Evander Holyfield's TKO of Mike Tyson Saturday night "can
only do wonders to this sport's image," according to CBS' Troy
Roberts ("CBS Evening News," CBS, 11/10). ESPN's Mitch Albom:
"Evander Holyfield last night did nothing less than save boxing
from itself. He gave it three things that it didn't have prior
to last night's fight ... an element of surprise ... a
heavyweight rivalry ... [and] a champion that you can root for
and not feel guilty about" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 11/10).
USA TODAY's Bryan Burwell: "Saturday night was indeed
professional boxing's long over due redemption. This was a night
that gave boxing what is needed most: intrigue, excitement,
unpredictability" (USA TODAY, 11/11). In Chicago, Jay Mariotti:
"It is precisely what boxing needs, a regal champion" (CHICAGO
SUN-TIMES, 11/11). The CHICAGO TRIBUNE's Bob Verdi: "Holyfield
... injected a certain sense of decency into this unwashed
industry" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/11). In Dallas, Kevin Blackistone
notes Holyfield "lent the game credibility" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
11/11). In San Diego, Fritz Quindt: "Saturday night was all
right for fighting. Even at $49.95, this was The Real Deal" (SAN
DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/11).
TV TIME: Showtime will replay the fight in its entirety this
Sunday at 8:00pm ET (N.Y. POST, 11/11). Holyfield will be a
guest on the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno this evening (Shultz &
Taylor, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/11). In New York, Bob Raissman
notes Holyfield, with his "folk hero status" and "clean living
style," should be a "hit" with Madison Avenue endorsement deals
(N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/11).
AIN'T GONNA BE NO REMATCH: There is already talk of a
rematch as early as this spring. Showtime VP Jay Larkin:
"Holyfield-Tyson II will redefine the mega-event in boxing. I
don't have the ability to put parameters on how well the show
will do" (Bob Raissman, N. Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/11).
THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING: Promoter Don King was profiled
by CBNC's Jerry Cobb. King: "I've put my money where my mouth
is. So those who will envy me for my success will also have to
envy my sacrifice, my toil, my labor, my risks." Cobb notes
"many say King's real motivation" for the Cablevision deal, which
charged viewers $10-per round up to $50, "is that he wants to
start a bidding war for boxing matches between Madison Square
Garden, part-owned by Cablevision's CEO Chuck Dolan, and Las
Vegas venues like the MGM Grand" ("SportsView," CNBC, 11/8).
King is featured in BUSINESS WEEK by Grover & Reingold, who note
he is eyeing the coming 500-channel universe as "a perfect place
for a boxing channel that would be fed by 25 years of fights he
says he has on tape" (BUSINESS WEEK, 11/18 issue).
