Newman ‘Suggests’ Foreman Stay Away From Bowe Fights

Incensed by comments made by George Foreman on TVKO during Riddick Bowe’s win over Evander Holyfield, Rock Newman, Bowe’s manager, called Captain Cheeseburger a “liar” and said he had no future behind a TVKO mike when Big Daddy is fighting.

“He should be taken off the air,” Newman said. “I will tell you this, Foreman will never work another pay-per-view fight (on TVKO) that Bowe is involved in.” Newman said he is guaranteed input on the selection of announcers for TVKO, but doesn’t have any say when Bowe fights on HBO.

The manager said when Bowe does fight on HBO, Foreman will have no access to the fighter. “Bowe brought that up,” Newman said. “The only access Foreman can have to Bowe now is if he wants to fight him in the ring. Bowe will gladly accommodate him and knock his old, fat (butt) out.”

Time Warner Sports boss Seth Abraham said: “Announcers are not a promoter or manager’s call,” he said. “I wouldn’t tell a fighter who he could use in his corner. Rock can criticize George, but in terms of telling us who works behind the mikes, that decision belongs to Ross (Greenburg, TVKO/HBO executive producer) and to me.”

Newman was angered by Foreman’s analysis, which centered on Holyfield’s health. In the fifth round, Foreman urged Holyfield’s corner to throw in the towel. “This man is going to end up in a pine box,” Foreman said. “He’s got heart trouble.”

After Bowe stopped Holyfield in the eighth, Foreman diminished both Bowe’s win and Holyfield’s gutsy effort. “He (Bowe) won the fight, but let me tell you he didn’t win against a guy who was physically able to be in the ring fighting him,” Foreman said.

Newman said Foreman’s words were not designed to bait Bowe into a fight. “Foreman knows he’s old, fat, washed up and over the hill,” Newman said. “I don’t think he wants to fight Bowe.”

Off the air, Foreman said his comments on Holyfield’s health were based on evidence he gathered at the office of Dr. Flip Homansky, the ringside physician and chief medical officer for the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Foreman said Homansky displayed pictures of Holyfield’s heart that showed the fighter had a problem. This was news to Homansky, who specializes in emergency room medicine and doesn’t have an office.

“Foreman said he had this inside information based on his research,” Newman said. “Then we all find out he’s lying; well, what does that tell the world? He did it because he was jealous of both fighters. He’s lost any credibility he had as a broadcaster.”