Early Sunday morning, only hours after he gallantly regained the heavyweight championship, Evander Holyfield shook his head gently enough to keep sunglasses in place.
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“My first thought . . . about that tennis lady,” Holyfield said. “The one who got stabbed. Crazy.”
Clearly, his reference was to Monica Seles, who was attacked by a fan during a tournament in Germany last spring. Holyfield’s review of the previous evening didn’t require verification, either. Even for boxing, Saturday night’s scene behind Caesars Palace was a bit too bizarre.
About 70 seconds into the seventh round, a paraglider literally dropped in on the much-heralded rematch between Holyfield and Riddick Bowe, landing near the latter’s corner of the outdoor ring. The gate-crasher-James Miller, 30, of Las Vegas-then tumbled to the floor, where he was engulfed by security officers and fans who provided anything but a warm welcome. He was taken in a stretcher to a hospital, later discharged to authorities, then booked on a “dangerous flying” misdemeanor and released.
Miller was fined $200, a quarter of the sum paid by spectators occupying the choice seats he invaded. Las Vegas police said there was a possibility of additional charges being filed, but all principals concurred that a very close fight was very near to tragedy. Parasailers travel with motors attached and enclosed in a screen, like a large house fan. On descent, the interloper’s parachute caught in the square light frame around the canopy. He then braked on the top strand of ring ropes, among the few open areas in a crowded stadium of 15,000.
“My first fear was that it was something racial,” said Rock Newman, Bowe’s manager. “This wacko landed right near our people, including Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan. He could have had a knife, a gun, a bomb. Who knows anymore these days? This guy could have plowed into the fans and killed some of them. Heck, he could have killed one of the fighters.”
Indeed, Bowe had his back to the episode when he noticed Holyfield nervously looking away. Holyfield said he was torn between avoiding Bowe’s fists and observing this strange spectacle. Both combatants repaired to their respective corners for 21 minutes while order was restored. During that period, Bowe’s wife Judy, who is three months pregnant, fainted and was also whisked away in an ambulance.
“I saw her in the hospital,” Riddick said Sunday morning. “Then she came back to the hotel with me. They checked the baby. No problem. When they took her away, I almost went with her. But I was told the doctors were just being safe. She wasn’t in danger. She’s OK.”
So is Eddie Futch, Bowe’s 82-year-old trainer, who required oxygen after the narrow verdict was announced.
Bowe was off to a strong start in the round when it was interrupted, but he and his handlers refrained from blaming the flying object for any lost momentum. In fact, both sides were at their sporting best. Newman admitted that Bowe’s pre-training habits were questionable. After dethroning Holyfield a year ago, Bowe grazed his way toward the 300-pound mark before he commenced September training toward this rematch, for which he weighed 246.
“Like Holyfield learned from last year’s defeat, this one can be therapeutic to Riddick,” said Newman. “He’s already learned from last night. But we lost to a great warrior. Riddick had two cuts around the (left) eye. One from a punch, one from a head butt. But we have no excuses.”
Though Bowe lacked quickness, he did not want for stamina. He won the last round on the cards of all three judges, who agreed on nine of 12 rounds, another miracle for Las Vegas. After six rounds, or before the paraglider, two judges had the bout even and Jerry Roth had Holyfield ahead 58-56. In the end, Roth voted 115-113 for Holyfield. Patricia Jarman had it 115-114 the same way. Chuck Giampa called it a 114-114 draw. Thus, the majority decision for Holyfield, who was tackled by trainer Emanuel Steward at the final bell.
“I wanted to keep going,” said Holyfield. “But it’s 50-50 whether I do. If I don’t retire, if I do it again, I’ll do it again with Bowe.”
After two terrific battles, they’re worth another sequel, but Holyfield-Bowe III should go indoors. Then force James Miller, if he’s so anxious for the ring, to fight the winner. By the way, calls to his answering machine Sunday elicited a recorded message hailing the thrills of bungee-jumping.