Holyfield beats Bates in second
DALLAS – Evander Holyfield began his latest comeback looking a lot more like “The Real Deal” than he has in years.
Holyfield rocked Jeremy Bates into the ropes late in the first round, withstood a few hard body shots early in the second round then caught his insurance-salesman foe in the corner to earn a technical knockout with 4 seconds left in the round, capturing his first victory since June of 2002.
The 43-year-old Holyfield ended a career-worst skid of three straight losses since his victory over Hasim Rahman. That doesn’t include getting KO’d last summer on the reality television show “Dancing with the Stars.”
A crowd of about 8,000 chanted “Ho-ly-field!” about 45 seconds in, then the four-time heavyweight champion really got them roaring over the last 30 seconds of the first round. He trapped Bates on the far side of the ring, bouncing him against the ropes with a flurry of punches. The bell saved him from further damage.
Bates (21-12-2) had his best success with several hard rights to Holyfield’s side that pushed him back in the second round. After several clinches sapped whatever momentum Bates was building, Holyfield pinned him again and began pounding on Bates’ face and body. There was so little resistance, the referee stopped the fight.
Holyfield was launching what he’s hyping as “Holyfield V, the Final Chapter,” which he expects to end with him becoming the heavyweight champion for the fifth time. He’s the only person to do it four times.
He dismisses his lack of success the past five years to a shoulder injury and cramps, all of which healed during a 21-month layoff partially forced by New York officials revoking his license because of “diminished skills and poor performance” in his previous fight, a loss to Larry Donald.
Holyfield said he already has his next foe lined up. He said he wouldn’t announce it before the fight out of respect to Bates. He also believes he’s on pace to have a title fight next year, with an aim to unify the belts and call it quits for good in 2008.