his public hearing Friday in New York City on the fight will focus on ways states or the federal government can redefine the roles of the principal players in the sport.

New York Gov. George Pataki said it was time for the federal government to step into the ring.

Spitzer said boxing’s chief sanctioning bodies--the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Assn.--raise conflict-of-interest questions by selecting judges for major title bouts and paying their expenses and their fees for being at ringside.

When a judge selected by a governing body backs that body’s champion despite evidence that his opponent did better during the bout--as the IBF-selected judge is under fire for doing in the Holyfield-Lewis fight--that calls into question the impartiality of the judging and the integrity of the sport, Spitzer said.

In the Holyfield-Lewis bout, judge Eugenia Williams of New Jersey declared Holyfield the winner even though most observers at Madison Square Garden agreed Lewis dominated the bout. Williams was selected by the IBF, which, along with the WBA, recognizes Holyfield as heavyweight champion.

The New York state senate committee on investigations said it will hold a hearing on the bout Thursday afternoon in New York City. Among the witnesses who have confirmed they will attend are promoters Don King and Dino Duva, Williams and the referee at Saturday’s bout, Arthur Mercante Jr.

Lewis might be present in person or via conference call, and WBC President Jose Sulaiman will participate via telephone.

“Lennox Lewis, regardless of the results, showed that he is the authentic heavyweight champion of the world,” Sulaiman said from his organization’s headquarters in Mexico City.

Sulaiman said the WBC had “strongly objected” to the IBF’s nomination of Williams as judge because she had little experience in title fights and, like Holyfield, is American.

As a result, he said, the WBC dropped its original judge, from the Netherlands, and appointed Larry O’Connell of Britain, “of unquestionable integrity and competence and a proven impartiality.”

“We would like to think that image of impartiality was unconsciously assumed by Mr. O’Connell, but he definitely exceeded it,” Sulaiman said.

O’Connell scored the fight 115-115, but he later said he was surprised by his own score because he thought Lewis had won.

Sulaiman also urged a rematch, which might be difficult to arrange because a clause in Lewis’ contract calls for him to be paid $15 million for a rematch if the title unification fight ended in a draw. Lewis was paid $10 million for the first fight. Holyfield might be unwilling to accept a smaller purse next time.

Pro Football

The Baltimore Ravens got quarterback Scott Mitchell from the Detroit Lions for two draft picks. The Ravens also were expected to trade Jim Harbaugh to the San Diego Chargers, clearing the way for Mitchell to become the Ravens’ third opening-day quarterback in three seasons.

Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard, in Phoenix for the NFL owners meetings, said the Harbaugh deal could be finished by today. It is contingent upon the quarterback reworking his deal. Harbaugh’s agent, Steve Forest, said a deal was “pretty imminent.”

Harbaugh is under contract for $3.25 million for 1999, but his deal must be reworked so it can fit under San Diego’s salary cap. A source familiar with the negotiations said Harbaugh would be given a two-year contract worth about $2.75 million, which includes a minimal signing bonus, plus incentives.

Mitchell cost Baltimore a third-round draft choice this year and a conditional fifth-round selection in 2000. The latter pick will be upgraded to a fourth-rounder if Mitchell appears in half the Ravens’ offensive plays.

Mitchell, who fell out of favor with the Lions last season after a four-year run as a starter, signed a one-year deal with Baltimore for a reported $3 million.

The Jacksonville Jaguars finally made good on a promise to make Tony Boselli the highest-paid offensive lineman, agreeing to a four-year contract extension worth $26 million.

The all-pro left tackle, widely considered the best in the NFL, will play out two of the final three years of his current contract, which pays him an average of $2.5 million per year.

The extension will take effect in 2001 and will keep him in Jacksonville through 2004, a source familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press.

Miscellany

Terry Miller, a former Oklahoma State running back who was a runner-up in the 1977 Heisman Trophy voting, has been charged with fraud for his alleged dealings with a McAlester, Okla., bank four years ago.

Federal prosecutors allege that Miller knowingly devised a scheme to defraud The Bank N.A. by submitting false invoices.

Miller gained 1,680 yards rushing in his senior year, finishing second in the 1977 Heisman voting to Earl Campbell of Texas. He was the Buffalo Bills’ first-round pick in the 1978 draft. He replaced O.J. Simpson in the Bills’ backfield and gained 1,060 yards as a rookie. Injuries ended his career a few years later.

Midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos trained with the Galaxy for a second consecutive day and was scheduled to meet with Major League Soccer Commissioner Doug Logan on Friday to discuss a revised contract.

With two of its tenants looking for accommodations in different cities, the operators of the Meadowlands sports complex proposed a new, privately financed $212-million arena for basketball and hockey.

The new arena would sit next to Giants Stadium, while the existing home to the New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils would be demolished to make room for a $165-million sports-themed entertainment, dining and retail venue.

Doug Swingley mushed his 12-dog team into the White Mountain checkpoint in Nome, Alaska, and has a big lead in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. After a required 10-hour rest in White Mountain, travel time to the finish line is expected to take at least 10 hours.

More than six hours back was three-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser.