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'Fight· ol theCentury'preparesscript.tor:possiblesequel

by Gavin Mirigliani staff writer

For the second time in 81 months, a victory over Mike Tyson has turned the boxing world upside down and created a shift in the balance of power.

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Tyson, whose first defeat came at the hands of James "Buster" Douglass, was handed only his second defeat when• Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield stopped him on Saturday, Nov. 9 by virtue of a technical knockout in the 11th roW1d.

Holyfield, a 7-1 ll'11derdog when the bell rang, must now decide what is in store for his future.

Holyfield has said that if he decides not to retire, he will certainly fight Tyson in a rematch.

Preparations for a rematch are already underway. A rematch date, JW1e21, has already been scheduled. The fight is slated to be fought in the same MGM Grand ring the first fight was fought in.

According to the contract with promoter Don King, Holyfield

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Get a REALITYCHECKwith 51GIPl.Uf~thefart, eary-to-ure roftware that helpr you 111akeimportant dedrionr abolli your future.

• Under1tandyour will earn more money than Tyson for this fight.

Tyson received $30 million for the first fight. Holyfield received $11 million. It is likely to be close to a 50-50 split the second time around.

If Holyfield remains champion, King will have the option of promoting Hoiyfield's next three fights.

Few could have predicted the outCQmeof the first fight, which may have set the stage for one of boxing's great rivalries.

In a-classiccase of "David and Goliath," the 34-year-old Holyfield threw aside his slingshot and armed himself with a weapon even more powerful, his heart. Standing th,reeinches taller than Tyson, Holyfield used grit and determination to slay the smaller giant.

When the 30-year-old Tyson came out swinging, seeking the quick knockout and virtual opponent demolition that have become all too characteristic of his fights, Holyfield did what few others had done before him.

He fought back.

Holyfield dodged the Stealth bombers that had replaced Tyson's fists and used his speed to counter Tyson's arsenal.

Every extra minut~ in the ring increased the chances of a Holyfield victory and by the sixth round, "The Real Deal" had worn down "Iron Mike" enough lo send him to the canvas for the first time since losing the heavyweight championship to Douglass in 1990 and only the second time of his career.

Holyfield continued to wear down his younger opponent and 37 seconds into the 11th round, referee Mitch Halpern put an end to Tyson's punishment, stopping the fight and awarding Holyfield the TKd victory, making him the World Boxing,. ·Association Champion.

'fyson won only one out of the eleven rounds in the fight.

Even in defeat, Tyson maintained an air of class, congratulating the new champion at the afterfight pres~ conference and requesting the honor of shaking his hand.

The gesture was a marked contrast from the sullen,-bitter 'Tyson who, after his defeat to Douglass, blamed the referee for a quick count and claimed he was robbed of his title.

Although the general consensus of boxing fans thought Tyson would defeat Holyfield, many seemed to be pulling for an upset. Holyfield delivered, conjuring up memories of Rocky Balboa in the process.

Watch out, "Stallion." Here comes "The Real Deal."

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