Older, but wiser

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Nov. 11, 1999 | 10:28 a.m.

Counted out both literally and figuratively several times during the course of his 16-year professional career, Evander Holyfield perseveres with a confidence almost unrivaled among his peers.

The ups and downs of boxing, let alone his somewhat tumultuous private life, have failed to negatively impact his vision of himself or his belief that he is guided by a higher power.

And it's that unparalleled confidence in himself that makes Holyfield not only a threat to defeat Lennox Lewis when they tangle Saturday for the undisputed heavyweight championship at the Thomas & Mack Center, but a man who can never be underestimated.

"Age is catching up but I'm not growing older," he said Wednesday at the Las Vegas Hilton, where he's a plus-160 underdog for his rematch with Lewis. "This may be one of my greatest fights."

He has had a few, quickly winning a cruiserweight championship and then building himself into a heavyweight who could defeat stellar opponents like Buster Douglas, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer and Mike Tyson.

But intermingled with those career-boosting victories were two losses to Bowe, one to Moorer, a draw with Lewis in their first fight March 13 in New York, and a serious medical condition that drew the Nevada State Athletic Commission's rapt attention three years ago.

Conflicting medical testimony concerning his heart led to the NSAC's inquiry, and the irony is that few if any fighters of this generation have shown the type of metaphysical "heart" Holyfield has demonstrated throughout his career.

He has a clean bill of health today, as well as the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation championships.

He has also earned $205 million during his 40-fight career and will add another $15 million to that total this weekend. Of course it could be argued he needs the money, given the fact he has fathered nine children with six different women.

From any perspective, he's prolific.

"Winners in life are people who take chances," he said. "I've always taken chances and I'll have to take chances in this fight, even if it means I may get caught."

Neither man took many chances in the first Lewis-Holyfield fight, but both are promising to be less hesitant this time around. For Holyfield, that means accelerating his offensive attack and stepping in close with his bigger opponent.

"All the big guys hit hard," said Holyfield, who will give away almost three inches and approximately 30 pounds to Lewis. "He has power and he controlled the range in our first fight.

"But I've never been in a fight that wasn't difficult. It's not a convenient-type job."

Holyfield, 37, is 36-3-1 with 25 knockouts, while Lewis, 34, is 34-1-1 with 27 KOs. Lewis, the World Boxing Council champion, is a minus-190 betting favorite.

"I hear that a lot," Holyfield said of habitually being older than his opponent. "I haven't fought anybody older than me in a long time. These younger guys have a lot of skills and I always have to overcome the situation."

In overcoming the likes of Bowe, Moorer and Tyson, Holyfield has often relied on a tenacity that will qualify for legendary status should he upset Lewis in their pay-per-view fight at the sold-out T&M.

"People want to know what kind of heart I have, what kind of determination I have," Holyfield said. "One has to perform. We all have our good days and our bad days, and I've got to fight when the time comes.

"I'm a lot wiser fighter than I once was, even though I was a courageous fighter at a young age."

He claims to have an iron will and says it was a gift from above.

"I didn't quit (vs. Lewis in New York) when I could have and by the grace of God I've never quit in a fight," he said. "I do what I have to do and I do love to perform."

He isn't the threatening type but he has been through these wars so many times he feels his experience is a significant advantage and that he'll defeat Lewis to reclaim the undisputed championship he held for two years in the early 1990s.

"I feel I'm the undisputed champion as I stand here, and I'll pick up the belts Saturday night," Holyfield said. "At least I know (Lewis) for who he is. I know I have more skills than Lennox.

"I'll win. I'll have a great day. I'm only a man but I box real well and I have my department where I'm the best in the world."

He's making no plans beyond this fight yet here are his options: With a win he will arguably rank among the greatest heavyweight champions of all time and will remain incredibly marketable, while he could lose and still realize another big payday in the event he wants to fight Tyson for a third time.

"Everything I ever wanted in boxing I was able to accomplish," Holyfield said. "When it's time to quit I'll get my departure papers and I'm going to leave smiling."