When the fight between Evander and Tyson was signed for November 9. 1996, in Las Vegas, I made arrangements to see the fight in person. I called on the phone with the MGM Grand, bought a $600 ticket at the Grand Garden Arena, and couldn’t wait for the fight to actually happen.
I really believed against all odds, that Evander would win the fight. Running one morning, I had a premonition that Holyfield would knock Tyson out in the 11th round. It was so strong that I was going to have a sweatshirt made with the words ‘Holyfield in 11!’ printed, but I didn’t have the time to get it made.
I did rustle up a few hundred bucks to bet on Evander, and would have put more, but I was broke at the time. The 25-1 odds in favor of Tyson after the Seldon debacle, had dropped to 9-1 by the time I placed my wager.
On the way into the Grand Garden that Saturday night, the ticket taker saw the ‘Real Deal’ Holyfield cap I was wearing and said “You have a lot of nerve wearing that hat in here!” I said in return “We’ll see in about 11 rounds when Evander knocks Tyson out!”
My seat was far from what you would call ringside. Although I was halfway up the arena, at least my view was right in the center, with the ring in the middle.
When Evander took his robe off, he looked spectacular at 215 lbs. His shoulders were broad, his chest was huge, and his back and arms were chiseled. The opening bell would determine if all his hard work would pay off.
Tyson came out charging, nailed Evander with a hard right, but the challenger shook it off. He began countering Tyson with hooks, and it was obvious that he was not afraid. He continued to impress in the second and third rounds, and there was not going to be any early knockout for Tyson.
In the sixth, Evander countered with a left hook to Mike’s chest that put him on the seat of his pants. I along with the capacity crowd leapt to their feet, and I could see my vision of the fight coming to pass. I only wish I had more money to bet on Evander, and could have really made some big bucks.
In the tenth round, Evander rocked Tyson, and almost dropped him by the round’s close. As a weary Tyson walked slowly back to his corner, it was obvious the end was near. As soon as the eleventh round began, Holyfield jumped right back on him, hurt him, and knocked him against the ropes. Evander slammed Tyson with one last volley of punches, causing referee Mitch Halpern to call the fight. My premonition had come true!!!!!!
As I stood in excitement, I so wished I had been able to get that sweatshirt made. I guarantee you I would have been on television stations across the country, but I settled on the realization that Evander was the heavyweight champ again. It remains today as the greatest sporting event I have ever been privileged to witness in person, and I am grateful to God for that.
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