Holyfield Bout Boggles the Mind

Tex Cobb, the human punching bag who made a living by absorbing the blows of more skilled heavyweights, was once asked how long he would go on fighting.

“As long as they’ve got the money,” he said, “I’ve got the brain cells.”

Funny line. Sad truth.

Cobb ultimately hung up his gloves and used whatever brain cells he had remaining to earn a more-than-decent living as an actor.

But unfortunately in boxing, there is always another Cobb, always more brain cells to be destroyed in the pursuit of fame and fortune.

Case in point: Evander Holyfield. He already has all the fame and fortune a man could ask for. He has been world heavyweight champion a record four times, has fought all the major figures of his time, was a participant in the most memorable match of this era -- the ear-biting fiasco by Mike Tyson -- and has made himself a millionaire many times over.

Thought to be a fighter whose size didn’t match his heart, an overblown cruiserweight who didn’t belong in the ring with the bigger guys, Holyfield won enough big matches to win over his critics.

But what in the world is Holyfield (38-5-2, 25 knockouts) doing stepping back into the ring tonight at the age of 40 to face 32-year-old Chris Byrd (35-2, 20) for the vacant International Boxing Federation heavyweight championship in Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, N.J.?

Holyfield’s speech seems more slurred now, his reflexes noticeably slowed. It was obvious his skill level had dropped in his two fights against Lennox Lewis. It was even more obvious in his three agonizing matches against John Ruiz, which were as much wrestling as boxing, a has-been and a never-will-be locking arms and exchanging head butts because they didn’t have much else to offer.

Yet, as sad as that was, here’s something even sadder: Considering the state of the heavyweight division, Holyfield, deserves to be ranked among the top contenders.

Lewis remains the class of the division. He has continued to get better even at 37, an advanced age for a fighter, his confidence, combinations and ring generalship never better.

But beyond that, good luck.

There is Tyson, who had all the meanness beaten out of him in June by Lewis. Tyson’s boxing skills deserted him long ago, but he was still able to get by on his reputation. His bullying tactics had been intimidating to some. But no longer.

The hope of the division is the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir. They offer a great story line, two brothers from Ukraine who migrated to Germany to launch their professional careers and have now moved to the United States. They both have doctorates in sports science, they speak four languages and, in a division too often tied to all sorts of aberrant behavior outside the ring, the Klitschkos appear to be true role models, traveling the world in support of needy children.

But can they fight?

Last Saturday at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center, in what was billed as a landmark night for the new world order in the heavyweight division, Wladimir beat Jameel McCline on a 10th-round TKO. Before the match, this pair was described as two of the top four active heavyweights.

McCline looked scared from the moment he entered the ring and went down without much fight. Klitschko looked awkward, uncertain and wide open for any opponent who has the vaguest understanding of the word counterpunch.

As for Vitali, he will get his crucial test this spring when he faces Lewis, but he has already lost to Byrd, on a TKO in 2000.

The best thing the heavyweight division has going for it right now is a light-heavyweight. Roy Jones’ attempt on March 1 to beat Ruiz, who will outweigh him by about 40 pounds, is the most interesting bout on the heavyweight horizon.

With this lineup of also-rans, Holyfield can probably fight until he’s 50.

Or until he runs out of brain cells.

Come Back, Shane

Negotiations are continuing for welterweight Shane Mosley to fight Raul Marquez on Feb. 8 at Mandalay Bay. Also on the proposed card is another welterweight match between Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis and Antonio Margarito. Negotiations, however, have broken off for now between Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya over a September rematch. Mosley, who beat De La Hoya in 2000, has been offered $4 million for a second fight but is asking between $7 million and $8 million.

Quick Jab

World Boxing Council welterweight champion Vernon Forrest (35-0, 26), who took the title from Mosley and beat him in a rematch, will face World Boxing Assn. welterweight titleholder Ricardo Mayorga (23-3-1, 21) in a unification fight Jan. 25 at the Pechanga Entertainment Center in Temecula. Also on the card, IBF cruiserweight champion Vassily Jirov (31-0, 27) will defend against James Toney (65-4-2, 42).