(Courtesy of Boxing’s Finest.com sports writers)

October 27, 1999

"As a fighter we always somehow try to get the last blow at the end of the bell because it sends a message back to that person." – Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield defended Mike Tyson’s late hit to Olin Norris October 23 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Tyson's purse of about $10 million has been withheld. Norris was able to receive his $800,000 check. The referee ruled that Tyson's late hit in Las Vegas was not intentional but took away two points from him at the end of round one. The Nevada State Athletic Commission declared the scheduled 10-round fight a "no contest" after Norris refused to continue for the second round. Tyson got frustrated because "people are not fighting him back so he really has to work to win. Norris looked like he could have continued instead of refusing to leave his stool for the second round. Norris kept saying he had twisted his right knee when Tyson's late punch dropped him to the canvas." Evander indicated Norris may have purposely refused to come back out and fight. Holyfield said he believes Norris was told by his cornermen to stay on his stool as an easy payday. Holyfield strongly believes it was not a devastating shot that finished Norris after the bell had rang. The Commission this week is scheduled to rule, after reviewing the tape of the fight, whether Tyson threw the punch late on purpose and therefore may be disqualified. Many ringsiders do not believe the Commission will overrule the referee.

De La Hoya Will Not Have To Answer Questions About His Past Sexual History

(BF.com staff writer)

LOS ANGELES -Oscar De La Hoya's will not be required to answer deposition questions about his past sexual history. Retired judge, Eric Younger, instructed De La Hoya to answer questions directed to him during a deposition, but he refused on the advice of his lawyer.

An 18-year-old woman, who is claiming that De La Hoya raped her in 1996 at a hotel in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, has filed a civil law suit against De La Hoya and his brother, seeking monetary damages for rape, false imprisonment, sexual battery and assault. The alleged incident occurred when she was just 15 years old. De La Hoya has denied the charges.  More...

Tyson vs. Norris fight declared a no contest

October 23, 1999

''He just hit me after the bell. I just went down the wrong way on my right knee.'' – Orlin Norris

LAS VEGAS - It was another Mike Tyson fiasco - a punch to the jaw after the bell that knocked down Orlin Norris, who claimed he couldn't continue because of a sprained right knee. After several minutes of chaos following the punch, which ended the first round of the scheduled 10-rounder, the fight was called a no contest to a chorus of boos and epithets. ''He threw it,'' an angry Tyson said. ''I hit him in the jaw and he hurt his leg?''  More...

(Courtesy of Boxing’s Finest.com sports writers)

October 23, 1999

"He caught me in the third round, but I had to suck it up." - WBA Bantamweight Champion, Paulie Ayala

Paulie Ayala and Saohin Sorthanikul before fight night

FORT WORTH, Texas - Paulie Ayala recorded a unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Saohin Sorthanikul of Thailand. Ayala retained his World Boxing Association bantamweight title but it was a difficult bout for Ayala. The Texan displayed skill and heart but often was pushed back by the tenacious Saohin Sorthanikul. Johnny Tapia apparently avoided a fight against this warrior from Thailand but Ayala knew he had to establish himself as a contender by taking the fight against Sorthanikul. In the end of the bout, the judges had it a more one sided victory for Ayala, 118-110, 118-110 and 117-111 but boxing fans and boxing insiders believed it to be much closer.

"It was a very tough fight," said Ayala, who improved to 29-1. "He caught me in the third round, but I had to suck it up."

Hamed defeats Soto on decision

DETROIT - Flamboyant WBO featherweight champion "Prince" Naseem Hamed won by unanimous decision over WBC titleholder Cesar Soto in their 12-round unification bout Friday night at Joe Louis Arena. The fight turned early in the ninth round when the unbeaten Hamed bloodied Soto's nose. Hamed kept jabbing at it the remainder of the round and Soto (53-8-2) appeared hurt. Hamed, looking fresher, kept jabbing and dancing away in the 10th, but things deteriorated while both fighters went back to clutch and grab tactics. The 12th was filled with hanging on, fittingly, then ended in a clinch. This was the 12th successful defense for Hamed (33-0), his 14th in world championship fights.

Morales retains title with decision

DETROIT - Unbeaten Erik Morales held off Wayne McCullough to retain his WBC super bantamweight title in a 12-round unanimous decision Friday night at Joe Louis Arena. It was only third loss in the 11-year career of McCullough (23-3). Morales, from Tijuana, Mexico, improved to 35-0. McCullough, a 20-1 underdog giving away a 6-inch reach, had perhaps his best shot at pulling an upset in the 10th round. He got Morales on the ropes and looked as though he was landing some telling blows as the champion staggered away after the bell. But Morales came out stronger than ever in the 11th. He landed a big right early, then hurt McCullough when they went toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring for most of the final minutes. There was more good action in the 12th round. Both landed combinations, but Morales landed more and held on to win the fight and hold onto his crown.

Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali, is to fight in W. Virginia

October 23, 1999

CHARLESTON, W.Va.-- Muhammad Ali's daughter is scheduled to fight for her second professional match at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester on November 10. Ali won her first professional fight Oct. 8 at Verona, N.Y., while her father, Three time world Champion Muhammad Ali watched from ringside. Laila Ali's opponent is yet to be determined but the fight will be scheduled another four-rounder.

Laila Ali also runs a nail salon in Los Angeles, but decided a year ago she wanted to box professionally. She was influenced only after trying the sport as a form of exercise.

A poor choice of words

October 21, 1999

LAS VEGAS - There's no doubt Tommy Brooks is a boxing trainer and not a boxing publicist.

Asked what Mike Tyson's strategy will be against Orlin Norris on Saturday night, Brooks said, "Mike's going to do what he does best, pin somebody's ears back."

Brooks said "pin," not "bite," but any mention of Tyson and ears in the same breath is enough to make grown men quake.

Tyson made news earlier this month when he told the Los Angeles Times that he would bite an opponent again if a referee allowed the opponent to head butt as Mills Lane allowed Evander Holyfield to do.

Tyson was disqualified and had his license revoked for biting Holyfield's ears in the third round June 28, 1998.

Just kidding. Ah, that old joker - Mike Tyson.

"I was just talking smack," the 33-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion said. "I was trying to sell some tickets. The Nevada State Athletic Commission knew I wasn't serious. They knew the trauma that I went through. I won't do that in the ring."

Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission said after a Wednesday news conference for the 10-round match in the MGM Grand Garden that "what he does in the ring is the only thing we can judge him on."

Richard Steele will referee Saturday night.

Tyson seems to be a creature of impulse and what he might do in or out of the ring on given night or day is what keeps him an attraction.

"The biggest act in show business" is how Dan Goosen, president of promoter America Presents, introduced Tyson at the news conference.

Bad actor is what Tyson is to many people, but many of those same people follow his career and pay to see him. The Black Hat actor has always been an attraction.

The main theme of Tyson's act is uncertainty - will he lose, will he hurt somebody, will he do something outrageous? Slowed by age and inactivity, Tyson no longer is the intimidating baddest man. Francois Botha was mocking Tyson when he got careless and was knocked out by a right to the jaw late in the fifth round Jan. 16.

The power remains, and the 33-year-old Tyson still is a factor in a heavyweight division sorely lacking in depth. But when it comes down strictly to boxing, he is one of the pack. At one time, there was Tyson and far behind him, the rest of the pack.

Because of his performance against Botha - he was clearly behind on all three official cards after four rounds - and because he hasn't fought since because of a jail time in Maryland for assaulting two motorists, the people selling Tyson have elected not to make Saturday's fight a pay-per-view match. It will be seen live on HBO sometime around midnight.

What the sellers need Saturday night is a dominating performance from Tyson, and that is why Norris is being paid $800,000 to fight him.

The 34-year-old Norris is a former cruiserweight champion who not only is close to Tyson's age, but at 5-foot-10 matches Tyson's size. Tyson is listed at 5-11½, but appears shorter than that.

More importantly, Norris is now a power puncher.

"My job is not to get hit with that big shot," Norris said.

But sooner or later he will, and "the biggest act in show business" will next be seen on pay-per-view.

October 21, 1999

TRENTON, N.J. -- The International Boxing Federation said Wednesday it plans to suspend the registration of promoter Top Rank for withholding a $450,000 fee and not following the sanctioning body's rules.

It is the latest in an ongoing feud between Robert W. Lee, president of the East Orange-based IBF, and Bob Arum, president of Las Vegas-based Top Rank, promoter of Oscar De La Hoya.

"For years, fighters and promoters have been swindled by believing that (the IBF is) a nonprofit organization," Arum said Wednesday night. "In fact, the money has been siphoned off by a for-profit company owned by Bob Lee and other people. This is an outrage."

After World Boxing Council champion De La Hoya lost a Sept. 18 world title bout in Las Vegas to IBF champion Felix Trinidad, Top Rank did not deduct the $450,000 fee from De La Hoya's purse for the IBF supervisor at the fight. De La Hoya reportedly paid an identical sanction fee to the WBC supervisor.

