Holmes Runs Out Of Miracles

George Foreman had the power to cheat Father Time. Larry Holmes didn’t.

The 45-year-old Holmes, trying to join the 46-year-old Foreman atop the heavyweight division, had his legs let him down in the late rounds as Oliver McCall pulled off a unanimous decision and retained the WBC heavyweight title Saturday night outdoors at Caesars Palace.

The victory put McCall into the rich Mike Tyson sweepstakes, as it did Bruce Seldon, who earlier stopped Tony Tucker after seven rounds and won the vacant WBA title.

While McCall can look forward to Tyson, who had been expected to attend the fight card but didn’t show, Holmes must look forward to retirement.

“This was a good way for me to go out,” said the man who was heavyweight champion from 1978-85, but now has failed in four tries to again become a champion.

“This is my last fight. I fought a good fight, he fought a good fight. This is a good fight to end it on,” Holmes said.

Judge Barbara Perez scored it 114-113 for McCall, while Tomi Iharra had it 115-114 and Chuck Giampa had it 115-112. The AP favored McCall 115-112.

Holmes dictated the first half of the fight as McCall refused to be aggressive, letting Holmes rest his legs.

At the end of six rounds, promoter Don King bellowed at McCall: “You’d better not blow this fight, brother.”

Then McCall’s aggression and Holmes’ age combined to put the fight firmly in McCall’s hands.

“He came out more courageous than George Foreman,” McCall said. “I had the better jab and I felt that made the difference.”

Holmes was bidding to become the second-oldest heavyweight champion, behind Foreman, who won the IBF and WBA titles on a 10th-round knockout of Michael Moorer last Nov. 5.

Norris again disqualified

Luis Santana retained his WBC super welterweight title when Terry Norris was disqualified after hitting him at least 10 seconds after the bell ended the third round. Norris, a 12-1 favorite, protested he didn’t know the round was over, but officials said the punch was deliberate.

Santana collapsed after being hit and was on his back on the canvas for about 5 minutes. He was taken from the ring on a stretcher to Valley Hospital, where he was admitted as a precaution.

Norris lost his WBC title to Santana Nov. 12 in Mexico, a bout he dominated until he hit Santana behind the head in the fifth round and the challenger from the Dominican Republic went down. The blow was ruled illegal and Santana was declared the winner.

Seldon stops Tucker

Bruce Seldon became the WBA heavyweight champion when Tony Tucker wasn’t allowed to continue after seven rounds.

Seldon pounded Tucker’s left eye closed, and Dr. Homanski also thought Tucker’s nose was broken.

Seldon’s big punch was his jab to the head. He often missed with his right to the head but did land rights to the body.

Chavez coasts past Parisi

Julio Cesar Chavez chased Italy’s Giovanni Parisi for 12 rounds, winning a lopsided decision to retain his WBC super lightweight title and improve to 94-1-1.

Trinidad whips Turner

Felix Trinidad needed less than 6 minutes to retain his IBF welterweight title against the outclassed Roger Turner.