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11/13/2006 Archived Entry: "Old Warrior Holyfield Wins Close Decision over Fres Oquendo"
Old Warrior Holyfield Wins Close Decision over Fres Oquendo
Report and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Holyfield looks on as Fres goes down, courtesy of a right to the temple
[Editor's note: Juan Ayllon originally reported this fight for the Carol Stream Examiner. That report will likely appear here in several days. This report is culled from his notes of the fight.]
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, November 10 – Old warrior Evander Holyfield, 44, didn’t exactly turn back the hands of time. However, versus a contender some 11 years his junior, he summoned up enough reserves and aggression to win a unanimous decision over his fleeter foe.
To the delight of fans in the Alamodome, Holyfield turned back Fres Oquendo’s efforts to use him as a stepping stone to a world heavyweight title, winning by scores of 116-111 and 114-113 twice.
Thomas Marini Jr., a banker in US Bank’s Professional Sports Division whose clients include Holyfield and basketball superstar Lebron James, was more critical. He said, “(Oquendo) didn’t fight to win. He fought to survive! When you’re fighting a 44 year-old legend, you need to take it to him!”
Only seconds into their fight, Holyfield knocked Oquendo down hard. Oquendo rose all right, circled and boxed carefully the rest of the round while Evander pursued and pressured aggressively.
This was to be the pattern of the fight throughout.
Oquendo (left) knocks back Holyfield with a left jab to the chest
The fourth round was Oquendo’s best in the early rounds. He repeatedly pumped the left jab in Holyfield’s face and landed some heavy rights and the occasional hook to the head. Suddenly, Holyfield began to look very beatable.
In round three, Oquendo got off several rights and held; Holyfield landed a nice right hook to the head.Round four was the best round so far for Oquendo who established the jab, landed some good straight rights and the occasional hook.
In the fifth, both landed several big rights to the head. Holyfield dumped Oquendo into the ropes with a big right at one juncture and Oquendo jarred him with a couple heavy rights to the head of his own.
Undeterred, Holyfield continued to press the attack. In the sixth, Oquendo collapsed from a low blow that landed as Holyfield flurried and was allowed some time to recover.
Oquendo goes down in the sixth from a low blow
Round seven. Holyfield really surged, landed some hard blows.
Round eight: Oquendo jabbed, circled, and landed the occasional right. Best round so far. Coming on continuously, Holyfield landed another borderline blow. The ref intervene and talked to Fres in close. The fight resumed.
Oquendo drove a hard right to Holfield’s head and another. Holyfield coming forward, landed another beautiful right. Holy just missed with another haymaker. Oquendo drilled a smacking right to side. The two exchange hard rights at end of round.
Holyfield was the aggressor in the ninth, jabbing well. Fres caught him with a hard right, then another. Holyfield worked the body. Fres, in turn, worked the head with single rights. Oquendo jabbed and circled. Oquendo lands another lead right to the head. Oquendo jars to the head, then ducks into a right to the head.
Holyfield back in to ropes. A clash of heads. Oquendo bangs in another right to the head. Circling. Round 10. Oquendo circled, while Holyfield focused on hitting his midsection, with occasional shots to the head. He stunned Oquendo with what looked like a right near rounds end.
Round 11. Holyfield maintained a steadier work rate, as Oquendo circled and peppered with jabs and occasional rights.
Oquendo (right) lands a right to Holyfield's head
Round 12: Fireworks erupted in spots. Both fighters teed off on one another. However, it was too little in the end for Oquendo, who came up short on the scorecards.
Evander Holyfield is attended to by his corner after the final bell rings
After the scores were announced, Fres Oquendo and his camp stormed out of the ring, leaving his trainer, Freddy Roach, behind in the ring.
It was tough break for Fres Oquendo. Having two previous unsuccessful shots at the heavyweight title, this was supposed to be his segue to a final title and then retirement. run. After the final bell rung, he thought he’d won. In his heart of hearts, he felt he boxed Holyfield’s ears off.
When it's said and done, old man Holyfield did all right. And you know what? He may just win another heavyweight title before he retires.