Arum said he won't pay the IBF fee because he learned of the organization's for-profit status.

"This appears to be a brazen attempt on Bob Arum's part to use the present federal investigation for his own financial benefit," Lee said in a statement Wednesday.

A U.S. Senate subcommittee and a federal grand jury in New Jersey are investigating whether boxing's three major sanctioning bodies - the IBF, WBC and the World Boxing Council - have committed fraud, specifically by selling rankings, which can determine the significance of a bout. Arum and at least one manager have publicly said they paid sanctioning bodies to have their fighters moved up in the rankings.

On Monday, the Nevada Athletic Commission announced it plans to investigate IBF's for-profit status, reportedly after Arum requested the probe. Lee told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that his organization has been a for-profit operation since 1986.

"What difference does it make to the Nevada Commission?" Lee said.

Arum said he expects the Nevada commission "is going to have a hearing to revoke the IBF's license."

Meanwhile, the IBF is suing Top Rank and De La Hoya in federal court in Nevada over the unpaid fee, and Arum said he plans to countersue, probably next week. Arum said he would seek punitive financial damages and may ask the court to put the IBF into receivership.

"We will ask the court to enjoin the IBF from taking any action against Top Rank," such as suspending the company's registration, pending a decision in the Nevada lawsuit, Arum said.

Lee said in his statement that IBF will give Arum 10 days to request a hearing on the registration suspension.

"If he chooses to ignore it and De La Hoya does not pay the fees that are owed, Top Rank will be precluded from promoting IBF fights in the future," Lee said.

Arum said he doesn't plan to do either one.

"We're damned if we're going to put this money into the pocket of an individual," he said, adding the $450,000 was deposited in De La Hoya's bank account. "Oscar's good for the money."

20^th Annual Banquet of Champions Inducts ‘Finest Four’

The 20^th annual World Boxing Hall of Fame was held Saturday, October 16 at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, Ca. The boxer recipients for this year’s Hall of Fame 1999 induction’s were Khaosai Galaxy of Thailand, Ismael Laguna of Panama, Jose Luis Ramirez of Mexico, and Joey Barnum of U.S.A. The event was a knockout with an attendance of 1,500 boxing insiders present and close up to witness four fine gladiators receive their Hall of Fame awards.

Among the boxing celebrants in attendance to see the inductees claim of fame were Bobby Chacon, Zac Padilla, Paul Gonzalez, Mia St. John, Laila Ali, Carmen Basilio, Ruben Olivares, Shane Mosley, Carlos Palomino, Freddie Roach, and the list went on and on. The black tie and coat dinner party turned into an evening with plenty of warm laughs and strong hand shakes among genuine boxing ‘aficionados’. The Masters of Ceremonies were Ring Announcers, Jimmy Lennon Jr. and Danny Valdivia. Joel Osborne sung the National Anthem and Referee Richard Steel was inspiring with the Invocation Benediction.

The first recipient, Khaosai Galaxy, was a WBA Bantamweight Champion from 1984 through 1989. Galaxy was born on May 15^th, 1959 in Petchaboon, Thailand. His nickname was ‘The Thai Tyson’ and his record was 49-1-0, 43KO’s. The second recipient was Ismael Laguna, a Lighweight Champion from 1965-1970. His record was 66-9-1, 38KO’s. Laguna was born on June 28, 1943 in Colon, Panama and his nickname was "El Tigre Panameno". The third recipient was Jose Luis Ramirez and he reigned as a WBC Lightweight Champion from 1983-1988. Ramirez was born in Sonora, Mexico on December 3, 1958 and his nickname was ‘El Zurdo’ (The Lefty). Ramirez had a gladiator’s stern record, 102-9-0, 82 KO’s. The fourth recipient was Joey Barnum, a Lightweight contender from 1940-1950. Barnum was born on October 6^th, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. His nickname was ‘Gentlemen Joey’ and his record was 35-24-7, 9KO’s. Barnum was the son of an Al Capone-era gangster but used boxing to help turn his life around.

The IBF Junior Middleweight Champion, Fernando Vargas received The Fighter of The Year award. Vargas, who nearly shed tears of joy when he saw the crowd stand and deliver a long ovation, thanked his Mother for most of his success. Vargas then dedicated the award to his Mother, trainer Eduardo Garcia, and Manager Rolando Arellano. Fernando Vargas, during his acceptance speech, said " I know I am supposed to be Ferocious, but this is a very happy and emotional moment for me. It must be from my Mom’s side."

