Holyfield To Meet Moorer In Double Title Bid Nov. 8

Evander Holyfield returns to the ring, and one of this city’s biggest casino operators returns to big-time boxing, when Holyfield meets fellow heavyweight champion Michael Moorer Nov. 8.

Holyfield will try to unify two parts of the heavyweight title when he meets Moorer in his first fight since earning $35 million when his ears were bitten by Mike Tyson June 28.

It also will be a chance for revenge by Holyfield, who lost his WBA and IBF crowns to Moorer in a close decision April 22, 1994.

The fight was bought by the Mirage hotel-casino, which was once a major player in the fight game but has not held a big fight since Riddick Bowe defeated Holyfield to win the undisputed heavyweight title five years ago.

It will be held, though, at UNLV’s campus arena, which seats up to 19,000 for boxing.

Holyfield, the WBA heavyweight champion, reportedly will get $20 million to fight Moorer, who holds the IBF version of the title and will be paid about $8 million. The other major title, that of the WBC, is held by Lennox Lewis, who will defend against Andrew Golota Oct. 4.

Holyfield, the last heavyweight champion to defend the undisputed title in the ring, has said he wants to unify the three crowns before retiring.