Haye and Hearn can bring back heavyweight pride by David Statham Apr 9th 2008

Many boxing enthusiasts took a sharp intake of breath and wore a look of delusion when Evander Holyfield mentioned earlier this year, that he and ‘Iron' Mike Tyson intended to step between the ropes again to complete their fight trilogy. Tyson is now 41 and his financial problems and brushes with the law have been well documented. The last time he stepped between the ropes was for a 12-city worldwide tour where he took part in four-round exhibition bouts, weighing a career-heavy 17st 3 1/2lb. Needless to say, the pay-per-view tour was heavily criticised. Mike has since taken a step towards the entertainment industry and it's rumoured that he is in the process of helping produce a film about the story of his own life, with Samuel L Jackson thought to be playing the part of the once ferocious heavyweight. Certainly, a voyage into entertainment seems a more logical step than getting back into a boxing ring to fight a still active, 46-year-old Evander Holyfield. But such is the state of heavyweight boxing that two, past-their-best, ex-fighting warriors were considering putting on a show that, although intriguing, would be embarrassing and an injustice to the 'legend' status of both fighters.  Becoming the heavyweight champion of the ‘world' is one of sports most prized accolades. But the hugely popular division, renowned for its hard-punching muscular characters seems to have been forgotten by anyone other than the astute boxing fan of late.    The slow moving, brawling fighters on display do little to attract the publics imagination and the entertainment of feared, trash-talking, hard-hitting fighters that once was is now non-existent. (A point emphasised by the recent Wladimir Klitschko-Sultan Ibragimov fight.) But on Sunday March 8th there came a glimmer of hope because, after knocking out Welsh opponent Enzo Maccarinelli in two rounds, David Haye outlined his intentions to move up from the cruiserweight division and ‘cause an assault' on the dormant division, starting with giant, dual-title holder Klitschko. David Haye's imminent admittance into the division has provoked at least some interest into the beleaguered weight class and on April 11th, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, heavyweight fans can watch with increased opptimism, as Barry Hearn's much anticipated Prizefighter Series gets under way. Eight heavyweight fighters will be standing toe to toe with each other, slugging it out for three, three-minute rounds. All quarter-final, semi-final and final fights will take place in one night with the eventual winner taking home £25,000, an improved record and an enriched popularity. Sky Sports 1 will be televising live from the Arena at 9.30pm, and any fans watching can be sure to expect some knockout action. Hopefully in the ensuing months, the once-proud division can re-establish its position as the most popular in world sport. And, more importantly, the one time invincible and indestructible Mike Tyson will be able to keep his gloves hung up for good.

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