In the Expanded category of inductees were Larry Rozadilla, Bruce Trampler, Dr. Mike De Luca, and Harry Carpenter. In the Posthumous category were Marcel Thil, Don Jordan, Jackie Wilson, and Peter Jackson.

Immediately following the event, autographs and photos were taken from many of the recipients and other boxing celebrities. Congratulations to all the inductees!

Fighter sued by former business manager

October 18, 1999

LOS ANGELES -- Oscar De La Hoya's onetime business manager is suing the former welterweight champ, claiming breach of contract for failure to honor a five-year contract signed last year.

Mike Hernandez alleged in a Superior Court suit filed Oct. 14 that he was fired because De La Hoya "decided to take over his own affairs," attorney Mark Polan said.

De La Hoya was surprised to learn about the suit, according to his lawyers, Bert Fields and Robert Chapman. Both sides had been discussing resolution of claims in informal discussions, they said.

Chapman, who said De La Hoya never signed the contract, said the fighter will now file a countersuit against Hernandez.

Ali's `Comeback' is down for the count

October 18, 1999

NEW YORK -- Call it a punch line from Muhammad Ali.

Ali, who retired 18 years ago, loved to whimsically announce his retirements and comebacks during his reign as heavyweight champion.

Well, he's still at it. The 57-year-old boxing great, afflicted by Parkinson's syndrome, says his latest comeback claim should be taken lightly.

"Sorry, folks, not this time," he said in a statement Monday.

His publicists said he was not serious when he wrote in the current issue of Newsweek magazine that he planned a return to the ring.

"It was just me being me," the statement said.

In the article, the former three-time champion said he wanted to fight again and he planed to get in shape despite his slowed speech and movement.

"Now I'm fighting Parkinson's disease. But I don't let it stop me. I still travel, attend to my business, do interviews," Ali wrote.

"And let me tell you something that'll shock the Earth. I'm going to train and get in really good shape, lose 35 pounds and do an exhibition in Madison Square Garden with two or three contenders," he added. "I'll dance for 15 rounds, and whup 'em. I haven't forgotten. I'll be weighing in at 210 pounds. I'll just say, `I am returned. Get the contract."'

But Ali backed off that in anletter to his fans.

"Although my interview with Newsweek was a serious one, my claim to return to the ring was said in jest," he said. "It is exciting that I can still get this kind of response from the press and public with the prospect of my returning to the ring."

Ali last fought professionally on Dec. 11, 1981, a 10-round loss to Trevor Berbick. He finished with a 56-5 record and 37 knockouts.

Ali travels with his wife, Lonnie, who speaks on his behalf. His speech is limited by a degenerative nerve disease. His walk is a little slower, but his intellect is unaffected.

Ali's daughter, Laila, one of his eight children, won her first professional fight on Oct. 8 with her father in attendance. She plans on fighting again.

In Newsweek, Ali called his fight with Joe Frazier in 1975, the "Thrilla in Manila," his greatest bout. He also said the greatest thing he ever did was refusing induction in the Army during the Vietnam War.

Ibeabuchi facing two trials

October 14, 1999

African King Wants Heavyweight Crown

October 14, 1999

Female is winner in Boxing's battle of the sexes

October 10, 1999

SEATTLE - Boxing's battle of the sexes was a decidedly one-sided affair on Saturday as Margaret "Tiger" MacGregor won a unanimous decision over her male opponent.

MacGregor's opponent, Loi Chow, barely landed a punch in a four-round fight which attracted worldwide media attention and outrage from mainstream boxing organizations as the first sanctioned professional bout between a man and a woman.

Some had feared the fight would distract attention from the growing sport of female boxing, while others were simply uncomfortable with the idea of a man and woman slugging it out legally.

Any safety concerns, however, should have been reserved for Chow, who managed to stay on his feet but spent much of the fight protecting himself from MacGregor's blows and later said he had been suffering from high blood pressure.

An exhilirated MacGregor, 36, of Bremerton, Wash., said she knew from the first round that she would beat Chow, 33, from Burnaby, British Columbia.

"This is the biggest day of my life," she said.

MacGregor came out wearing a hooded red silk robe with yellow trim and was cheered loudly by a sellout crowd of 2,768 at Seattle's Mercer Arena. By the fourth round, with MacGregor clearly ahead, many were chanting "Margaret."

"It was like my dream and my vision coming true right before my eyes," she said.

Chow, who was three inches (eight cm) shorter and nearly five pounds (two kg) lighter than his opponent, landed perhaps two solid punches to the head but had to be warned several times about low blows and a head-butt, which he said was unintentional. Chow, who had not fought since 1996, is 0-3 as a professional.

