Remember When?: Moorer jabs way to heavyweight crown

By ROBERT MORALES

For The Valley Independent

LAS VEGAS – To some, it didn’t appear that Michael Moorer did enough to wrest away the world heavyweight championship away from Evander Holyfield Friday night at Caesars Palace.

Moorer, however, with the backing of an excellent jab, was voted the winner by virtue of a majority 12-round decision, becoming the first left-hander in history to win the heavyweight championship.

Jerry Roth scored the bout 115-114 for Moorer, Chuck Giampa 116-112 for Moorer, and Dalby Shirley scored the bout 114-114.

Moorer being a left-hander was one element touched on by both camps heading into the fight. Another item not as strongly harped on was the fact that Moorer had never fought 12 rounds before. Much of that statistic came about because of his terrific knockout count; he had 30 knockouts in 34 victories coming. 

“Everybody talked about the fact that, if it went 12 rounds, could I handle it?” Moorer said. “I just kept him off with my jab.”
Moorer, a Monessen native, improved to 35-0 (30 KOs).

“I gave it all I had,” said Holyfield of Atlanta, who feel to 30-2 and was taken to Valley Hospital afterward with his left arm in a sling. Holyfield’s training, Don Turner, said the injury to Holyfield’s left rotator cuff was not serious.

Although Moorer never seemed to land his best left, Holyfield said Moorer being a lefty did give him trouble.

“I trained for it, but he was able to get off,” said Holyfield, who did not complain about the outcome.

“I was in the fight. Maybe when I see the tape, I will have a different outlook. All I know is I’m tired and I’m sore.”

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