Gambling Now Part of Probe

A late flood of money--perhaps more than $1 million--was bet on Evander Holyfield just before he stepped into the ring with Lennox Lewis on March 13, drawing the attention of investigators.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board confirmed Monday that it is looking into the bets made at Las Vegas sports books just before the fight at Madison Square Garden.

Almost all the money was refunded to bettors when the fight was ruled a draw, even though Holyfield appeared to have lost.

The probe by gambling regulators was begun besides investigations by a Manhattan grand jury, a state Senate committee and the New York State Athletic Commission.

Nevada investigators are primarily concerned with whether the money was bet on behalf of one individual or group by so-called “messenger” bettors, which is against Nevada law. But the agency is also working with out-of-state agencies looking into the fight.

“We’re looking at any betting patterns we can find,” said Keith Copher, chief of enforcement for the agency that regulates Nevada casinos.

Holyfield had been a slight favorite the week before the fight, but the bout was nearly a “pick ‘em” by Saturday, said Pete Korner of Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which sets the odds for most Las Vegas sports books.

Then, just before the fight began, a rush of money pushed odds to as much as 8-5 and 9-5 on Holyfield, he said.

In a related matter, it was learned that the judge at the center of the dispute surrounding the controversial draw was fired by another boxing organization a year ago for being “a loner and not a team player.”

Eugenia Williams was among 30 judges dismissed by the World Boxing Union last year, although Jon Robinson, president of the group, said he had no problem with the way Williams scored bouts.

Williams, appointed by the International Boxing Federation for the Holyfield-Lewis bout, judged the fight 115-113 in favor of Holyfield. English judge Larry O’Connell scored it 115-115, while South African judge Stan Christodoulou favored Lewis, 116-113.

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No matter when Mike Tyson’s sentence ends in Maryland, he will have to stay in jail for violating his Indiana probation from his 1992 rape sentence.

A Maryland judge will hear arguments Friday that the former heavyweight champion’s one-year sentence for assault in Maryland should be reduced.

However, even if it is, Tyson still must serve the Indiana sentence, spokeswoman Beverly Phillips of the Marion County prosecutor’s office in Indianapolis said. The Indiana sentence is 60 days but could be reduced to as little as 30 days under good time and other provisions, Phillips added.

Tyson, in jail since Feb. 5 for assaulting two motorists after a traffic accident last August, has asked that his sentence be reduced to eight months. A hearing is set Friday.

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Argentine boxer Jorge Daniel Alvez remained in critical condition after being knocked out Saturday night by Dominican boxer Rosa Gomez at Buenos Aires.

Dr. Jorge Guarnieri said Alvez is breathing with the help of a respirator and is suffering from severe neurological complications.