MacGregor said she felt one blow to the head "a little bit" but had faced at least one female opponent who hit harder. A cut on Chow's forehead was red during the fight, but he said he was unhurt.

In fact, the fight was far tamer than two that preceded it on the "Rain City Rumble" fight card, including a brutal all-woman junior middlewight bout won by Ann Wolfe of Austin, Texas.

In the scheduled 10-round main event, local favorite Martin O'Malley, an undefeated lightweight, scored a technical knockout over Tito Tovar of Denver in the fourth round.

At a post-fight news conference, Chow said he thought he could have won if it hadn't been for his blood pressure, which he said registered a dangerously high 190/110 shortly before the fight.

Dr. John Nees, one of two fight physicians, said Chow's blood pressure had been far lower and within normal limits when he was examined about four hours before the fight.

MacGregor, 4-0 since turning professional in April, said she looked forward to her next fight, man or woman. "I didn't get these big huge hands for knitting," she said.

Laila Ali demonstrates she is knockout material

"I wasn't trying to be like my father. I'm not my father, I'm me." – Laila Ali

October 8, 1999

Mike Tyson says he would take matters into his own ‘Mouth’

October 3, 1999

(Courtesy of Boxing’s Finest.com sports writers)

"I would do it again under those circumstances," – Mike Tyson

LOS ANGELES –The Associated Press reported Mike Tyson might bite again.  The former heavyweight champion said in an AP report, if a referee fails to protect him in his next bout, he would be forced to take matters into his own ‘mouth’.  "I would do it again under those circumstances," Tyson said in Sunday's Los Angeles Times. Tyson bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear in 1997 during a title fight in which Referee Mills Lane put a halt to the bout and disqualified Tyson. "Iron Mike" contends referee Mills Lane allowed him to be butted, and he would react the same way if cut again.

In the Holyfield bout, Tyson spit out his mouthpiece and bit off the top of Evander’s right ear then minutes later, he bit the left ear. Tyson as a result, lost his boxing license for 15 months but apologized for his conduct. He returned to the ring in January 1999 against Francois Botha. He accomplished a narrow victory by knocking out Botha in the fifth round.

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Lopez’ conditioning captures him a convincing IBF Flyweight Title

"I felt strong, and I broke the record of Ali and Chavez in title defenses."- (new) IBF Flyweight Champion, Ricardo Lopez

October 2, 1999

LAS VEGAS -- "True a La Mexicana" were Don King’s very own words in praise of Ricardo "Finito" Lopez’ victory Saturday night at the Las Vegas Hilton. The Mexican champion made a successful jump in weight and used superior boxing skills to record a unanimous decision over Will Grigsby to capture the IBF junior flyweight title. Lopez moved up three pounds after relinquishing the WBA and WBC 105-pound titles and dominated Grigsby to improve to 48-0-1. Lopez, who made 23 successful defenses of his straw-weight titles, said after his win, "I felt strong and I broke the record of Ali and Chavez in title defenses". Grigsby mixed it up by trading blows against the hard-hitting Lopez but was handed a boxing lesson by the battle-tested "Finito" Lopez. The new IBF Flyweight champ used double left hooks and pinpoint accuracy to batter Grigsby with Punishment. "I took it for granted in the later rounds, which may have cost me my victory." said the former IBF Champion Will Grigsby 29, who fell to14-2-1. Ricardo Lopez raised himself to the # 3 spot among the featured elite of Boxing’s Finest Dozen.

                       Don King

King, of Don King Productions, added more jabs to the De La Hoya camp by saying "This is the kind of fight people want to see", referring to the Lopez/Grigsby shootout. Don King continued by saying, "In Mexico, the Indian folks are calling Oscar De La Hoya a ‘Running Coyote’. Whether you win or lose, you are here to fight." He thanked former Batamweight champion Johnny Tapia for predicting a victory for Trinidad in "The Fight of The Millennium".

King also predicted Holyfield will knockout Lewis in their upcoming bout November 13.

Christy Martin also recorded a TKO over Daniella Somers in round 5 and raised her record to 38-2-2

                   Christy Martin

On the undercard, Julio Cesar Chavez, 37 was defeated in a one sided unanimous decision by ‘Slick’ Willie Wise. Showtime Commentators Ferdie Pacheco and Bobby Czyz, although praising him for his future Hall of Fame candidacy, hoped to see Saturday’s defeat as Chavez final fight. Pacheco said. "I think undeniably he is at the end of his rope".

                   Chavez Camp