| After being knocked out by contender Ray Austin in | | | | leave without pay though he has a family and mouths |
| March in two rounds, Jeremy "The Beast" Bates, a | | | | to feed. But how many chances like this will he ever |
| Parkersburg, KY resident, had pretty much thrown in | | | | get again? He well knows what a win can do for him. |
| the towel on a boxing career. But little did he know that | | | | As for the fight itself, he seems to be made to |
| his name was going from a very long list to the short | | | | order...even for a fighter who hasn't looked good in |
| list, so when he finally got the call, he jumped at the | | | | years...but don't let the ripped body of Holyfield fool you. |
| opportunity to become the opponent that four-time | | | | What about reflexes and stamina? When does |
| heavyweight titlist Evander Holyfield wanted to in order | | | | enough become enough? These questions likely will be |
| to measure his rapidly declining skill level. The Beast is | | | | answered Friday night. |
| 21-11-1, but he does have 18 ko's and a reasonably | | | | I do know one thing, however. If I were in the Beast's |
| decent right. The problem is that everytime he has | | | | corner, my advice would be to go right after him....bull |
| stepped up, he has been beaten badly by the likes of | | | | rush him...overwhelm and mug him to get him |
| Brian Minto, Sedreck Fields, Leo Nolan, Andre Purlette, | | | | disoriented. Then unload the right and keep on |
| and Kirk Johnson. His one bright spot seems to have | | | | unloading until the fight is stopped. Conversely, if I were |
| been a second round blow out of Jeff Lally in 2004. | | | | in Evander's corner, my advice would be to be ready |
| To his credit, his amateur record was 50-26 and he | | | | for such a charge and tie him up with strength-draining |
| turned pro after being beaten by tough Dominic Guinn.. | | | | clinches and shots to his ample and soft mid section. I |
| Of course there is no need to talk about his opponent. | | | | would advise him to then pick up the pace going into |
| There is little I can add to the saga of "The Real | | | | the 2nd which, based on Jeremy's history, seems to |
| Deal"except to affirm that the soon-to-be 44 year old | | | | be when he is most vulnerable. It really kind of boils |
| Holyfield, 38-8-2, looked terrible in his last fight with | | | | down to one or two rounds for me. If the Beast can |
| Larry Donald on Nov. 13, 2004 in Madison Square | | | | sustain a charge, who knows? If Evander can |
| Garden. However, Donald later gave another "Beast," | | | | withstand a charge, he should have an easy time. |
| this one named Nikolai Valuev, all that he could handle. | | | | Everything suggests a slam dunk for Holyfield, though |
| Also in Holyfield's favor is the incredibly high quality of | | | | hopefully not a Tyson- McNeely type of one. We'll all |
| his overall opposition, but that coin has two sides. | | | | know pretty soon. Can "The Beast" become a |
| So now a 32 year old journeyman and hard working | | | | "Rocky." |
| insurance salesman at Potts Insurance in Parkersburg | | | | "It is not the size of a man but the size of his heart |
| takes on a faded legend. He does all this while on | | | | that matters. |