FOREMAN-HOLMES "DEFINITE
GO" JANUARY 23, ON PPV
Roger Levitt, the promoter of record for the January 23, 1999 fight between former
heavyweight champs George Foreman and Larry Holmes wants my head on a plate.
LEVITT LIVID
The Brit was incensed because of a piece in one of my recent columns that said Levitt and
company had to make some cash payments to the two participants by last week or the fight
was off.
NOT TRUE AS SPONSORS, TV, & SITE ALREADY SET
Both Foreman and Holmes were paid the agreed upon monies up front (10 %) and all that is
left is for the two to clash January 23, live from the Astrodome in Houston, TX.
MR. DISINFORMATION TURNED OUT TO BE...
Foreman's ex-promoter Ron Weathers. He had told promoter Mike Acri who passed the info on
to yours truly.
HAD I KNOWN IT WAS RON...
I wouldn't have even thought to mention it. I know Weathers has had an "on again--off
again" relationship with Foreman since the American Icon launched his second tier of
boxing 11 years ago.
WHERE WAS RON?
When Big George fought Evander Holyfield? Could he have been so Coked out that he couldn't
come down from his room? And how many heart attacks has Weathers had, that could have been
attributed to the use of Colombian Dust anyway?
TYSON TO STAND TRIAL, PIN STRIPES IN '99?
The District Attorney handling the two Assault charges facing former heavyweight champion
Mike Tyson has decided to prosecute Tyson even if the two victims don't want to go forward
with Criminal charges.
TYSON'S JAIL RESUME THE REASON
Even after meeting with Team Tyson last week, Maryland State Attorney Robert Dean will
begin the Criminal proceeding on December 1.
BIG QUESTION
Why would the "G" prosecute in a Misdemeanor Assault case when the victims are
in the process of being bought off?
"His record had a lot to do with it" said Dean.
PIN STRIPES?
Tyson could get up to one year on each charge, as well as having his Parole in Indiana
revoked.
SAME DATE, DIFFERENT STOOGE
Mike Tyson will make his return to the ring on January 16, with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
being the site. But instead of facing unbeaten Brian Nielsen of Denmark, Tyson will
instead meet Axel Schultz of Germany.
MAY AS WELL BE SGT. SCHULTZ OF TV'S HOGAN'S HEROES
Because Tyson at 32, needs a couple of fights in order to familiarize himself with
fighting in a controlled manner again. He also needs to fight and win, to feel good again.
THE FAB FOUR?
It had boiled down to Nielsen, Schultz, Vaughn Bean, and Frans Botha. Gone from the list
was vegetarian Lou Saverese, who besides being taller is younger and much better than any
of the Fab Four.
FIGHT TO BE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK
One source told me late Tuesday that Axel was preparing to make his way Stateside. And
that the press conference announcing the SHOWTIME Pay Per View event will be later this
week in the Big Apple.
FINKEL GONE?
I asked Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels on Monday if he had heard that Tyson had dumped
Shelly Finkel? "That's what I'm hearing. He's done."
It was reported here weeks ago that Tyson had told two different people that he was only
using Finkel in order to get his license back. Once that was accomplished, Shelly was out!
I will call Finkel's office to get his spin on this Wednesday.
CAMACHO STINKS JOINT OUT "ONE TIME TOO MANY?"
Hector Camacho's lackluster performance this past Friday night on ESPN 2 may have ended
the days when various networks looked to the Harlem Heckler for ratings.
PRO SIGURANI CROWD NO HELP...
But where can you find a pro Camacho crowd? One place! His house!
STYLES MAKE FIGHTS, RIGHT?
That's why there are those who think Lennox Lewis can beat Evander Holyfield, but not Mike
Tyson. Anyway you look at it, Holyfield-Tyson III will happen whether or not Evander loses
on March 13.
HAMHEAD TAKES CONCORDE TO NYC
Prince Naseem Hamed finally arrived in the United States on Monday morning. His appearance
ended rumors that the undefeated fighter from Sheffield, UK wasn't going to appear because
of the legal problems surrounding his promoter Frank Warren.
SIMPLY GOT TOO BIG FOR HIS BRITCHES
Frank Warren inked a contract with Don King that gave the wire haired pontificator 50 % of
Hamed's promotional rights. But greed and total control of Hamed won over common sense.
THINKING KING WAS GETTING CONVICTED...
Frank Warren jumped ship with Hamed and signed a pact with Time Warner (HBO) last year.
ACQUITTAL SCREWED EVERYTHING UP FOR FRANKIE BABY
Warren fled with Hamed before King was retried on Fraud charges and acquitted earlier this
year. Had King or his company, Don King Productions been convicted of Fraud, his contracts
with various fighters would have been ruled void thus setting off a Free Agency war for
the Don's stable.
KING PUTS FRANKIE IN "DEEP FREEZE"
Having successfully frozen Warren's assets by beating the Brit a reported seven straight
times in a row in the UK courts, King can now taste blood.
BY MID 1999...
Don King will have 100% control over Hamed. And Felix Trinidad will be back in the DK fold
too! The contract that Trinidad signed with King is said to be "a life long
contract" according to HBO analyst Larry Merchant.
DECISION SOON? YEAH RIGHT!
Judge Lawrence Mc Kenna is suppose to rule on Tito and King's future this week.
JAPAN LOSES FIGHTER TO RING INJURY
Super bantamweight Ken Katagiri died Tuesday from brain injuries he suffered 15 days ago
after being knocked out in a fight against Fusaki Takenaga in the ninth round of a
scheduled dime October 12, in Tokyo.
Katagiri, 28, turned pro in 1991, and had amassed a 5-6-2 record before the fatal bout.
Pedro Fernandez
The writer has his own site at www.fighters.com and
can be reached at flash@inow.com